Aitor Ruibal in 2026: Net worth and Salary, Injury, Stats, Fc26, Transfer values, and FAQs

Net worth and Salary

Football salaries in Spain are rarely published in full, and Betis do not disclose individual wages. So any figure you see online is an estimate, including ours.

Our sports desk puts Aitor Ruibal's net worth in 2026 at somewhere between 10 million and 12 million dollars. That range is built from a decade of professional football, six of those years as a regular first-team player at a club competing in Europe, plus a captaincy, plus modest commercial and boot deals. It is not Champions League superstar money and nobody at Betis would claim it is. It is the accumulated earnings of a reliable, long-serving squad player who has stayed at a good club for a long time and avoided the wage cuts that come with dropping down a division.

On salary, our estimate places him in the region of 1.2 million to 1.8 million euros a year before tax and bonuses. Betis operate under La Liga's salary cap and Ruibal sits in the middle band of the squad, below the marquee names like Isco and Antony but comfortably above the youngsters coming through. His current deal runs to June 2028, and given his captaincy and versatility, a modest bump on renewal would surprise nobody.

Age

Aitor Ruibal was born on 22 March 1996, which makes him 30 years old as of August 2026. He turns 31 in March 2027.

Injury

This is the most searched topic around him right now, and for good reason.

In May 2026, Ruibal underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in Barcelona to fix an ongoing external meniscus problem. Betis confirmed the operation had already been scheduled during the season and was brought forward once the club secured Champions League qualification with two games to spare. He missed the final two fixtures of the campaign.

What made the story resonate with supporters was his own explanation. He revealed in a personal letter on social media that he had been dealing with the same meniscus tear for around three years, managing it conservatively rather than operating. This time the decision was made to go under the knife. He described the season as an incredible one personally despite the physical and mental strain of playing through the injury, which for a player who racked up more than 2,700 minutes across 42 official appearances is a fairly remarkable thing to have done.

Where the recovery stands

The original plan was to have him fit for the start of preseason in early July 2026. That timeline has slipped. He was left out of Betis preseason friendlies and, according to Pellegrini, was not available for the La Liga opener against Real Sociedad on 21 August 2026, having missed an extended period of group training.

Injury history in brief

May 2026: right knee arthroscopy, external meniscus, season ended early.

February 2026: short layoff, missed roughly a week.

January 2026: muscle injury, around five days out.

August to September 2025: leg injury, close to a month out.

Earlier years: ankle problems in 2024 and 2025, a knee issue in early 2024, and a procedure in 2023.

Wife

Ruibal is not publicly recorded as married. He has been linked for several years with Anabel Barrau, who has been described in Spanish press coverage as his partner and who has appeared alongside him at team weddings and events.

The couple came to wider attention in 2023, though not for a reason anyone would have chosen. Ruibal and his then teammate Borja Iglesias attended a Betis colleague's wedding wearing designer clutch bags with their suits and were targeted with homophobic abuse online. Ruibal responded with a statement that got a lot of coverage in Spain, calling for respect regardless of sexual orientation and saying that people still behaving that way needed help. Barrau publicly defended him too. It was a small thing on the surface and it told you something about him.

Beyond that, he keeps his private life quiet. There is no publicly confirmed information about children, and we have not found reliable reporting of a marriage. If you see a site stating a wedding date, treat it as unverified.

Stats

The 2025/26 season was arguably the best of his career in terms of responsibility, if not raw output. He wore the captain's armband, played more than 2,700 minutes across 42 official appearances, and did it with a knee that needed surgery.

Across all competitions that season he registered five goals and three to four assists depending on which competitions are counted, along with 28 chances created, 69 tackles and a career high 58 clearances. That last number is the one that tells the story. A player who arrived at Betis as a forward finished the season leading the way in defensive clearances.

Career totals

In domestic league football he has passed 200 senior appearances with around 28 goals and 12 assists, with further appearances in European competition and the Copa del Rey on top. He has a Copa del Rey winner's medal from the 2022 final and was part of the Betis squad that reached a European final in 2025.

Fc26

In EA Sports FC 26 he carries an overall rating of 77 and is listed as a right-back for Real Betis.

That is a fair reflection of him. He is not a card anyone builds a Ultimate Team squad around, but 77 at right-back with a La Liga link and Spanish nationality makes him genuinely useful for early-game squad building and for players chasing chemistry on a budget. His profile in the game leans towards stamina, work rate and physicality rather than pace and dribbling, which mirrors how he actually plays now.

What to expect from his card

Overall rating: 77.

Listed position: right-back, with realistic retraining options into right midfield or right wing.

Strengths: stamina, defensive work rate, aggression, crossing.

Weaknesses: top-end pace and finishing compared with dedicated attacking full-backs.

Position

Officially, right-back. Practically, whatever Betis need on a given weekend.

Pellegrini has also used him as a right winger, a left winger, a wing-back and an emergency forward. That flexibility is his single biggest professional asset. It is also, quietly, the reason his market value has never climbed higher. Clubs pay premiums for specialists. Utility players get appreciated by their own coach and undervalued by everyone else.

Transfer values

His current market valuation sits at roughly 3 to 4 million euros. That figure has come down from his peak, which is normal for a player entering his thirties, and the recent knee surgery will not have helped it.

Our own view is that the market number understates his actual worth to Betis. A 30 year old captain on a contract to 2028 who can cover four positions competently is not a player any well-run club sells cheaply, and the replacement cost for that profile in the current market is well above four million. ICON POLLS would expect Betis to value him internally closer to 6 to 8 million if a genuine offer arrived, though we would be surprised if one did.

Transfer history

Will he leave in 2026?

Unlikely. He has two years left on his deal, he is the captain, he is coming back from surgery and he has publicly described his connection to the club in emotional terms. The realistic scenarios are a renewal towards the end of his contract or a free transfer to a smaller La Liga or Segunda side in 2028. A mid-season move away would be a genuine shock.

Frequently Asked Questions About Aitor Ruibal

1. Who is Aitor Ruibal?

Aitor Ruibal Garcia is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Real Betis in La Liga. He is the club captain, wears the number 24 shirt, and is usually deployed at right-back although he started his career as a winger and forward.

2. How old is Aitor Ruibal in 2026?

He is 30 years old. He was born on 22 March 1996 and will turn 31 in March 2027.

3. Where is Aitor Ruibal from?

He was born in Sallent, a town in the province of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. He is Spanish and came through Catalan clubs including CE Manresa, UE Cornella and CE L'Hospitalet before moving to Andalusia.

4. What is Aitor Ruibal's net worth in 2026?

ICON POLLS estimates his net worth at between 10 million and 12 million dollars. Betis do not publish player finances, so this is an estimate based on his career length, his current standing in the squad and typical earnings for a La Liga regular at his level. Figures well above 20 million that circulate on some sites are not credible.

5. How much does Aitor Ruibal earn per year?

His exact wage is not public. Our estimate places him in the range of 1.2 million to 1.8 million euros gross per season, which would sit in the middle band of the Betis wage structure, below the club's marquee signings and above the academy graduates.

6. What position does Aitor Ruibal play?

Right-back. He is also used as a right winger, left winger and occasional forward. He began his career as an attacker and was converted into a defender at Betis, which is why different databases still list him variously as a forward or a defender.

7. Is Aitor Ruibal injured right now?

Yes. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in May 2026 to resolve an external meniscus problem, and his recovery has run longer than originally planned. He missed Betis preseason friendlies and was ruled out of the La Liga opener against Real Sociedad on 21 August 2026.

8. What injury does Aitor Ruibal have?

A problem with the external, or lateral, meniscus of his right knee. He had been managing the same tear for roughly three years with conservative treatment before deciding to operate. The surgery was performed in Barcelona and the club described it as successful.

9. When will Aitor Ruibal return from injury?

No firm date has been confirmed. The original target was to be fit for the start of preseason in July 2026, which was missed. The sensible expectation is a return once he has completed a full period of group training. Anyone relying on him should wait for confirmation from the club rather than a projected date.

10. Is Aitor Ruibal married, and who is his wife?

There is no public record of a marriage. He has been linked for several years with Anabel Barrau, described in Spanish coverage as his partner. He keeps his personal life largely private and any site listing a wedding date should be treated as unverified.

11. Does Aitor Ruibal have children?

There is no publicly confirmed information about children. He does not discuss his family life in interviews and no reliable reporting exists on the subject.

12. What is Aitor Ruibal's rating in EA FC 26?

He has an overall rating of 77 in EA Sports FC 26 and is listed as a right-back for Real Betis. His attributes lean towards stamina, work rate and physical strength rather than pace or dribbling.

13. Is Aitor Ruibal good in FC 26 Ultimate Team?

He is a useful budget option rather than a meta card. At 77 overall with Spanish nationality and a La Liga link, he works well for early squad building and chemistry on a low budget. In Career Mode he is a cheap, flexible signing for a mid-table club.

14. What is Aitor Ruibal's market value?

Around 3 to 4 million euros as of 2026. The figure has declined with age and the recent surgery. Our view is that his practical value to Betis is higher than that, closer to 6 to 8 million, because of his captaincy, his contract length and his ability to cover several positions.

15. How tall is Aitor Ruibal?

Listings vary between 1.76 m and 1.80 m, roughly 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 11 inches. He weighs approximately 74 kg and is right footed.

16. Is Aitor Ruibal the Real Betis captain?

Yes. He captained the side during the 2025/26 season, which ended with Betis qualifying for the Champions League. He is one of the longest-serving members of the squad.

17. When does Aitor Ruibal's contract expire?

His current Real Betis contract runs until 30 June 2028.

18. What clubs has Aitor Ruibal played for?

CE Manresa, UE Cornella, CE L'Hospitalet, Betis Deportivo and Real Betis, with loan spells at Cartagena, Rayo Majadahonda and Leganes. He has never played outside Spain.

19. Has Aitor Ruibal played for the Spain national team?

He has not been capped by the senior Spain national team. His career has been spent entirely at club level, which is not unusual for a versatile squad player in a country with the depth Spain has at full-back and on the wing.

20. What are Aitor Ruibal's career stats?

He has passed 200 senior league appearances with around 28 goals and 12 assists, plus further appearances in European competition and the Copa del Rey. His single best attacking season came on loan at Rayo Majadahonda in 2018/19, when he scored 11 goals.

21. Has Aitor Ruibal won any trophies?

Yes. He was part of the Real Betis squad that won the Copa del Rey in 2022, and he featured in the side that reached a European final in 2025. He also played a central role in the campaign that took Betis back into the Champions League.

22. Will Aitor Ruibal leave Real Betis?

It looks unlikely in the near term. He has a contract to 2028, he is the club captain, and he is currently rebuilding from knee surgery. The most probable outcomes are a contract renewal or an eventual free transfer at the end of his deal rather than a sale.