Pepelu

Pepelu's current-season form is level with last season (Season 32→31), while his Rating eased 72→65. His peak season for form remains 2023/24 (Season 62).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	Valencia · 9th	31	2	0	7	65	31
2024/25	Valencia · 12th	35	2	2	7.03	72	32
2023/24	Valencia · 9th	37	7	1	7.23	90	62
2022/23	Levante · 3rd	43	1	2	7.15	71	39
2021/22	Levante · 19th	29	0	0	6.82	75	21

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 4 earlier seasons and 3 youth-team spells in the full career.

Spain · international

Side	Apps	G
Spain U21	2	0
Spain U19	3	0
Spain U17	11	1

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Key starterCentral defender

Pepelu is a 27-year-old central defender at Valencia, rated 65.1 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 192nd of 389 on scout potential in the La Liga. In his prime years, he has been a regular starter this season (65.3% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.63 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Pepelu.

Judged on this season alone, Pepelu graded 31 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 33rd of 75 of the 75 centre-backs in the La Liga, on 6 clean sheets and 3.629 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 32 → 31). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has held fairly steady, peaking in 2023/24.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 65, 37th of 75 of the 75 centre-backs in the La Liga. At 27 Pepelu is in his prime years, and a market index of 43.1 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Past his 2023/24 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2023/24Trending downBreakout: 2023/24Stepped up 2023/24

Current potential37th of 75 centre-backs · La Liga Current season33rd of 75 centre-backs · La Liga33rd-best centre-back in the La Liga192nd in the La Liga · potential37th-highest potential centre-back in the La Liga

65.1

Ratingi

37th of 75 centre-backs

31.4

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

65.3%

Minutes

a regular starter

3.63

Def. actions / 90

solid defensive volume

Output in context · Valencia finished 9th of 20 · a mid-table side

3.63

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.63 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 6 clean sheets across 31 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 2 goals and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 65.3% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Defensive volume. 3.63 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.
Pedigree. Performing in a top-tier setting (team strength 92/100).

Watch points

Few red flags. No obvious weaknesses in the current-season profile — consistency is the next test.

Outlook

With a Rating of 65.1, Pepelu carries the 37th-highest potential of the centre-backs in the La Liga of 75. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (3.63 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). In the prime window — at or near peak market value, so the next two seasons are the ones to cash in or build around.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %65.3%

Available fixtures38 of 38

Goals / 900.081

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900.081

Defensive actions / 903.629

Player flow

Goal involvements2

Shot conversion %66.7

Shot accuracy %21.4

Pass accuracy %86

Dribble success %80

Cards / 900.161

Foul involvement / 901.774

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~43), then tapers with age. At 27, Pepelu sits on 43.1, at or near its peak. The blue line is Pepelu's projected Rating — 65.1 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the La Liga with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals2

Shots on target3

Shots14

Passing

Assists0

Pass accuracy86%

Possession

Successful dribbles8

Dribble success80%

Fouls won14

Defending

Tackles60

Interceptions20

Blocks10

Fouls committed30

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards4

Red cards0

Transfer history

€5M total transfer fees · 6 moves

Valencia2023/24 – now€ 5M

Levante(back from loan)2021/22 – 2023/24

Guimaraes(on loan)2020/21 – 2021/22

Tondela(on loan)2019/20 – 2020/21

Levante(back from loan)2018/19 – 2019/20

Hércules(on loan)2017/18 – 2018/19

Levanteuntil 2017/18

About Pepelu

José Luis García Vayá is a 27-year-old centre-back who plays for Valencia, born on August 11, 1998 in Dénia, standing 185 cm tall. He is from Spain. Valencia currently sit 9th of 20 in the La Liga.

This season

In the current season, Pepelu has made 31 appearances with 2 goals and 0 assists across 2,232 minutes, averaging a 6.84 match rating over his last 9 rated games, with 4 yellow cards. His season has spanned the La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

When Pepelu plays, Valencia's record this season is 11W-10D-12L — and his match ratings average 7.22 at home against 6.83 on the road.

Recent matches

May 23, 2026: 3-1 win at home vs Barcelona (90 minutes, 6.7 rating)
May 17, 2026: 4-3 win away at Real Sociedad (16 minutes, 6.6 rating)
May 14, 2026: 1-1 draw at home vs Rayo Vallecano (61 minutes, 6.9 rating)
May 10, 2026: 1-0 win away at Athletic Club (70 minutes, 6.5 rating)
May 2, 2026: 0-2 loss at home vs Atletico Madrid (90 minutes, 6.9 rating)
April 25, 2026: 2-1 win at home vs Girona (90 minutes, 7.3 rating)
April 21, 2026: 1-1 draw away at Mallorca (90 minutes, 7.2 rating)
April 11, 2026: 0-1 loss away at Elche (15 minutes, 6.9 rating)
March 21, 2026: 2-0 win away at Sevilla (1 minutes)
February 15, 2026: 2-0 win away at Levante (58 minutes, 6.6 rating)

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates Pepelu at 65.1 with a Season form score of 31.4, ranking 192nd of 389 centre-backs in the La Liga. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

Career

Across 11 recorded seasons, Pepelu has totalled 361 club appearances with 29 goals and 9 assists for 6 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2022/23, with 43 appearances for Levante.

Pepelu's career has also included time at Levante, Guimaraes, Tondela and Hércules.

On the international stage, Pepelu has represented Spain U21, Spain U19, Spain U17 — 16 caps and 1 goal in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Valencia finished 9th of 20 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points