La Liga has always been regarded as one of the greatest football leagues in the world, but it recently has becoming a space where players can reignite their careers. That is no different this season, as six former Premier League players have had explosive starts to the campaign, so who are they?

Ayoze Perez - Villareal

Remembered fondly for his time at Newcastle and Leicester, Ayoze Perez ended his almost decade-long career in England in 2023 following Leicester’s relegation from the Premier League. After a short loan spell back in his homeland of Spain at Real Betis, Perez made the move permanent. He had an enjoyable 23/24 season scoring nine league goals and an additional two in the UEFA Europa League.

This summer he decided to move on again, opting to leave behind European football at Betis for Villareal, who were without European football for the first time since 2019/20. There under head coach Marcelino, Perez has flourished so far scoring 10 goals and assisting twice in 13 appearances across all competitions. Not always the first name on the team sheet either, Perez has been used as a substitute in five of his 11 La Liga appearances and has missed five games due to injury on top of that. Making his figures so far even more impressive.

Often preferred as a second striker rather than a winger this season, Perez looks on track for his most prolific year yet, with 16 goals in the 13/14 Segunda Division his record to beat (and 12 goals in the 18/19 Premier League season his next best tally). The Tenerife native can also boast winning the 2024 European Championships, after he was a surprise inclusion in Spain’s squad, even making it onto the pitch once.

🇪🇸🟡 What a season Ayoze Pérez (31) is having with Villarreal... ✨

6 goals in 7 La Liga games so far, making him the 2nd highest goalscorer. 🔝 pic.twitter.com/AlprqOYtU7

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) September 26, 2024

Giovani Lo Celso - Real Betis

After five years contracted at Tottenham Hotspur, Giovani Lo Celso finally left London in the Summer just gone to move back to the club where he attracted so much attention, Real Betis. In opposite fashion to Ayoze Perez, Lo Celso spent 18 months on loan at Villareal between 2022 and 2023 before joining Betis permanently after one last dance at Spurs last season.

This campaign - after it seemed his career was stagnating at Spurs - the Argentinian has already scored seven goals from midfield in 11 appearances. Adding on his goal in the UEFA Conference League as well, Lo Celso has a goal tally only bettered by his 16-goal season the year before he moved to the Premier League.

Once a promising young boy talent starting at PSG, Lo Celso has managed to reroute his footballing journey. Now the leading player in La Liga for shot-creating actions per 90 with 6.45, Lo Celso also has 77 progressive passes and 23 tackles after just 11 games, demonstrating how well-rounded his game is.

Giovani Lo Celso: From surplus to requirements at Spurs to thriving at Betis. pic.twitter.com/9aNRhIvtaK

— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) December 18, 2024

Dodi Lukebakio - Sevilla

Perhaps the most surprising name on this list, Dodi Lukebakio is eligible due to his singular Premier League appearance for Watford in 2018, coming off the bench to replace Gerard Deulofeu in a 2-0 defeat at West Ham. After half a season at Vicarage Road, the Belgian was loaned to Fortuna Dusseldorf and never seen in the English top flight again. Since then he has had successful spells in Germany and now Seville, making 24 international appearances along the way.

The most impressive part about his time at Watford was how the club managed to sell the player for four times the amount (€20 million) he was bought for (€5 million), despite hardly being involved at the club. Lukebakio has appeared for Sevilla in every single league game this season, starting 16/17. He is the club’s top goalscorer by far with seven goals for his side, who are currently playing out a mediocre season in 11th place.

Most successful dribbles in La Liga this season:

◎ 51 - Lamine Yamal
◎ 43 - Dodi Lukébakio
◎ 39 - Vinícius Júnior
◎ 37 - Kylian Mbappé
◎ 37 - Nico Williams pic.twitter.com/incaZ2fzOc

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) December 17, 2024

Diego Rico - Getafe

When Diego Rico made his professional debut back in 2013 at Zaragoza, the aforementioned Ayoze Perez of all people played for the opposing Tenerife side. Since then he has had two seasons of Premier League football on the south coast with Bournemouth between 2018 and 2020, as well as an additional season in the Championship following the Cherries’ relegation. The fullback then returned to his homeland, the only other country he has played in, where he spent two seasons at Real Sociedad before making the move to Madrid to play for Getafe.

Often finding himself as a regular starter at whichever club he joins, Rico has played the full 90 in 15 of Getafe’s 17 La Liga fixtures. Only two points above the relegation zone Rico has had to put in a shift to keep his side afloat in the league making 58 tackles and interceptions combined. He is also in the top 10 players in the league for crosses, making 78.

Pick that one out! 😮

Diego Rico catches Jack Walton out with a stunning free-kick to score his first ever Bournemouth goal! 👏

Watch it live on Sky Sports Football or follow here: https://t.co/gI48NxBJxW pic.twitter.com/W2Jk4EISgk

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 4, 2020

Paulo Gazzaniga - Girona

From Gillingham to Southampton to Tottenham Hotspur to Fulham, Paulo Gazzniga spent over a decade in England, mainly as a backup keeper making minimal appearances. Before his move to Girona the Argentinian - who has been capped once by his country - may have been remembered for his 25 appearances and five clean sheets in Spurs’ 19/20 season following a Hugo Lloris injury.

Since returning to Spain, initially on loan, Gazzaniga has relished in his three seasons being the first-choice keeper at then newly promoted Girona. His decision to move to Catalonia proved even more fruitful when he started every league match last season, keeping 12 clean sheets and overseeing a historical third-placed La Liga finish.

Whilst this season has seen a slight drop off from Girona, Gazzaniga has already kept four league clean sheets and an additional one in the UEFA Champions League. He also managed to save three penalty kicks in one match against Atheltic Bilbao in October. Elsewhere in Girona, former Spurs teammate Bryan Gil has also had a career revival with five goal contributions in La Liga so far this season.

❌ Ander Herrera
❌ Alex Berenguer
❌ Inaki Williams

Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga has saved three penalties from three different Athletic Club players in the same game.

He denied Berenguer in the first half before saving from Williams and Herrera in the second half —… pic.twitter.com/IRhSoUlfU5

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) October 6, 2024

Sergio Gomez - Real Sociedad

Last on the list is one of the more recent Premier League players, a La Masia product who made an early career move to Dortmund. Sergio Gomez finally made a name for himself in his two seasons at Manchester City between 2022 and 2024. Despite making 38 appearances for City across those two years, Gomez was always a backup, utilised in multiple positions in defence and midfield. That being said the Spaniard managed to win the Premier League twice and the UEFA Champions League once in his short spell in England.

Still just 24 years old, Gomez has now found a place in San Sebastian where he can play every week, and he has starting 14/17 Sociedad league games this season, coming off the bench in the other three. Gomez also has appeared in the UEFA Europa League and has scored two goals and assisted five times, all whilst playing on either wing, in midfield or at left-back.

When playing in the back line, Gomez is a part of the best defence in La Liga so far this season, keeping 10 clean sheets and conceding just 11 goals. He leads the squad in shot-creating actions (57), recoveries (78) and crosses (111).

sergio gomez’s start to life at real sociedad, i couldn’t be happier :) pic.twitter.com/19BN2odbnT

— laura (@1aurarose) November 3, 2024