Following two consecutive seasons of consolidation in La Liga under Manolo González, Espanyol enters 2026/27 with the most ambitious squad rebuild of the Monchi era, a marquee loan signing in Bryan Zaragoza, and the stated objective of moving beyond mere survival toward the comfort of mid-table security. This is the definitive guide to the current Periquitos squad.
Technical Leadership & Coaching Profile
Manager: Manolo González
González enters his third full season at the RCDE Stadium having established Espanyol as a resilient, tactically disciplined La Liga side. The Galician coach has guided the club to consecutive comfortable finishes, and his satisfaction with the summer’s recruitment has been unusually effusive: “It’s the year I’m most happy with the squad and the way of working. It has been done jointly, everything has been discussed and players have come that the sporting direction and technical staff have agreed upon”. González has long called for a higher level of player, insisting: “We have to raise the club’s demands and the player’s level”.
Tactical Philosophy
González operates with a 4-2-3-1 structure built on structured build-up and intelligent transitions. Under his guidance, Espanyol have developed a reputation for being more than a purely defensive side — they create opportunities through fluid football while retaining the physical edge traditionally associated with the club. Their ability to slice through aggressive presses with short passing has been particularly notable, with González instructing his near-sided full-back to push extremely wide, dragging opposition wingers out of central areas and creating space for the double pivot to receive from the centre-backs. Set-pieces remain a significant weapon: only three teams scored more set-piece goals than Espanyol’s 14 last season, an enormous return for a side that does not camp around the opposition box.
Preferred Formations
4-2-3-1 in possession.
Strategic Transfer Activity
Espanyol’s summer window was defined by the arrival of Monchi as sporting director and a squad overhaul of unprecedented scale. Sixteen players departed and eleven new faces arrived, with Manolo González admitting he could not recall a more collaborative and satisfactory recruitment process. The standout addition is Bryan Zaragoza, a winger who “in his prime would be very far from Spanish reach” but who arrives from Bayern Munich with a purchase option close to €8 million.
Table A: Summer Major Transfer Influx
| Player | Position | Former Club | Fee Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryan Zaragoza | Winger | Bayern Munich | Loan (option ~€8m) |
| Gabriel Moscardo | Central Midfielder | Paris Saint-Germain | Loan |
| Quilindschy Hartman | Left-Back | Burnley | Loan |
| Vanja Drkusic | Center-Back | Zenit | Loan (option) |
| Unai Núñez | Center-Back | Celta | Loan (option) |
| Andoni Gorosabel | Right-Back | Athletic Club | Loan |
| Álex Calatrava | Midfielder | Castellón | Permanent |
| Marcos Fernández | Forward | AD Ceuta | Loan return |
| Javi Hernández | Attacking Midfielder | Mirandés | Loan return |
| Rafa Bauza | Central Midfielder | Mirandés | Loan return |
| Roger Hinojo | Defender | Cultural Leonesa | Loan return |
The First-Team Roster
Goalkeepers
Marko Dmitrovic (#13): The Serbian goalkeeper remains Espanyol’s undisputed number one and a leader within the dressing room. Now in his second year as a Periquito, Dmitrovic was signed permanently after a successful initial spell and has provided the stability and shot-stopping that underpins González’s structured approach. His command of the penalty area and distribution quality remain essential.
Ángel Fortuño (#1): The academy graduate earned a contract renewal during the summer and remains a long-term bet for the club. His presence as backup goalkeeper provides continuity and a pathway for homegrown talent.
Defenders
Omar El Hilali (#23): The right-back is one of Espanyol’s most valuable assets and a full Morocco international. His defensive discipline and attacking overlap make him a consistent presence on the right flank, though the arrival of Gorosabel on deadline day provides genuine competition for his starting place.
Andoni Gorosabel (#2): The Basque right-back arrived on loan from Athletic Club on deadline day, bringing extensive La Liga experience. His competition with El Hilali is expected to elevate both players’ performances.
Leandro Cabrera (#6): The Uruguayan centre-back remains a commanding presence in the heart of defence, his physicality and aerial dominance central to Espanyol’s defensive resilience. His experience within a squad integrating numerous new arrivals is invaluable.
Unai Núñez (#14): The centre-back arrived on loan from Celta with a purchase option, seeking regular minutes after falling down the pecking order at Balaídos. His La Liga experience and ball-playing ability offer a composed presence in central defence.
Vanja Drkusic (#16): The Slovenian international arrived from Zenit on a loan deal with an option to buy, describing the move as one he was fully committed to: “I wouldn’t have come if I didn’t believe in the club exercising their option to buy me”. Monchi praised his versatility: “He can play on either side of central defensive pairing. He’s good in the air, strong, and good at playing the ball out from the back”.
Quilindschy Hartman (#3): The Dutch left-back arrived on loan from Burnley, a move facilitated by the connection between the clubs’ ownership. With a market value of €16 million, Hartman represents a significant quality upgrade on the left flank, his attacking thrust and defensive discipline providing balance.
Roger Hinojo (#21): The academy graduate returned from a productive loan at Cultural Leonesa, where he accumulated over 3,100 minutes of first-team football. Now a permanent first-team squad member, his development offers long-term security across the backline.
Midfielders
Pol Lozano (#10): The club captain and third captain of the squad remains the heartbeat of Espanyol’s midfield. Lozano has embraced the increased competition within the squad: “The virtue this year is that there is no fixed starting eleven. I think we can all participate at any moment”. His leadership and tactical intelligence anchor the engine room.
Gabriel Moscardo (#20): The young Brazilian arrived on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning Champions League winners, in one of the most high-profile moves of Monchi’s summer. At just 20, Moscardo brings elite academy pedigree and press-resistance to the double pivot, and his adaptation to La Liga will be closely monitored.
Urko González (#4): The versatile midfielder was signed permanently by predecessor Fran Garagarza and has become a key figure for González. His ability to operate as both a central midfielder and a centre-back provides valuable tactical flexibility.
Edu Expósito (#8): The experienced midfielder remains a fundamental pillar of the squad, offering continuity and tactical discipline within a significantly revamped engine room. His understanding of González’s demands is invaluable.
Rafa Bauza (#26): The young midfielder returned from a productive loan at Mirandés, where he registered four goals and three assists in 38 appearances. His connection with Javi Hernández, forged during their time together in Miranda de Ebro, has carried into pre-season, where Bauza scored two goals in two matches. He has contract until 2028 and is determined to earn his place: “I’m willing to do everything possible to stay here”.
Javi Hernández (#28): The attacking midfielder returned from Mirandés, where he scored seven goals and provided three assists in 21 appearances, establishing himself as a leader for the Jabato side. His creativity and final-third productivity address a long-standing weakness in Espanyol’s attack, and he is viewed as a profile González had requested for some time.
Álex Calatrava (#22): The midfielder arrived from Castellón as Monchi’s first permanent signing of the summer. González has praised his incisive play in the attacking midfield role, and his ability to operate between the lines adds a different dimension to Espanyol’s creative options.
Tyrhys Dolan (#24): The English winger offers pace and directness from wide areas, his versatility across the attacking line providing González with valuable tactical flexibility.
Forwards
Roberto Fernández (#9): The striker is Espanyol’s primary attacking focal point and already has two goals this season. His seven La Liga goals last season marked him as a genuine threat, and his work rate without the ball — pressing centre-backs and goalkeepers with intensity — embodies the collective effort González demands. As Yahoo Sports noted: “He is a box presence but does not shy away from pressing the two center backs and the goalkeeper if needed”.
Bryan Zaragoza (#15): The marquee signing of the summer and the player who has generated genuine excitement among the Periquito faithful. The Malaga-born winger arrives from Bayern Munich with a purchase option close to €8 million, described as a player capable of “opening closed games” with his one-v-one ability and pace. González had requested a profile like Zaragoza for several seasons, and his arrival represents a statement of intent from Monchi.
Marcos Fernández (#18): The forward returned from a hugely productive loan at AD Ceuta, where he scored 14 goals in 3,018 minutes, proving instrumental in the club’s survival in LaLiga Hypermotion. His goal-scoring form earned him a return to the first-team squad, and his competition with Roberto Fernández and Kike García provides depth in attack.
Kike García (#19): The veteran striker remains at the club despite injury concerns, his experience and finishing instincts offering a reliable option when fit. His absence during the early weeks of the season was noted as a factor in the club’s inability to sign another striker.
Pere Milla (#11): The experienced forward provides depth across the attacking line, his intelligence and movement offering a different profile to the more physical Roberto Fernández.
Javi Puado (#7): The club captain remains sidelined with a knee injury, and his return will provide a significant boost to Espanyol’s attacking options. When fit, Puado’s creativity and goal threat make him one of the squad’s most important players.
Leadership Group & Squad Regulations
Club Captain: Pol Lozano
The midfielder wears the armband and embodies the competitive spirit González has cultivated within the squad. Lozano’s embrace of the increased competition — “this year there is no fixed starting eleven” — reflects a dressing-room culture built on meritocracy and collective responsibility.
The Leadership Committee
Marko Dmitrovic serves as a leader within the dressing room, his experience and professionalism setting standards for the squad. Leandro Cabrera’s defensive authority and Javi Puado’s seniority provide additional leadership voices.
Homegrown Quota Check
With Ángel Fortuño, Omar El Hilali, Roger Hinojo, Rafa Bauza, Javi Hernández, and Llorenç Serred all qualifying as homegrown players, Espanyol maintains a strong commitment to their academy. Manolo González included four academy representatives in pre-season — Ferran Gómez, Miguel Londoño, Adama Timera, and Llorenç Serred — underlining the club’s “model where the academy must have weight, not just in the present but in the future”.
Financial & Contractual Health
Financial Balance Overview
Espanyol operated with a reduced salary cap and limited resources throughout the summer, a constraint that prevented the signing of another playmaker or a striker to cover Kike García’s injury. The club completed only one permanent signing — Álex Calatrava — relying on loan-to-buy arrangements for Drkusic, Núñez, and Zaragoza to balance immediate competitiveness with future financial flexibility. Monchi’s ability to negotiate with Bayern Munich and PSG, leveraging his reputation and connections, allowed Espanyol to access players of a caliber normally beyond their reach.
Contract Red Alerts
Securing the permanent signatures of Bryan Zaragoza, Vanja Drkusic, and Unai Núñez if their loans prove successful will be a priority. The club’s ability to exercise purchase options depends on financial fair play compliance and continued La Liga status.
The Academy Pipeline & Loan Tracker
Breakout Talents to Watch
Roger Hinojo (#21) accumulated over 3,100 minutes on loan at Cultural Leonesa and has returned as a permanent first-team squad member, earning a starting place and becoming one of the season’s revelations. Rafa Bauza (#26) and Javi Hernández (#28) both impressed during their loan spells at Mirandés and have carried that momentum into pre-season, with Bauza scoring twice and Hernández providing an assist.
Notable Out on Loan
Pablo Ramón was a key figure in Racing Santander’s promotion, starting 22 of 27 matches, and is expected to remain in Cantabria for at least another season. Justin Smith gained valuable minutes at Sporting but did not fully establish himself, while José Gragera endured a difficult spell at Deportivo.
Set-Piece Specialists & FPL Cheat Sheet
Penalties: Roberto Fernández (First Choice) / Pere Milla (Second Choice).
Direct Free-Kicks: Javi Hernández / Álex Calatrava.
Corners & Crosses: Pere Milla / Álex Calatrava.
Final Outlook: Navigating the Tactical Horizon
Espanyol enters 2026/27 with a squad that has been transformed under Monchi’s direction and a coach who has never been more satisfied with his options. The stated objective is clear: consolidate in Primera División and move beyond the relegation anxiety that has characterised recent second halves of seasons, with Manolo González’s squad now expected to “aspire to the calm zone of the table”.
The early-season evidence suggests a team still integrating its numerous new arrivals. Espanyol sit 15th after seven matches with a record of two wins, one draw, and four defeats, scoring eight goals and conceding ten. The attacking output has been respectable — Roberto Fernández already has two goals and the team ranks fifth in La Liga for goals scored — but the defensive record and consistency remain works in progress.
Bryan Zaragoza’s arrival has generated genuine excitement, and his one-v-one ability could prove transformative in unlocking the low blocks that have frustrated Espanyol in recent seasons. The return of Marcos Fernández, Bauza, and Javi Hernández from productive loan spells provides internal solutions that had been lacking, while the defensive reinforcements of Drkusic, Núñez, Hartman, and Gorosabel address the depth issues that plagued last season’s second half.
The challenges remain significant. The fixture list is unforgiving, and the squad’s integration is ongoing. But the combination of Monchi’s recruitment expertise, González’s tactical structure, and a blend of academy graduates and high-quality loan additions suggests Espanyol possess the ingredients for a more comfortable campaign. If Zaragoza delivers on his potential, if the defensive partnerships solidify, and if the academy contingent continues to develop, the RCDE Stadium could witness a season of genuine progress rather than mere survival.
