|
Full Name |
Carles Alena Castillo |
|
Date of Birth |
5 January 1998 |
|
Age |
28 years old |
|
Place of Birth |
Mataro, Spain |
|
Height |
1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
|
Weight |
73 kg (161 lbs) |
|
Nationality |
Spanish |
|
Position |
Central Midfielder |
|
Preferred Foot |
Left |
|
Current Club |
Deportivo Alaves (La Liga) |
|
Jersey Number |
10 |
|
Contract Expires |
30 June 2029 |
|
Youth Academy |
FC Barcelona (La Masia) |
|
Estimated Net Worth |
$8 million to $12 million |
|
Market Value |
Approximately 3 million to 4.5 million euros |
Who Is Carles Alena?
Carles Alena Castillo is a Spanish professional footballer who currently plays as a central midfielder for Deportivo Alaves in La Liga. Born on 5 January 1998 in Mataro, a coastal city just north of Barcelona, Alena grew up with football running through his veins. His father, Francesc Alena, was also a professional footballer who played as a forward across several Spanish clubs during the 1980s and 1990s.
Alena joined the famous FC Barcelona youth academy, La Masia, when he was just seven years old back in 2005. He spent over a decade developing his skills through the ranks before making his senior debut. He was even nicknamed "the Maradona of the youth system" by Spanish media during his early teenage years. That says a lot about how highly rated he was. He went on to win two La Liga titles and three Copa del Rey trophies during his time at Barcelona.
Net Worth and Salary
When it comes to finances, Alena has done well for himself over the course of his career. Icon Polls estimates that his net worth sits somewhere between $8 million and $12 million as of 2026. This figure takes into account his career earnings from clubs like Barcelona, Real Betis, Getafe, and now Alaves, along with endorsement deals and personal investments.
His current salary at Alaves is reported to be around 1.2 million euros per year, which works out to roughly 24,000 euros per week. That is obviously a step down from what he earned during his time at bigger clubs, but it is still a very comfortable living. At Barcelona, his wages were considerably higher, and during his Getafe years he was reportedly earning in the range of 4 million euros annually at the peak of his contract there.
Height
Carles Alena stands at 1.80 metres tall, which is about 5 feet 11 inches. He weighs around 73 kilograms (161 pounds). For a central midfielder, that is a pretty standard build. He is not the most physically imposing player on the pitch, but he makes up for it with his technical ability, quick feet, and clever movement. His frame allows him to be agile in tight spaces while still holding his own in physical duels when needed.
Wife and Personal Life
Alena tends to keep his personal life fairly private, which is something you have to respect in this day and age. He was in a long term relationship with Ingrid Gaixas, a young woman from Catalonia. The couple were together for several years and they have a son together named Luca. The two eventually went their separate ways after about eight years together.
In 2023, he was briefly linked to Spanish television personality and influencer Alejandra Rubio. However, Rubio publicly clarified that they were not in a formal relationship. As of 2026, Alena has not made any public statements about his romantic life and appears to be keeping that side of things out of the spotlight.
Stats
Looking at the numbers, Alena has built up a solid career across multiple clubs. He has racked up over 370 senior career appearances and scored 36 career goals to go along with numerous assists. In the 2025/2026 La Liga season with Alaves, he made 34 appearances, registered 4 assists, and played close to 2,000 minutes. He did not find the net himself this season, but his creative contributions were still important to the team.
During his best seasons at Getafe, he was a regular starter and contributed both goals and assists consistently. His 2022/2023 season saw him make 38 total appearances with 2 goals, while the season before that he managed 33 games with a goal and 2 assists. At the youth level, he represented Spain at U16, U17, U19, and U21 levels, earning 3 caps for the U21 side. He has also represented Catalonia at senior level since 2022.
Transfer Values
Alena's current market value is estimated at around 3 million to 4.5 million euros, according to Icon Polls findings. That is a notable decrease from his peak value, which was naturally much higher when he was a young prospect coming through at Barcelona. His transfer to Getafe back in 2021 was worth about 5 million euros, and when Alaves signed him permanently in July 2025, they paid Getafe a reported fee of 1 million euros.
At 28 years old, his value is shaped by factors like his age, the level of club he plays for, and his contract length. He is under contract with Alaves until June 2029, which gives the club security but also means any interested buyer would need to negotiate a fee.
Frequently Asked Questions About Carles Alena
1. What is Carles Alena's net worth in 2026?
Icon Polls estimates that Carles Alena's net worth is between $8 million and $12 million in 2026. This includes his career earnings from multiple clubs and any personal business ventures.
2. How much does Carles Alena earn per week?
He currently earns approximately 24,000 euros per week at Deportivo Alaves, which adds up to around 1.2 million euros per year.
3. How tall is Carles Alena?
Alena is 1.80 metres tall, which converts to about 5 feet 11 inches.
4. Is Carles Alena married?
No, Alena is not currently married. He was previously in a long term relationship with Ingrid Gaixas, and they have a son together. As of 2026, he has not publicly confirmed being in a relationship.
5. Does Carles Alena have children?
Yes, he has a son named Luca from his previous relationship with Ingrid Gaixas.
6. What team does Carles Alena play for in 2026?
He plays for Deportivo Alaves in the Spanish La Liga.
7. What position does Carles Alena play?
He is a central midfielder. He can also play as an attacking midfielder or on the left wing when needed.
8. Is Carles Alena left footed or right footed?
He is naturally left footed.
9. What is Carles Alena's shirt number?
He wears the number 10 shirt at Deportivo Alaves.
10. Did Carles Alena play for Barcelona?
Yes, he came through Barcelona's La Masia academy and was part of the senior squad from 2016 to 2021. He won two La Liga titles and three Copa del Rey trophies during his time there.
11. What is Carles Alena's market value in 2026?
His market value is estimated at approximately 3 million to 4.5 million euros based on Icon Polls findings.
12. How many career goals has Carles Alena scored?
He has scored 36 career goals across all competitions during his senior career.
13. Has Carles Alena played for the Spanish national team?
He has represented Spain at youth levels including U16, U17, U19, and U21, but he has not been capped by the senior national team. He has also represented Catalonia since 2022.
14. How old is Carles Alena?
He was born on 5 January 1998, making him 28 years old as of 2026.
15. Where was Carles Alena born?
He was born in Mataro, a city in the Catalonia region of Spain, located along the coast north of Barcelona.
16. When does Carles Alena's contract expire?
His contract with Deportivo Alaves runs until 30 June 2029.
17. How much did Alaves pay for Carles Alena?
Alaves signed him permanently from Getafe in July 2025 for a reported transfer fee of 1 million euros.
18. What clubs has Carles Alena played for?
He has played for Barcelona B, FC Barcelona, Real Betis (loan), Getafe, and Deportivo Alaves.
19. How many La Liga appearances did Carles Alena make in the 2025/2026 season?
He made 34 La Liga appearances for Alaves in the 2025/2026 season, recording 4 assists and playing close to 2,000 minutes.
20. Who is Carles Alena's father?
His father is Francesc Alena, a retired professional footballer who played as a forward for several Spanish clubs during the 1980s and 1990s.
21. What trophies has Carles Alena won?
He won two La Liga titles and three Copa del Rey trophies during his time at FC Barcelona.
22. What academy did Carles Alena come from?
He came through La Masia, the famous FC Barcelona youth academy. He joined at the age of seven in 2005 and spent over a decade developing there.
23. Is Carles Alena on social media?
Yes, he maintains social media profiles, though he keeps a relatively low profile compared to many other footballers.
24. What was Carles Alena's peak salary?
During his time at Getafe, his salary reportedly peaked at around 4.3 million euros per year.
25. What is Carles Alena's playing style?
He is a technically gifted midfielder known for his passing range, vision, and ability to control the tempo of a game. He is comfortable receiving the ball in tight areas and is effective at creating chances for teammates.
