Carles Gil

Carles Gil de Pareja Vicent (born 22 November 1992) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Deportivo de La Coruña, on loan from Aston Villa.
He began his career at Valencia, playing mostly in their reserves and making his debut with the first team in 2014. He also spent two seasons on loan at Elche, winning promotion to La Liga in 2013.

Club career

Valencia

Born in Valencia, Valencian Community, Gil was a product of Valencia CF's youth system, having joined the club at the age of five. He made his senior debut at only 17 with the reserves by playing one game in Segunda División B, being brought to the main squad for the 2010, 2011 and 2012 pre-seasons and scoring the third goal in the latter against SV Rödinghausen (4–0 away win); shortly after, he earned a professional contract until 2016.

Gil was loaned to neighbouring Elche CF for the 2012–13 campaign. He first played in Segunda División on 19 August 2012, starting in a home game against SD Ponferradina and netting in an eventual 4–2 win; he scored in the following match, a 2–1 success at Hércules CF. After being a very important offensive unit as the club returned to La Liga after nearly 25 years, Gil remained with Elche for 2013–14, still owned by the Che. He made his debut in the competition on 19 August 2013, in a 0–3 loss at Rayo Vallecano. Gil scored his first goal in the top flight on 1 March 2014, netting the game's only goal in a home win over Celta de Vigo.

He subsequently returned to Valencia, making his league debut on 29 August in a 3–0 home success against Málaga CF. Gil netted his first league goal for Valencia on 28 September 2014, contributing to a 1–1 draw at Real Sociedad.

Aston Villa

Gil joined Premier League side Aston Villa on 13 January 2015 for a fee in the region of £3.2 million, signing a four-and-a-half year deal and receiving the number 25 jersey. He made his debut four days later, as a 59th-minute substitute for Ashley Westwood in a 0–2 home defeat to Liverpool. Despite the result, manager Paul Lambert described his performance as "as good a debut as I've seen".

On 25 January 2015, Gil made his first start, in an FA Cup tie against Bournemouth, scoring from the edge of the box to open a 2–1 victory. Thirteen days later he contributed his first assist for the Villains, allowing Jores Okore to score through a close-range header in a 1–2 home defeat to Chelsea.

Gil netted for the first time in the league on 13 September 2015, putting his team 2–0 up in an eventual 2–3 loss at Leicester City. The following 2 January, away to Sunderland, he equalised with an aerial volley from compatriot Adama's cross, but in a 1–3 defeat against their relegation rivals.

On 20 July 2016, Gil returned to his homeland's top flight, being loaned to Deportivo de La Coruña with an option to buy.

International career

On 30 August 2013, Julen Lopetegui named Gil in the Spanish under-21 squad for 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers against Austria and Albania. He made his debut against the latter on 9 September, coming on as a second-half substitute and providing an assist for Jesé's final goal in a 4–0 win in Logroño.

Personal life

Gil's younger brother, Nacho, is also a footballer. A forward, he also came through at Valencia.

Club statistics

As of 28 January 2017

Honours

Elche

• Segunda División: 2012–13