Key strength: Pace and recovery
Overlapping full-back
At Villarreal CF, currently sitting 4th in the La Liga table, 24-year-old right-back Adrià Altimira represents a strategic depth signing with developmental potential. With just one appearance (90 minutes) this season, the Spanish defender is clearly biding his time behind established starters, waiting for his opportunity to shine. His €1.4m market value reflects his young age and room for growth rather than proven output. Operating as an overlapping full-back, Altimira's pace and recovery ability could eventually provide valuable tactical flexibility for Unai Emery's side as they push for European qualification. Among teammates like the prolific Georges Mikautadze (80-rated), who demands service from the flanks, Altimira's attacking instincts could prove valuable. While goalless and assistless in his limited action, the 90-minute appearance suggests he earned the manager's trust when called upon. For a club aiming for consistency at the top of the table, squad depth like Altimira—affordable, young, and technically oriented—will be crucial during the congested fixture calendar ahead.