Most goalkeepers spend their early twenties waiting. Alberto Flores has done his waiting with unusual company. He sat on the bench as Sevilla's third-choice keeper when the club won the 2022 to 2023 Europa League, so he owns a European winner's medal before he has played a single La Liga minute. That gap between the trophy cabinet and the team sheet is the whole story of his career so far.
Now 22, and turning 23 in November, Flores is at the point where potential has to start turning into appearances. His contract runs to June 2027, and reports earlier in 2026 described Sevilla's goalkeeping situation as unsettled. That makes this season more important for him than any before it.
| Full name | Alberto Flores Lopez |
|---|---|
| Born | November 10, 2003, in Fuentes de Andalucia, Spain |
| Age | 22 (as of October 2026) |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Position | Goalkeeper |
| Height and weight | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in), about 80 kg (176 lbs) |
| Preferred foot | Left |
| Club | Sevilla FC, shirt number 31 |
| At Sevilla since | 2013, as a youth player |
| Contract ends | June 30, 2027 |
| Estimated market value | EUR 300,000 to EUR 700,000 |
| Estimated net worth | $300,000 to $700,000 (Icon Polls estimate) |
A small town, a big club
Fuentes de Andalucia is a small town in the province of Seville, close enough to the city that joining Sevilla's academy was a realistic dream rather than a distant one. Flores arrived in 2013, aged ten, and has never really left. He worked through the age-group sides before reaching Sevilla Atletico, the reserve team that plays in the Primera Federacion.
One-club careers are rarer than they used to be, especially for goalkeepers, who often have to go on loan or move on to get games. Flores has stayed put. You can read that as loyalty, or as a sign that Sevilla have always seen something worth keeping. Probably it's both.
The shirt that went full circle
The best detail in his story involves Andres Palop, the goalkeeper who is a genuine Sevilla legend. In 2013, Palop gave the young Flores the shirt from his final match. More than a decade later, when Flores made his senior debut on January 16, 2024, in a 3-1 Copa del Rey win over Getafe, he dedicated his shirt to Palop in return.
Clubs talk a lot about identity. This is what it actually looks like: a kid from the province, a hero's shirt, and a debut that closes the loop.
What kind of keeper is he?
At 1.86 metres, Flores is tall enough without being a giant by modern goalkeeping standards. His strengths are agility and reflexes rather than sheer reach, and he has a frame that may still fill out through his early twenties.
The more interesting trait is his left foot. Left-footed goalkeepers are uncommon, and it gives him different passing angles when building play from the back. Observers of his Sevilla Atletico performances describe him as comfortable with the ball at his feet, which is no longer a bonus for a keeper at a top club. It's a requirement.
The numbers are modest, as you'd expect for a reserve-team goalkeeper. He has made around 35 appearances for Sevilla Atletico in the Primera Federacion, with 5 clean sheets, plus that single senior outing in the Copa del Rey. He was named in Sevilla's La Liga squad for 2025 to 2026 but did not make his league debut. At international level, he has represented Spain at under-19 level and has not been called up to the senior side.
Two medals, zero league minutes
His honours list looks better than his appearance record, and he'd probably be the first to say so. Alongside the 2022 to 2023 Europa League, he collected the 2023 UEFA/CONMEBOL Club Challenge with Sevilla. Being part of a winning squad matters: it means the staff trusted him enough to travel and train with the first team in a trophy-winning season. It just isn't the same as playing.
The money, honestly
Flores does not earn anything like a starting La Liga goalkeeper, and there's no official figure for what he does earn. His salary has never been made public. Based on what backup and third-choice keepers in La Liga typically earn, Icon Polls estimates his wages at somewhere around EUR 2,000 to EUR 5,000 per week.
Putting salary, bonuses and the general benefits of a senior contract together, Icon Polls estimates his net worth at $300,000 to $700,000. Treat that as a rough guide rather than a number from a bank statement.
His transfer value sits in a similar band, roughly EUR 300,000 to EUR 700,000 depending on which source you consult and how much weight it gives to his age and upside. Both figures are the kind that can change quickly. A run of first-team games would push them up. Another season on the bench would not.
The 2027 question
Here's where it gets interesting. With his deal expiring in June 2027, Sevilla have to decide fairly soon whether Flores is part of their long-term plan. Earlier in 2026, the club was reported to be looking at goalkeeping options in the market while still keeping him in the picture.
Goalkeepers tend to peak later than outfield players, so 22 is not old for the position. But careers at this stage need minutes. If he gets a chance this season and takes it, a new contract becomes the obvious move. If he doesn't, a loan or a move elsewhere would make sense for everyone. Our view: he has done everything a youth keeper can do without playing. The next step is out of his hands until a manager picks him.
If you have your own idea of who belongs among football's very best, add your voice to our vote for the best football players of all time.
Off the pitch
Flores keeps a low profile. There's no widely verified public social media account in his name, no public statements about his faith, and no public information about a partner or marriage. Some sites assume he is Catholic because of where he grew up, but that's an assumption, not something he has said. He keeps his private life private, and we're happy to leave it there.
Short answers on Flores
How old is Alberto Flores?
He is 22, born on November 10, 2003, and turns 23 in November 2026.
Has he played in La Liga?
Not yet. His only senior appearance so far came in the Copa del Rey against Getafe in January 2024.
When does his Sevilla contract end?
June 30, 2027.
