# Pepelu

José Luis García Vayá (born 11 August 1998), commonly known as Pepelu, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club Valencia.

## Club career
### Levante
#### Early years

Born in Dénia, Alicante, Valencian Community, Pepelu joined Levante's youth setup in 2012, after starting it out at Dénia. On 24 June 2014, while still a youth, he renewed his contract until 2021, and made his senior debut with the reserve team on 7 September, coming on as a half-time substitute in a Tercera División 1–1 home draw against Castellón.
Pepelu helped the B-team in their promotion to Segunda División B at the end of the season, and scored his first senior goal on 30 August 2015, netting his team's second in a 2–0 home win over Llosetense. On 15 December, he made his first team debut by replacing Juanfran in a 2–1 Copa del Rey away loss against Espanyol.

#### Loan to Hércules

In August 2017, after Levante's B-side suffered relegation to the fourth tier, Pepelu was loaned to Hércules in the third division, for one season. A regular starter, he contributed with 32 matches overall during the campaign.

#### Loan to Tondela

Upon returning from loan, Pepelu was a regular starter for the B-side also in the third division, scoring a career-best six goals during the 2018–19 campaign. On 26 July 2019, he moved abroad for the first time in his career after agreeing to a one-year loan deal with Primeira Liga side Tondela.
Pepelu scored his first professional goal on 7 December 2019, netting the opener in a 3–2 away success over Famalicão. The following 26 July, he saved the club from relegation with a late penalty 2–1 winner at Moreirense on the final day.

#### Loan to Vitória SC

On 8 September 2020, Pepelu remained in Portugal for a further campaign, after agreeing to a one-year loan deal with Vitória SC. He was also a first-choice for the club, as they narrowly missed out a continental spot.

#### Breakthrough

Upon returning to Levante in July 2021, Pepelu made his La Liga debut on 11 September, replacing Pablo Martínez late into a 1–1 home draw against Rayo Vallecano. He established himself as a regular starter for the side under manager Alessio Lisci, but was unable to prevent the club's relegation to Segunda División.
In June 2022, Pepelu signed a new ten-year contract with Levante running until the summer of 2032. He scored his first goal for the club on 29 April 2023, netting the opener in a 2–0 home win over Deportivo Alavés.

### Valencia

On 8 July 2023, Pepelu moved to cross-town rivals Valencia CF in the top tier, for €5 million. The player signed a five-year contract, with a release clause of €100 million.

## International career

After representing Spain at under-17, under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels, Pepelu received his first call-up to the full side on 2 September 2024, for two 2024–25 UEFA Nations League matches against Serbia and Switzerland.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 17 August 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Levante B | 2015–16 | Segunda División B | 30 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 30 | 4 |
| Levante B | 2016–17 | Segunda División B | 29 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 31 | 4 |
| Levante B | 2018–19 | Segunda División B | 31 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | 6 |
| Levante B | Total | Total | 90 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 92 | 14 |
| Levante | 2015–16 | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Levante | 2021–22 | La Liga | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 30 | 0 |
| Levante | 2022–23 | Segunda División | 43 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 47 | 1 |
| Levante | Total | Total | 72 | 1 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 78 | 1 |
| Hércules (loan) | 2017–18 | Segunda División B | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 32 | 0 |
| Tondela (loan) | 2019–20 | Primeira Liga | 33 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 34 | 2 |
| Vitória SC (loan) | 2020–21 | Primeira Liga | 30 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 1 |
| Valencia | 2023–24 | La Liga | 37 | 7 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 39 | 8 |
| Valencia | 2024–25 | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Valencia | Total | Total | 38 | 7 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 40 | 8 |
| Career Total | Career Total | Career Total | 293 | 25 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 309 | 26 |
* ↑ Includes Copa del Rey and Taça de Portugal
* ↑ Includes Taça da Liga
* ↑ Appearances in Segunda División B relegation play-offs