# Gael Sandoval

Walter Gael Sandoval Contreras (born 5 November 1995) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays for Leones Negros in the Liga de Expansión MX.

## Club career
### Youth career

Sandoval played for many academies in the state of his native Jalisco, starting with Club Oro in 2010 and then settled with Estudiantes Tecos, until they were dissolved in 2012. Santos Laguna signed him to play for their under 17s shortly after. He went on trial with Roma in 2013, but was not signed.

### Santos Laguna

In 2012, Sandoval moved to Santos Laguna. He made his Liga MX debut on July 17, 2016, against Tigres UANL coming in as substitute.

#### Loan at Juárez

In the summer of 2015, Sandoval joined Juárez on a one-year loan in the Ascenso MX, to gain professional playing experience. In his first season, he won the Liga Ascenso Apertura 2015.

### Guadalajara

It was confirmed on November 18, 2017, that Sandoval will play for Guadalajara.

#### Loans

On 9 January 2020, Sandoval returned to Juárez, joining the club on a six-months loan.
On 10 July 2020, Sandoval returned to Santos Laguna on loan, for the Apertura 2020.
In December 2020, Sandoval was loaned out to Mazatlán FC, wearing the squad number 1, a number typically used by goalkeepers.
In December 2021, Sandoval joined New Zealand A-League club Wellington Phoenix on loan until the end of the season.

### Tepatitlán

On 15 January 2023, after being without a club for six months, Sandoval joined Liga Expansión club Tepatitlán on a free transfer. Shortly after, on 6 February 2023, and without playing a game, he agreed a mutual termination with the club, with the intent of joining a MLS club.

### Vancouver FC

Instead of a MLS club, on 1 March 2023, Sandoval joined Canadian Premier League club Vancouver FC as their marquee signing. On 13 July 2023, after a disappointing stint at the club, he and the team agreed on a mutual contract termination.

### Leones Negros

On 27 July 2023, returned to Mexico to join his hometown club Leones Negros in Liga de Expansión MX.

## Career statistics

    As of 10 May 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Tecos | 2012–13 | Ascenso MX | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Santos Laguna | 2013–14 | Liga MX | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| Santos Laguna | 2014–15 | Liga MX | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Santos Laguna | 2016–17 | Liga MX | 35 | 2 | 8 | 0 | — | — | 43 | 2 |
| Santos Laguna | 2017–18 | Liga MX | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 |
| Santos Laguna | Total | Total | 49 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 64 | 2 |
| Juárez (loan) | 2015–16 | Ascenso MX | 35 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 0 |
| Guadalajara | 2017–18 | Liga MX | 13 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Guadalajara | 2018–19 | Liga MX | 22 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 29 | 5 |
| Guadalajara | 2019–20 | Liga MX | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 |
| Guadalajara | Total | Total | 42 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 56 | 5 |
| Juárez (loan) | 2019–20 | Liga MX | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| Santos Laguna (loan) | 2020–21 | Liga MX | 14 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 3 |
| Mazatlán (loan) | 2020–21 | Liga MX | 14 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 0 |
| Mazatlán (loan) | 2021–22 | Liga MX | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Mazatlán (loan) | Total | Total | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Wellington Phoenix (loan) | 2021–22 | A-League | 20 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 6 |
| Vancouver FC | 2023 | Canadian Premier League | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 1 |
| Leones Negros | 2023–24 | Liga de Expansión MX | 28 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 28 | 4 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 219 | 18 | 31 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 256 | 21 |
* ↑ Appearances in Copa MX, Australia Cup and Canadian Championship
* ↑ Appearances in Copa Libertadores, CONCACAF Champions Cup and FIFA Club World Cup

## Honours

Santos Laguna
* Liga MX: Clausura 2015
* Copa MX: Apertura 2014
* Campeón de Campeones: 2015
Guadalajara
* CONCACAF Champions League: 2018
Individual
* Liga MX Best Rookie: 2016–17