Alex Padilla in 2026: Net Worth and Salary, FC26, Pumas, Stats, Transfer Values, and FAQs

Who Is Alex Padilla?

Alex Padilla is a 22-year-old goalkeeper who plays for Athletic Club in La Liga. His full name is Alejandro Padilla Perez, and he was born on September 1, 2003, in Zarautz, a small beach town in the Basque Country region of Spain. His father is Basque and his mother is Mexican, which means he qualifies for both Spain and Mexico at international level. He has chosen to represent Mexico.

If you are not familiar with Athletic Club, they are one of the most unique clubs in world football. They only sign players with Basque heritage or players who came through Basque academies. Padilla fits that criteria perfectly, having grown up in the Basque Country and coming through the club's own youth system as an Under-16. He worked his way up through the farm team CD Basconia and the reserves at Bilbao Athletic before getting his shot with the first team.

What makes Padilla interesting is not just his talent but his story. A kid born in a quiet Spanish surf town, with roots in two countries, who is now trying to establish himself at one of Europe's most traditional clubs while also representing Mexico on the international stage. It is a path you do not see every day.

Pumas

In January 2025, Padilla joined Mexican club Pumas UNAM on a six-month loan from Athletic Club. The move made perfect sense. At Athletic, he was behind both Unai Simon and Julen Agirrezabala in the goalkeeper pecking order. Sitting on the bench was not going to help him grow. Pumas needed a goalkeeper after losing both of their keepers from the previous season, and Padilla, with his Mexican heritage, was a natural fit.

When asked about the move, Padilla was straightforward. He said that when the chance to defend the goal for Pumas came along, he did not think twice. The loan gave him regular minutes, competitive experience in Liga MX, and a connection to his mother's country. He returned to Athletic Club ahead of the 2025-26 season and has since made further appearances for the first team, totalling around 5 La Liga matches in 2025-26.

Stats

Padilla's career stats are still growing. He made his Athletic Club first-team debut in the 2024-25 season, picking up 5 appearances when injuries to the club's senior goalkeepers gave him his opportunity. In 2025-26, he added another 5 La Liga appearances with 6 goals conceded and 1 clean sheet. Across all levels, including time at CD Basconia, Bilbao Athletic, and Pumas UNAM, he has racked up approximately 101 career matches.

At 22, those numbers are still at an early stage. But the fact that he has already tasted La Liga football and has international experience with Mexico's U23 team puts him ahead of many goalkeepers his age. Icon Polls considers his development trajectory to be positive, especially given the competitive environment he is in at Athletic Club.

FC26

For gamers, Alex Padilla has a presence in EA Sports FC 26. His base card is rated 68 overall, and he plays as a goalkeeper for Athletic Club with a Mexican nationality flag. In Career Mode, his potential is 79, which makes him a solid option for anyone looking to develop a young goalkeeper over multiple seasons.

He also received a Future Stars card in FC 26, which is a promotional item reserved for young players who are tipped for big things. For FIFA and FC series fans, that is a good indicator of how the football world views his potential. His in-game attributes highlight his reflexes and positioning, which match what you see from him on the real pitch.

Transfer Values

As of June 2026, Alex Padilla's market value sits at approximately EUR 3 million. That might not sound like a huge number, but for a 22-year-old goalkeeper who is still in the early stages of his career, it is a solid starting point. Goalkeepers tend to peak later than outfield players, often in their late twenties or early thirties, so there is plenty of room for that number to grow.

His contract at Athletic Club runs until 2029, which gives the club a strong negotiating position. When Padilla was loaned to Pumas, the deal included a purchase option for Pumas and a buy-back clause for Athletic, showing that the Basque club sees him as a long-term asset. If he can push for the number one spot and become a regular starter, his value could rise significantly over the next few years.

Net Worth and Salary

Icon Polls estimates Alex Padilla's net worth in 2026 to be between $2 million and $4 million. This accounts for his salary at Athletic Club, earnings from his loan period at Pumas, and any endorsement or sponsorship income he may have. His exact salary at Athletic Club has not been made public, but as a young player on a long-term contract, it is expected to be a modest figure by La Liga standards.

As his career progresses and he earns more playing time, both his salary and net worth are expected to increase. Goalkeepers who establish themselves at top-tier clubs in Spain often command significant wages, and Padilla is still at the very beginning of that earning curve.

Wife

As of 2026, Alex Padilla has not publicly shared details about a wife or girlfriend. At 22, he appears to be focused on his career and has kept his personal life out of the media. This is fairly common among young footballers, especially those who are still establishing themselves at club and international level.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alex Padilla

1. Who is Alex Padilla?

Alex Padilla, whose full name is Alejandro Padilla Perez, is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Athletic Club in La Liga. He was born in Zarautz, Spain, to a Basque father and a Mexican mother. Despite being born in Spain, he represents Mexico at international level.

2. How old is Alex Padilla?

Alex Padilla is 22 years old. He was born on September 1, 2003, in Zarautz, a coastal town in the Basque Country region of Spain.

3. What is Alex Padilla's nationality?

Padilla holds both Spanish and Mexican nationality. He was born in Spain but qualifies for Mexico through his mother, who is Mexican. He has chosen to represent Mexico at international level and has been capped at the U23 level and called up to the senior squad.

4. Is Alex Padilla married?

As of 2026, there is no public information confirming that Alex Padilla is married or in a publicly known relationship. At 22 years old, he has kept his personal life away from media attention and appears to be focused on his football career.

5. What is Alex Padilla's net worth in 2026?

Icon Polls estimates that Alex Padilla's net worth in 2026 is between $2 million and $4 million. This figure takes into account his salary at Athletic Club, his loan spell at Pumas UNAM, and his growing profile as a young La Liga goalkeeper.

6. What is Alex Padilla's salary at Athletic Club?

The exact salary has not been publicly disclosed. However, as a young squad player who recently signed a long-term contract extension until 2029, his earnings are expected to be modest by La Liga standards but will likely increase as he becomes more established in the first team.

7. What is Alex Padilla's FC 26 rating?

In EA Sports FC 26, Alex Padilla has an overall rating of 68 with a potential rating of 79. He is listed as a goalkeeper for Athletic Club and holds a Mexican nationality flag in the game. His high potential makes him a popular pick in Career Mode for players looking to develop young goalkeepers.

8. Did Alex Padilla play for Pumas UNAM?

Yes. Padilla joined Pumas UNAM on loan from Athletic Club in January 2025. The loan was initially for six months, with options to extend. He moved to Mexico to gain regular first-team playing time and said he did not hesitate when the opportunity came. He returned to Athletic Club ahead of the 2025-26 season.

9. What are Alex Padilla's career stats?

Padilla's senior career stats include appearances for CD Basconia, Bilbao Athletic (Athletic Club B), the Athletic Club first team, and Pumas UNAM. For Athletic Club's first team, he made 5 appearances in 2024-25 and 5 more in 2025-26, totalling around 11 La Liga appearances by mid-2026. His career total across all clubs is approximately 101 matches.

10. What is Alex Padilla's transfer value?

As of June 2026, Alex Padilla's transfer market value is estimated at EUR 3 million. Given his age, potential, and the fact that he is contracted to Athletic Club until 2029, his value is expected to rise if he continues to develop and earn more first-team minutes.

11. Why did Athletic Club loan Padilla to Pumas?

Athletic Club had two established goalkeepers in Unai Simon and Julen Agirrezabala at the time. The loan to Pumas gave Padilla the chance to play regularly as a starter rather than sitting on the bench. The move also connected him with Mexican football, given his dual nationality and his ties to the Mexico national team.

12. Has Alex Padilla played for Mexico's senior team?

Padilla has been called up to Mexico's senior squad multiple times, including call-ups for matches against Bolivia, New Zealand, and Canada. However, he has not yet made his official senior debut as of mid-2026. He has been capped three times by Mexico's U23 team.

13. Did Alex Padilla play for Spain's youth teams?

Yes. Before committing to Mexico, Padilla represented Spain at U19 level. He made his debut for Spain U19 on September 2, 2021, coming on as a substitute in a 5-1 win against Mexico. He was also included in Spain's squad for the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifiers.

14. What is Alex Padilla's playing style?

Padilla is described as a brave, agile shot-stopper who is also comfortable with the ball at his feet. His height (1.90 m) gives him a commanding presence in the box, and he has shown good reflexes in his La Liga appearances. Athletic Club's official website highlights his ability to distribute the ball and his promising all-round game.

15. How did Padilla join Athletic Club?

Padilla joined Athletic Club's youth setup as an Under-16 player. He progressed through the ranks, playing for the farm team CD Basconia and then the reserve side Bilbao Athletic. His path to the first team opened up in 2024-25 when injuries to Unai Simon and Julen Agirrezabala gave him his chance.

16. Why does Padilla play for Mexico instead of Spain?

Padilla qualifies for Mexico through his mother, who is Mexican. Despite playing for Spain at youth level, he chose to represent Mexico and has been called up to both the U23 and senior squads. Players can switch national team allegiance before being cap-tied at senior level in a competitive match.

17. Where is Zarautz, Alex Padilla's birthplace?

Zarautz is a small coastal town in the Gipuzkoa province of the Basque Country in northern Spain. It is known for its beaches and surfing culture. Being born in the Basque Country made Padilla eligible to play for Athletic Club, which famously only fields players with Basque heritage.

18. What is Athletic Club's policy on signing players?

Athletic Club has a unique policy of only signing players who are either born in the Basque Country, have Basque heritage, or were trained in Basque football academies. Padilla qualifies because he was born in Zarautz, which is in the Basque Country, and he came through Athletic Club's own academy system.

19. Is Alex Padilla a Future Star in FC 26?

Yes. Padilla received a Future Stars card in EA Sports FC 26, which is a special promotional item given to young players with high potential. His base card is rated 68 overall with a potential of 79 in Career Mode, making him one of the interesting young goalkeeper options in the game.

20. What does the future hold for Alex Padilla?

With a contract at Athletic Club running until 2029, Padilla is set to compete for the number one spot at San Mames. The arrival of new head coach Edin Terzic in 2026 could open fresh opportunities for him. At 22, he still has years of development ahead, and his dual nationality makes him an exciting prospect for both club and country. Icon Polls sees him as one of the most promising young goalkeepers in La Liga right now.