Born in Girona, Catalonia, Soler was a RCD Espanyol youth graduate, making his first-team – and La Liga – debut in the 1983–84 season and going on to become an essential element after a loan to neighbouring CE L'Hospitalet. In his fourth year, as the club finished third after the second stage, he appeared in 41 out of 42 games and scored two goals, going on to help it reach the final of the 1988 UEFA Cup, netting in the first leg (3–0 home win) as the "Pericos" eventually lost on penalties against Bayer 04 Leverkusen.