Luis Rioja

Rioja's current-season form is up 77% on last season (Season 26→46), while his Rating eased 50→40. That makes this his strongest season for form to date.

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	Valencia · 9th	37	3	6	6.82	40	46
2024/25	Valencia · 12th	37	5	0	6.9	50	26
2024/25	Alaves	1	0	0	6.9	—	—
2023/24	Alaves · 10th	38	5	4	7.01	56	34
2022/23	Alaves · 4th	41	10	5	6.97	55	41
2021/22	Alaves · 20th	37	1	3	6.66	66	19

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 6 earlier seasons and 2 youth-team spells in the full career.

Scout report

Experienced headCentral midfielder

Luis Rioja is a 32-year-old central midfielder at Valencia, enjoying a standout season — 3 goals and 6 assists in 37 appearances, a Season grade of 46, top 8% of La Liga central midfielders. On long-term scout potential he's rated 39.6, ranking 305th of 389 in the La Liga. A seasoned veteran, he has been a regular starter (77.1% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 1.84 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Rioja.

Judged on this season alone, Rioja graded 46 — an excellent campaign that ranks top 9% of the 87 central midfielders in the La Liga, on 3 goals, 6 assists and 1.844 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 26 → 46). Across the 6 seasons we hold, it's his best return yet.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 40, 73rd of 87 of the 87 central midfielders in the La Liga. At 32 Rioja is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 17.5 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

A career still climbing — Rioja is at his peak right now, and the curve hasn't flattened.

Peak: 2025/26Trending upBreakout: 2022/23Stepped up 2023/24

Current potential73rd of 87 central midfielders · La Liga Current seasonTop 9% central midfielders · La Liga7th-best central midfielder in the La Liga305th in the La Liga · potential73rd-highest potential central midfielder in the La Liga

39.6

Ratingi

73rd of 87 central midfielders

45.5

Seasoni

developing / rotation level

77.1%

Minutes

a regular starter

1.84

Def. actions / 90

light defensive volume

Output in context · Valencia finished 9th of 20 · a mid-table side

1.84

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

1.84 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — light defensive volume, with 7 clean sheets across 37 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 3 goals and 6 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 77.1% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.31 goal involvements per 90, useful for a central midfielder.
Pedigree. Performing in a top-tier setting (team strength 92/100).

Watch points

Defensive numbers. Modest 1.84 defensive actions per 90 for the position.
Age curve. At 32, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 39.6, Rioja carries the 73rd-highest potential of the central midfielders in the La Liga of 87. Defensively he reads as light defensive volume (1.84 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90), with a bit more on the ball than most in the role. Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.8× and falling).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %77.1%

Available fixtures38 of 38

Goals / 900.102

Assists / 900.205

Goal contribution / 900.307

Defensive actions / 901.844

Player flow

Goal involvements9

Shot conversion %60

Shot accuracy %27.8

Pass accuracy %78

Dribble success %57.1

Cards / 900.034

Foul involvement / 901.434

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~44), then tapers with age. At 32, Rioja sits on 17.5, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Rioja's projected Rating — 39.6 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among central midfielders in the La Liga with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals3

Shots on target5

Shots18

Passing

Assists6

Chances created39

Passes839

Pass accuracy78%

Possession

Successful dribbles36

Dribble success57.1%

Duels won105

Duels won %46.5%

Fouls won29

Defending

Tackles36

Interceptions18

Fouls committed13

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards1

Red cards0

Transfer history

€3.2M total transfer fees · 5 moves

Valencia2024/25 – now€ 1.2M

Alaves2019/20 – 2024/25€ 2M

Almeria2018/19 – 2019/20

Marbella2016/17 – 2018/19

Celta Vigo2014/15 – 2016/17

Real Madriduntil 2014/15

About Luis Rioja

Luis Jesús Rioja González is a 32-year-old central midfielder who plays for Valencia, born on October 16, 1993 in Las Cabezas de San Juan, standing 175 cm tall. He is from Spain. Valencia currently sit 9th of 20 in the La Liga.

This season

In the current season, Luis Rioja has made 37 appearances with 3 goals and 6 assists across 2,636 minutes, averaging a 7.06 match rating over his last 10 rated games, with 1 yellow card. His season has spanned the La Liga and the Copa del Rey. Though primarily a central midfielder, he has also lined up in attack this season.

When Luis Rioja plays, Valencia's record this season is 16W-10D-15L — and his match ratings average 6.88 at home against 6.79 on the road.

Recent matches

May 23, 2026: 3-1 win at home vs Barcelona (90 minutes, 1 goal, 7.3 rating)
May 17, 2026: 4-3 win away at Real Sociedad (74 minutes, 6.2 rating)
May 14, 2026: 1-1 draw at home vs Rayo Vallecano (90 minutes, 6.9 rating)
May 10, 2026: 1-0 win away at Athletic Club (90 minutes, 1 assist, 7 rating)
May 2, 2026: 0-2 loss at home vs Atletico Madrid (59 minutes, 6.7 rating)
April 25, 2026: 2-1 win at home vs Girona (90 minutes, 7.2 rating)
April 21, 2026: 1-1 draw away at Mallorca (30 minutes, 6.7 rating)
April 11, 2026: 0-1 loss away at Elche (60 minutes, 8.7 rating)
April 5, 2026: 2-3 loss at home vs Celta Vigo (90 minutes, 7 rating)
March 21, 2026: 2-0 win away at Sevilla (90 minutes, 1 assist, 6.9 rating)

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates Luis Rioja at 39.6 with a Season form score of 45.5, ranking 305th of 389 central midfielders in the La Liga. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

Availability: Luis Rioja has missed 1 match this season through injury.

Career

Across 13 recorded seasons, Luis Rioja has totalled 440 club appearances with 44 goals and 21 assists for 6 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2022/23, with 41 appearances for Alaves.

Luis Rioja's career has also included time at Alaves, Almeria, Marbella, Celta Vigo and Real Madrid.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Valencia finished 9th of 20 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points