# Carles Aleñá
**Carles Aleñá Castillo** (born 1998 in Mataró, Barcelona) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for [Deportivo Alavés](https://www.edgepedia.org/deportivo-alaves) in LaLiga. A left-footed central midfielder of 1.80 m, he came through [FC Barcelona](https://www.edgepedia.org/fc-barcelona)'s La Masia academy, made his first-team debut there in 2016, and later played for [Getafe CF](https://www.edgepedia.org/getafe-cf) before joining Alavés in 2025.[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/1441/carles-alena) • [2](https://www.transfermarkt.es/carles-alena/profil/spieler/284854)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / born | Carles Aleñá Castillo, 1998, Mataró, Barcelona[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/1441/carles-alena) |
| Position | Midfielder (central midfield), left-footed, 1.80 m[2](https://www.transfermarkt.es/carles-alena/profil/spieler/284854) |
| Barcelona first team | 43 appearances and 3 goals; debut in the 2016/17 Copa del Rey against Hércules, in which he scored Barça's only goal[3](https://www.fcbarcelona.es/es/futbol/primer-equipo/noticias/2187027) |
| La Liga debut | 2 April 2017 against Granada, three minutes as a substitute, aged 19 years and 87 days[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/1441/carles-alena) |
| Clubs after Barcelona | Real Betis (loan, 19 matches, 1 goal), Getafe CF (loan then permanent transfer, 129 league appearances), Deportivo Alavés (loan 2024/25, permanent from July 2025)[3](https://www.fcbarcelona.es/es/futbol/primer-equipo/noticias/2187027) • [1](https://theanalyst.com/players/1441/carles-alena) |
| Current club | Deportivo Alavés, signed 24 July 2025, contract to 30 June 2029[2](https://www.transfermarkt.es/carles-alena/profil/spieler/284854) |
| LaLiga career totals | 228 appearances, 9 goals, 14 assists[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/1441/carles-alena) |
## Youth career at La Masia
Aleñá joined [La Masia](https://www.edgepedia.org/la-masia), FC Barcelona's youth academy, as a young child and rose through its age groups. As a 15-year-old he debuted and scored in the [UEFA Youth League](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-youth-league) in a 7-1 win over Astana, and in the 2015/16 edition of that competition he was the team's reference player, scoring 6 goals in 8 matches; one long-range goal was nominated for the Puskas Award.[4](https://as.com/us/us/2016/10/06/futbol/1475756583_407749.html) • [5](https://www.fcbarcelona.es/es/noticias/769860/el-debut-de-carles-alena-en-la-liga) His physical resemblance to [Diego Maradona](https://www.edgepedia.org/diego-maradona) earned him the nickname "El Maradona de La Masia" in Spanish media.[4](https://as.com/us/us/2016/10/06/futbol/1475756583_407749.html)
He was a Spain youth international, with 6 caps for the under-17 side and 6 for the under-19 side as of 2016, and he named Deco as his idol and Xavi as his model.[4](https://as.com/us/us/2016/10/06/futbol/1475756583_407749.html) In the 2017/18 season, playing for Barcelona B in the Spanish Second Division, he scored 11 goals and was described as arguably the best player in that division.[6](https://barcelonaanalysis.com/analysis/carles-alena-201920-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics/)
## FC Barcelona first team
Aleñá debuted for the Barcelona first team in the 2016/17 season in a [Copa del Rey](https://www.edgepedia.org/copa-del-rey) match against Hércules, scoring the only Barça goal of the game.[3](https://www.fcbarcelona.es/es/futbol/primer-equipo/noticias/2187027) His league debut followed on 2 April 2017, coming on for three minutes as a substitute against Granada at age 19 years and 87 days.[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/1441/carles-alena)
After two seasons alternating between the first team and the reserve side, he became a full first-team player in 2018/19.[3](https://www.fcbarcelona.es/es/futbol/primer-equipo/noticias/2187027) On 2 December 2018 he scored his first goal at [Camp Nou](https://www.edgepedia.org/camp-nou), in a 2-0 win over [Villarreal](https://www.edgepedia.org/villarreal), with the assist provided by [Lionel Messi](https://www.edgepedia.org/lionel-messi), himself a La Masia product.[7](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/930746/from-la-masia-to-scoring-at-camp-nou) In total he made 43 appearances for the Barcelona first team and scored 3 goals.[3](https://www.fcbarcelona.es/es/futbol/primer-equipo/noticias/2187027)
His standing in the squad declined sharply early in 2019/20. After starting the season opener against Athletic Club and playing only the first 45 minutes, he went four consecutive matches without appearing in coach [Ernesto Valverde](https://www.edgepedia.org/ernesto-valverde)'s squads, a situation Spanish sports daily AS described as a fall from starter to overlooked player in little more than a month.[8](https://as.com/futbol/2019/09/18/champions/1568764829_364057.html)
## Loans and transfer to Getafe
In the winter transfer window of 2019/20, Aleñá went on loan to [Real Betis](https://www.edgepedia.org/real-betis), where he played 19 matches and scored 1 goal.[3](https://www.fcbarcelona.es/es/futbol/primer-equipo/noticias/2187027) He returned to Barcelona for the first half of 2020/21, then went on loan again in the winter 2020/21 window, this time to Getafe CF, where he stayed until the end of the season.[3](https://www.fcbarcelona.es/es/futbol/primer-equipo/noticias/2187027)
In July 2021, Barcelona and Getafe agreed a permanent transfer. Barcelona retained 50 percent of any future sale of the player, a buyback option, and the right of first refusal on any offer Getafe received for him.[3](https://www.fcbarcelona.es/es/futbol/primer-equipo/noticias/2187027) At Getafe he became a regular, making 129 league appearances in total, with 6 goals and 7 assists.[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/1441/carles-alena)
## Deportivo Alavés
Aleñá spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Deportivo Alavés, where he made 34 LaLiga appearances and created 4 assists, and his performances convinced the club to sign him permanently; he joined Alavés in July 2025 on a contract running to 30 June 2029.[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/1441/carles-alena) • [2](https://www.transfermarkt.es/carles-alena/profil/spieler/284854) He was presented at the Mendizorroza stadium in August 2025.[9](https://cadenaser.com/euskadi/2025/08/04/alena-va-a-ser-un-ano-muy-ilusionante-ser-vitoria/) Across his LaLiga career he has played 228 matches in the competition, scoring 9 goals and providing 14 assists.[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/1441/carles-alena)
## Playing style
Aleñá is a left-footed midfielder built around vision, refined technique and game distribution, the profile typical of a La Masia midfield product.[4](https://as.com/us/us/2016/10/06/futbol/1475756583_407749.html) • [10](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/player-analysis/carles-alena-barcelona-tactical-analysis-statistics) Tactical analyses of his Barcelona years described a wide skill set allowing him to affect many phases of the game, and his 11-goal 2017/18 season with Barcelona B showed an attacking contribution unusual for a midfielder.[6](https://barcelonaanalysis.com/analysis/carles-alena-201920-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics/) After his move to Getafe, he credited coach [Quique Sánchez Flores](https://www.edgepedia.org/quique-sanchez-flores)'s successor Bordalás with teaching him a different way of seeing football, a more physical and direct approach than the one he had grown up with.[11](https://as.com/futbol/primera/alena-bordalas-me-enseno-otra-forma-de-ver-el-futbol-f202510-n/)
## References
1. [Carles Aleñá, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/1441/carles-alena)
2. [Carles Aleñá, perfil del jugador, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.es/carles-alena/profil/spieler/284854)
3. [Acuerdo con el Getafe CF para el traspaso de Carles Aleñá, FC Barcelona](https://www.fcbarcelona.es/es/futbol/primer-equipo/noticias/2187027)
4. [Estas son las joyas de Madrid, Barça y Atleti con más futuro, AS](https://as.com/us/us/2016/10/06/futbol/1475756583_407749.html)
5. [El debut de Carles Aleñá en la Liga, FC Barcelona](https://www.fcbarcelona.es/es/noticias/769860/el-debut-de-carles-alena-en-la-liga)
6. [Carles Alena 2019/20, scout report, Barcelona Analysis](https://barcelonaanalysis.com/analysis/carles-alena-201920-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics/)
7. [From La Masia to scoring at Camp Nou, FC Barcelona](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/930746/from-la-masia-to-scoring-at-camp-nou)
8. [El cruel purgatorio de Aleñá, AS](https://as.com/futbol/2019/09/18/champions/1568764829_364057.html)
9. [Aleñá: "Va a ser un año muy ilusionante", Cadena SER](https://cadenaser.com/euskadi/2025/08/04/alena-va-a-ser-un-ano-muy-ilusionante-ser-vitoria/)
10. [Carles Alena at Barcelona, Total Football Analysis](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/player-analysis/carles-alena-barcelona-tactical-analysis-statistics)
11. [Aleñá: "Bordalás me enseñó otra forma de ver el fútbol", AS](https://as.com/futbol/primera/alena-bordalas-me-enseno-otra-forma-de-ver-el-futbol-f202510-n/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of continental Europe › Spanish footballers born 1995 onward › Midfielders*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license