OFFICIAL: Former Real Madrid defender Jusus Vallejo joins Albacete as free agent

The Zaragoza center back signs for two seasons

CLUB STATEMENT

Yes, he's in Albacete. Jesús Vallejo Lázaro (January 5, 1997, Zaragoza) joins Albacete Balompié for the next two seasons, having moved from Real Madrid.

Little needs to be said about a player who, at 28 years old, has played more than 200 top-level matches both in Spain and abroad, who debuted in professional football at 17, and who has an enviable record of achievements both in club football and in the youth categories of the Spanish national team.

A story that began in his homeland. A Real Zaragoza youth player, Jesús Vallejo stood out so much at such a young age that at just 17, he did preseason training with the Zaragoza first team and earned a place not only in the squad, but also in the starting lineup on the opening day of the 2014-15 season, the first of 45 official matches he played that year.

His growth was such that he eventually became Zaragoza's captain, included in the LALIGA Hypermotion best eleven that season, and a key player in Spain's U-19 European Championship. He has also been called up many times to the U-21 national team, with which he won the 2019 European Championship in Italy. He also enjoyed Olympic joy, winning the silver medal at the 2020 Beijing Olympics.

In the summer of 2015, he signed for Real Madrid, spending that season on loan at Real Zaragoza. After another strong performance in the second tier of Spanish football, he made the leap to the German First Division. In the 2016-17 season, he played for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. He appeared in 25 matches, 22 of them as a starter, continuing his progress.

In 2016, he launched his career as a Real Madrid player and began collecting titles, both domestic and international. After two seasons at Chamartín, he left Spain again, heading for the Premier League with Wolverhampton Wanderers. He played the first part of that season with Wolves, having joined Granada CF in the winter transfer window.

He spent a season and a half with Granada, playing in 51 matches, as a preliminary step toward his return to Real Madrid. Back in the Spanish capital, Vallejo spent two seasons before returning to Granada in the 2023-24 season.

Last season, he played for Real Madrid again, with whom he ended his contract last summer. Now he arrives at Alba with vast experience despite his age and a track record that clearly indicates he will undoubtedly help Alba grow alongside Vallejo.

Welcome home, Jesus!