Pau Torres (footballer, born 1997)


Pau Francisco Torres is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Villarreal CF as a central defender.

Club career

Born in Villarreal, Province of Castellón, Valencian Community, Torres played youth football with Villarreal CF. He made his league debut with the reserves on 21 August 2016, starting in a 0–1 Segunda División B away loss against UE Cornellà.
Torres scored his first senior goal on 8 October 2016, the first in a 2–2 home draw with CF Badalona. His maiden competitive appearance for the first team took place on 20 December, when he came on as a late substitute for Víctor Ruiz in the 1–1 home draw against CD Toledo in the round of 32 of Copa del Rey; by doing so, he became the first player born in Villarreal to debut for the club in 13 years.
Torres played his first match in La Liga on 26 November 2017, replacing fellow youth graduate Manu Trigueros late into a 2–3 home loss to Sevilla FC. He made his UEFA Europa League debut ten days later, starting and finishing the 1–0 group stage home defeat against Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. also at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
On 6 August 2018, Torres was loaned to Málaga CF for one year. He only missed four Segunda División games during his spell as the side reached the promotion play-offs and, subsequently, was recalled by his parent club.
Torres subsequently cemented his place in Villarreal's starting XI, playing every minute in the league. In October 2019, he was rewarded with a contract extension until 2024, and the same month scored his first goal in the Spanish top level, opening a 2–1 loss at CA Osasuna.

International career

Torres was given his first call up for the Spanish national team by Robert Moreno on 4 October 2019, for UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers against Norway and Sweden. He did not debut until 15 November when he scored in a 7–0 rout of Malta for the already qualified hosts, within a minute of replacing Sergio Ramos; Dani Olmo also scored on his first cap in that game, the first time that two Spaniards did so in exactly 30 years.

Career statistics

Club

International

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.15 November 2019Ramón de Carranza, Cádiz, Spain3–07–0UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying