# Luis Rioja

Luis Jesús Rioja González (born 16 October 1993) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left winger and left back for Valencia CF.

## Career

Rioja was born in Las Cabezas de San Juan, Seville, Andalusia, and was a CD Cabecense youth graduate. He made his senior debut on 2 September 2012, playing the last 22 minutes of a 2–0 Tercera División home win against Cádiz CF B.
Rioja scored his first senior goal on 18 November 2012, in a 4–0 home routing of Arcos CF, and finished the campaign with four goals in 35 appearances. On 27 June of the following year, he signed a three-year deal with Real Madrid and was assigned to the C-team in Segunda División B.
On 27 July 2014, Rioja joined another reserve team, Celta de Vigo B in the third division. On 4 January 2017, he moved to fellow league team Marbella FC.
On 23 July 2018, Rioja agreed to a two-year contract with Segunda División side UD Almería. He made his professional debut on 17 August, starting in a 1–0 away loss against Cádiz CF.
Rioja scored his first professional goal on 26 August 2018, netting the opener in a 1–1 home draw against CD Tenerife. He was a regular starter for the club during the campaign, contributing four goals in 39 appearances.
On 1 July 2019, Rioja signed a four-year deal with La Liga side Deportivo Alavés, as the club activated his release clause. He made his debut in the league on 18 August, starting in a 1–0 home defeat of Levante UD.
On 22 August 2024, Rioja signed a two-year contract with Valencia CF.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 17 June 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Cabecense | 2012–13 | Tercera División | 35 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 4 |
| Real Madrid C | 2013–14 | Segunda División B | 33 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 0 |
| Celta B | 2014–15 | Segunda División B | 28 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 28 | 4 |
| Celta B | 2015–16 | Segunda División B | 37 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 37 | 4 |
| Celta B | 2016–17 | Segunda División B | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Celta B | Total | Total | 65 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 8 |
| Marbella | 2016–17 | Segunda División B | 16 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 0 |
| Marbella | 2017–18 | Segunda División B | 30 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 5 |
| Marbella | Total | Total | 46 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 50 | 5 |
| Almería | 2018–19 | Segunda División | 39 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 41 | 5 |
| Alavés | 2019–20 | La Liga | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 0 |
| Alavés | 2020–21 | La Liga | 35 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 36 | 5 |
| Alavés | 2021–22 | La Liga | 37 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 39 | 2 |
| Alavés | 2022–23 | Segunda División | 38 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 45 | 10 |
| Alavés | 2023–24 | La Liga | 37 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 5 |
| Alavés | 2024–25 | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Alavés | Total | Total | 176 | 20 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 189 | 22 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 394 | 41 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 413 | 44 |
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in Promotion Playoff

## Honours

Alavés
* Segunda División play-offs: 2023
Individual
* Segunda División Player of the Month: February 2023