By Opta Analyst | Created at 2026-08-14 19:47:47 | Updated at 2026-08-15 00:23:20
10 hours ago
Ahead of La Liga‘s return this weekend, we have chosen nine players we’re looking forward to keeping an eye out for in 2026-27.
Yan Diomande
Real Madrid
Yan Diomande’s one season with RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga was electric, earning him the Rookie of the Season award for his dazzling performances. The headline numbers would be his 12 goals and eight assists, with Lamine Yamal (27 – 11 goals, 11 assists) the only other player under the age of 24 to tally at least 20 goal involvements across the top five European leagues last term.
It earned him a massive move to Real Madrid less than 17 months on from making his professional debut against them for Leganés at the Bernabéu.
It feels a little reductive to boil his game down to just goal involvements, though.
He was a menace to defenders with his bravery and persistence when running with the ball. His 7.7 dribble attempts per 90 was the most of anyone (900+ mins) in the Bundesliga – and his 55.4% completion rate was the fourth highest among the 68 players to average at least 2.0 dribbles per 90.
And his ability on the ball was central to him being an attacking threat, as noted by the fact his 52 carries ending with a shot or chance created saw him rank fifth in the division.
The beauty of Diomande’s talent in possession, however, lies in the fact he is strong on either foot, effective in tight spaces and over longer distances, and is a surprisingly sharp passer; the latter point is highlighted in the viz below.
Ithiel Piñero / Data AnalystHe could ultimately cost Real Madrid €140 million, but if he fulfils his potential, Diomande will be among the best players on the planet.
Robbie Ure
Sevilla
A young Scottish striker from a Swedish club signing for Sevilla; it sounds like a combination you’d see on one of those slightly naff ‘transfer generator’ memes on social media around deadline day. Despite the rather random specifics, we assure you this is real.
Robbie Ure, 22, came through at Rangers but left in May 2023 after rejecting a contract extension and spent nearly two years at Anderlecht, mostly playing for their reserves.
A move to Sirius in Sweden’s Allsvenskan followed in March 2025. It proved an inspired choice.
A promising first season yielded a respectable 11 league goals in 30 appearances, a tally bettered by only five players. But he found a new level entirely for 2026.
At the time of his departure, Ure’s 15 goals from as many games was three more than anyone else in the division, and his effectiveness has helped Sirius – who’ve never won the Allsvenskan – open up a 12-point lead at the summit ahead of Matchday 17 (out of 30).
Ure is a well-rounded centre-forward who’s tall, pretty quick and strong shooting with either foot. Capable of dropping deep, running in behind or being a poacher in the six-yard box, he will evoke comparisons with Benjamin Sesko – though it will be a considerable step up to La Liga from the Allsvenskan.
At a reported initial outlay of €6.5m, Ure is the “big bet” of the transfer window for financially stricken Sevilla, who’ve flirted with relegation in each of the past three seasons. They’ve undergone a significant rebuild this summer, and Ure will be the face of the new team.
Anthony Gordon
Barcelona
Anthony Gordon had his best ever goalscoring season in 2025-26, with 17 goals across all competitions for Newcastle United. Despite this, an €80m move to Barcelona was deemed a surprise to many.
That’s not to say Gordon doesn’t have the quality to succeed in Spain. As he proved during England’s run to the World Cup semi-finals – in which he scored their only goal against Argentina – he has the attributes to cause most defences problems.
Among the quickest 10 players in the Premier League last season with a top recorded speed of 36.3 km/hr, Gordon’s pace was a major asset for a Newcastle team who often liked to play on the counter. Of players to play at least 1,500 Premier League minutes in 2025-26, nobody averaged more sprints per game than Gordon (25.8), while only Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh had a greater sprint distance per 90 than him (475.3m).
His top-line numbers across his final three seasons at Newcastle were decent enough – 59 goal involvements (38 goals, 26 assists) across all competitions at an average of one every 164 minutes. Those figures should improve in a team as attacking and dominant as Barcelona, but it depends on how much playing time he’ll get under Hansi Flick.
His performances in the Champions League for Newcastle last season were a highlight, with his 10 goals the most in a single campaign by an English player for an English club in the competition’s history, including the old European Cup.
Gustavo Puerta
Racing Santander
Racing Santander are back in La Liga this season following a 14-year absence; Colombia international Gustavo Puerta more than played his part in securing their return.
Puerta was supposed to join Hull City permanently last summer, only for that deal to be scuppered due to the Tigers’ transfer ban. He later joined Racing on 1 September, and what a signing he was.
At the heart of Racing’s midfield, Puerta marked himself out as a player who could distribute effectively, win the ball back frequently and singlehandedly get the team up the pitch.
Among midfielders to play 900+ mins, he ranked eighth for pass completion rate in the opposition’s half (87.3%) and sixth for possession recoveries per 90 (6.4). But it was his ball carrying numbers that stood out most.
He averaged 4.1 progressive carries of 10+ metres per 90, the second most among nominal central, defensive and attacking midfielders (900+mins). And he was third out of the same group for progressive carries of 5+ metres per 90 (8.6).
Puerta then went on to impress for Colombia at the 2026 World Cup.
If Racing ultimately manage to retain their top-flight status, Puerta will likely have been influential.
Yeremay Hernández
Deportivo A Coruña
A big season awaits for 23-year-old Yeremay Hernández.
He’s built himself a considerable reputation by impressing in Spain’s Segunda over the past two seasons, but this will be his first crack at La Liga. It’s an important step for a player who’s been tentatively linked with a host of top clubs around Europe.
A diminutive, explosive left winger, Yeremay has the ability to get fans off their seats with his quick feet and skill, but he’s also been a reliable source of goals and creativity for Deportivo A Coruña.
Since their promotion from the third tier in 2024, Yeremay has the fourth most goal involvements (41) in the Segunda, and all three of the players above him have played at least an extra 500 mins.
It’s undoubtedly his direct, brave style of play that catches the eye most, though. Over the past two Segunda seasons, his 6.7 dribble attempts per 90 is the most (1,500+ mins) and he’s also the top-ranked player for goal involvements following a ball carry (17).
He’d outgrown the Segunda and would likely have left Depor had they not been promoted. But now it’s time to see if he can convert his promise to the top flight.
Cala
Espanyol
Álex Calatrava – or ‘Cala’ – has had to be patient for his first crack at top-flight football.
Although he did have a couple of years in Barcelona’s La Masia academy as a kid, Cala otherwise didn’t really come through at a traditional big club. His late teens and early 20s were spent in the lower reaches of Spanish football; even when he signed for Atlético Madrid at 21, he exclusively represented their B team in the fifth, fourth and third tiers.
He moved up to the Segunda with Castellón in 2024, and then last season he almost helped them to promotion, getting as far as the play-offs.
Cala was an integral part of the team on the right flank, cutting in onto his wand of a left foot.
He was one of just two players (900+ mins) to average at least 3.0 shots (3.2) and 1.7 open-play chances created (1.8) per 90 in the Segunda last term, while his 0.29 expected assists (xA) saw him rank fifth.
His 23 goal involvements (15 goals, 8 assists) was bettered by only six players, several of whom were actual centre-forwards.
A native of Catalonia, he’s back in Barcelona now with Espanyol and was the first signing of new sporting director, Monchi (yes, that one).
Javi Rodríguez
Celta Vigo
When Javi Rodríguez was handed his Spain debut in one of La Roja’s pre-World Cup friendly games, it was a deserved reward for his development over the past couple of years.
For a long time, he wasn’t a player Celta Vigo had particularly high expectations for. But he benefited immensely from the establishment of the club’s C team, and that gave him the platform to continue developing in the B team.
He played all but two of the senior side’s La Liga games in 2024-25 and featured 33 times last term as Celta enjoyed back-to-back top-seven finishes in the top flight for just the second time since 2003.
In Celta’s back three, Rodríguez has made the right centre-back role his own and became one of Spain’s most promising defenders.
There remain question marks about his physical capabilities (he isn’t brilliant in the air, for example), but on the ball there’s no question about his quality. He’s comfortable, elegant even, in possession and an effective distributor, especially in more advanced areas.
His 80.9% success rate for passes ending in the final third last season was the fifth best among nominal centre-backs (900+ mins), while only six players in the same group bettered his 9.2 line-breaking passes per 90.
Continue elevating himself and a big move could be on the cards next year.
Chupe
Málaga
The story of Málaga’s rise from the third division to La Liga in just over two years is a fascinating one built on overcoming adversity by prioritising their academy. It’s worked a charm.
Chupe is as good an example as any.
The 21-year-old may not be the quickest, but otherwise Chupe is a very competent all-round centre-forward. Decent off both feet, an aerial presence, technically sound and a proven finisher, he was instrumental for Los Boquerones last term.
In 45 league matches (including play-offs), he scored 25 goals and set up another six. During the regular season, his total of 24 goals was bettered only by Almería’s Sergio Arribas (25).
Chupe’s 19 non-penalty goals came from 13.1 expected goals (xG). While that overperformance might raise concerns about sustainability, it’s worth pointing out that only three players bettered his three goals from outside the box and he still proved a reliable threat in – or just outside – the six-yard box.
Having a potent goalscorer can be the difference between survival and relegation. Chupe’s adaptation to La Liga will have a massive say in Málaga’s chances.
Buba Sangaré
Elche
Nineteen-year-old defender Buba Sangaré spent the second half of last season on loan from Roma and made a very good impression. His stay was turned permanent in the summer for about €4.5m, a significant sum for Elche.
Deployed either as the right-sided centre-back or wing-back in a back-three system, Sangaré caught the eye with his comfort on the ball and his front-foot defending style.
His general ease in possession made him a good option in either role. His 3.0 dribble attempts per 90 was the sixth most among defenders from 2 February onwards (350+ mins), but he was also an effective defensive presence.
From 2 February, his 3.5 tackles per 90 was the fourth most among defenders (350+ mins), while no defenders averaged as many duels (14.5) as him.
Sangaré was born in Elche but eluded the club during his formative years; he’s now theirs and could be a hugely valuable asset.
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