Seven players from the Canary Islands have worn the Yellow first-team shirt
Villarreal CF have strengthened their squad with the signing of promising Canarian talent Alberto Moleiro, who joins from UD Las Palmas. The midfielder from Santa Cruz de Tenerife becomes the seventh player from the Canary Islands to represent the Yellow Submarine, further cementing a fruitful connection between Villarreal and football from the archipelago.
A long-standing connection
Before Moleiro, the most recent Canarian signing was Ayoze Pérez—the standout goalscorer of the current campaign. The Tenerife-born forward arrived in Vila-real in August 2024 after winning the European Championship with the Spanish national team.
In his debut season, Ayoze has quickly won over the fans with his explosive attacking displays and clinical finishing. He finished as the top Spanish scorer in LALIGA EA SPORTS with 19 goals, continuing the legacy of his current teammate Gerard Moreno, who previously won the Zarra Trophy twice (2019/20 with 18 goals and 2020/21 with 23 goals).
But this link with the islands began long before. The trailblazer was defender Carlos Juan, who signed for Villarreal in the 1976/77 season, back when the club competed in the Regional Preferente.
It would be 17 more seasons before another Canarian joined the Yellows. In the 1993/94 campaign, striker Javi II arrived from Mérida, during Villarreal’s time in the Segunda División A under manager Carlos Simón.
Once in LaLiga, Villarreal looked to the islands once again. In the 2001/02 season, Antonio Guayre joined from UD Las Palmas and became a key figure in the club’s first golden era, staying for five seasons.
Another standout was full-back Ángel López, who arrived in 2007/08. He also spent five seasons with Villarreal, earned caps with the Spanish national team, and cemented his place as a regular starter.
More recently, in the 2020/21 season, Yeremy Pino made the jump to the first team after a successful rise through the Yellows Academy. The Gran Canaria-born winger is now one of Villarreal’s key attacking threats. He finished the current season in excellent form, earning a place in Luis de la Fuente’s latest Spain squad.
Yeremy has now completed his fifth season with the first team, contributing 4 goals and 9 assists in 2024/25—an outstanding return that further confirms his development and importance.
Impact in the reserve teams too
In addition to the seven Canarian players who have reached the first team, others have left their mark in the Villarreal B ranks and even earned call-ups to the senior squad, though without making their official debut. Players such as Airam Cabrera, Iriome González and Juan Carlos Arana are further proof that Canarian talent has always flourished at the Yellows Academy.
With the arrival of Alberto Moleiro, Villarreal continues to bet on young, creative and exciting talent—keeping alive a special connection with Canarian football, a region that has consistently brought flair and quality to the Yellow Submarine.
