Gabri Veiga
Spanish footballer (born 2002)
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Gabriel Veiga Novas (Galician pronunciation: [ɡaβɾiˈɛl ˈvɛjɣɐ]; born 27 May 2002) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Primeira Liga club Porto.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gabriel Veiga Novas[1] | |||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 27 May 2002 | |||||||||||||
| Place of birth | O Porriño, Galicia, Spain | |||||||||||||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[1] | |||||||||||||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | |||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||
Current team | Porto | |||||||||||||
| Number | 10 | |||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||
| UD Louro Tameiga | ||||||||||||||
| Santa Mariña | ||||||||||||||
| Celta | ||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | Celta B | 63 | (10) | |||||||||||
| 2021–2023 | Celta | 50 | (11) | |||||||||||
| 2023–2025 | Al-Ahli | 50 | (11) | |||||||||||
| 2025– | Porto | 30 | (3) | |||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | Spain U18 | 5 | (2) | |||||||||||
| 2022– | Spain U21 | 19 | (3) | |||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:28, 10 May 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 17:58, 8 May 2025 (UTC) | ||||||||||||||
Club career
Celta
Veiga was born in O Porriño, Pontevedra, Galicia, and was a RC Celta de Vigo youth graduate. He made his senior debut with the reserves at the age of 17 on 25 August 2019, starting in a 2–2 Segunda División B away draw against Internacional de Madrid.[2]
Veiga scored his first goal on 1 December 2019, netting the opener in a 1–6 loss at CD Atlético Baleares.[3] He made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 19 September of the following year, coming on as a late substitute for Renato Tapia in a 2–1 home win against Valencia CF.[4]
Veiga scored his first professional goal on 10 September 2022, but in a 4–1 away loss against Atlético Madrid. The following 11 January, he was promoted to the main squad, being assigned the number 24 jersey.[5]
Al-Ahli
Despite strong interest from top European clubs including Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Napoli,[6][7] on 26 August 2023, Veiga joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, signing a three-year deal,[8] after activating his €40m release clause.[9] Veiga's decision to reject interest from European clubs in favour of the lucrative contract offer from Saudi Arabia drew criticism from fans, media and fellow players for a perceived lack of sporting ambition.[10][11] Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos labelled the move as "embarrassing".[10]
On 3 May 2025, Veiga was a member of Al-Ahli squad that won the AFC Champions League Elite for the first time in the club's history, defeating Kawasaki Frontale at the final with a score of 2–0.[12]
Porto
On 5 June 2025, Veiga joined Primeira Liga club FC Porto for a fee of €15 million, signing a five-year contract with the Portuguese side.[13]
He made his debut for the club, starting the match and played 67 minutes before being substituted, in the 0–0 draw in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against Palmeiras on 15 June.[14]
International career
Veiga is a Spain youth international. He was called up to Spain U21 for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[15] He appeared as a substitute in all six matches of the tournament and later finished as runner-up after Spain 1–0 defeat to England U21 in the final.[16]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 10 May 2026[17]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Celta B | 2019–20 | Segunda División B | 14 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 1 | ||||
| 2020–21 | Segunda División B | 17 | 0 | — | — | — | 1[c] | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||||
| 2021–22 | Primera División RFEF | 31 | 9 | — | — | — | — | 31 | 9 | |||||
| 2022–23 | Primera Federación | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 63 | 10 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 64 | 10 | |||||
| Celta | 2020–21 | La Liga | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22 | La Liga | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 10 | 0 | ||||
| 2022–23 | La Liga | 36 | 11 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 39 | 11 | ||||
| 2023–24 | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 50 | 11 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 56 | 11 | |||||
| Al-Ahli | 2023–24 | Saudi Pro League | 18 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 20 | 4 | |||
| 2024–25 | Saudi Pro League | 32 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | 12[d] | 1 | 1[e] | 0 | 46 | 8 | ||
| Total | 50 | 11 | 3 | 0 | — | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 66 | 12 | |||
| Porto | 2024–25 | Primeira Liga | — | — | — | — | 3[f] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| 2025–26 | Primeira Liga | 30 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10[g] | 2 | — | 47 | 6 | ||
| Total | 30 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 50 | 6 | ||
| Career total | 193 | 35 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 236 | 39 | ||
- Includes Copa del Rey, King's Cup, Taça de Portugal
- Includes Taça da Liga
- Appearance in Segunda División B play-offs
- Appearances in AFC Champions League Elite
- Appearance in Saudi Super Cup
- Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League