Pablo Fornals

Spanish footballer (born 1996)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is  Fornals and the second or maternal family name is  Malla.

Pablo Fornals

Fornals with West Ham United in 2019

Personal information
Full name|  Pablo Fornals Malla[1]
Date of birth|  (1996-02-22) 22 February 1996 (age 28)[2]
Place of birth|  Castellón, Spain[2]
Height|  1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s)|  Attacking midfielder
Team information

Current team

|  Betis
Number|  18
Youth career
2003–2008|  Villarreal
2008–2012|  Castellón
2012–2014|  Málaga
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
2014–2015|  Málaga B|  41|  (12)
2015–2017|  Málaga|  59|  (7)
2017–2019|  Villarreal|  70|  (5)
2019–2024|  West Ham United|  152|  (16)
2024–|  Betis|  18|  (3)
International career
2016–2019|  Spain U21|  17|  (2)
2016–2021|  Spain|  6|  (1)

Medal record

Men's football
Representing  Spain
UEFA Nations League
| Italy 2021 |

*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:43, 1 September 2024 (UTC)

Pablo Fornals Malla (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈpaβlo foɾˈnals]; born 22 February 1996) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays mainly as an attacking midfielder for La Liga club Real Betis.

He amassed La Liga totals of 129 matches and 12 goals over four seasons, with Málaga and Villarreal. In 2019, he signed with West Ham United, where he made over 200 appearances and won the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2023.

Fornals made his senior debut for Spain in 2016.

## Club career

[edit]

### Málaga

[edit]

Born in Castellón de la Plana, Valencian Community, Fornals joined Málaga's youth setup in 2012 at the age of 16, from Castellón.[3] He made his senior debut with the reserves in the 2014–15 season, in the Tercera División.[4][5]

Fornals' first competitive match with the first team – and in La Liga – occurred on 26 September 2015, when he started in a 0–0 away draw against Real Madrid.[6] Two months and two days later, he scored his first top-flight goal in a 2–2 draw with Andalusian neighbours Granada at La Rosaleda Stadium, finding the net four minutes after replacing Duda.[7]

On 4 December 2016, Fornals scored a brace in a 2–2 draw at Valencia.[8]

### Villarreal

[edit]

On 24 July 2017, having paid his own €12 million buyout clause to leave Málaga,[9] Fornals moved to fellow top-division side Villarreal, a club he already represented as a youth, agreeing to a five-year contract.[10] The following 13 January, he scored a late chip after a counterattack to give his new team their first-ever win against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (1–0).[11]

On 26 September 2018, Fornals opened the scoring in a league fixture away to Athletic Bilbao with a dipping volley from 50 yards, in an eventual 3–0 victory.[12][13]

### West Ham United

[edit]

On 14 June 2019, Fornals signed for West Ham United on a five-year contract for a transfer fee reported to be £24 million, making him the English club's second most expensive signing.[14][15] He made his Premier League debut on 10 August, in a 5–0 home defeat by Manchester City coming on as a half-time substitute for Michail Antonio.[16] He scored his first goal for his new team on 27 August, in a 2–0 victory over Newport County in the second round of the EFL Cup.[17]

In 2020–21, Fornals made 33 league appearances and scored five times as West Ham qualified for the UEFA Europa League for the first time in five years.[18] The following season he featured in all twelve of his side's Europa League games as they reached the semi-finals,[19] providing two assists in the 3–0 win at Olympique Lyonnais in the last-eight.[20]

Fornals struggled for consistent game time in the 2022–23 campaign. However, on 23 April 2023, his scorpion kick closed a 4–0 away victory against AFC Bournemouth, with the goal being described as "stunning" and "one of the goals of the season".[21] Additionally, he contributed 14 matches to the Hammers' victorious run in the UEFA Europa Conference League, their first trophy in 43 years, including 20 minutes of the 2–1 win over Fiorentina in the final in Prague;[22][23] his three goals along the way were a brace in a 3–0 group win at FCSB,[24] and the added-time only goal of the semi-final second leg away to AZ Alkmaar.[25]

During his spell at the London Stadium, Fornals made 203 appearances and scored 23 times.[26][27]

### Betis

[edit]

In the late hours of 1 February 2024, deadline to the winter transfer window, Fornals agreed to join Real Betis for a rumoured €6 million fee, pending on approval.[28] The deal was officially confirmed the following day, with the player signing a contract until 2029.[29][30] He made his debut on 4 February, in a 1–1 home draw with Getafe where he came on as a 66th-minute substitute for Assane Diao.[31] He scored his first goal on 9 February, in the 2–0 away defeat of Cádiz; weaving in from the left hand side, he curled a left foot shot into the far side of the net in a goal described as "spectacular".[32][33]

## International career

[edit]

On 28 March 2016, Fornals won his first cap with the Spain under-21s by playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 win against Norway at the Estadio Nueva Condomina.[34] On 17 May, he was called up to the full squad by Vicente del Bosque for a friendly with Bosnia and Herzegovina.[35] He made his debut 12 days later, replacing Mikel San José in the 3–1 victory at the AFG Arena in St. Gallen, Switzerland.[36]

Fornals was a member of the team which won the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in June.[37] In the tournament held in Italy and San Marino, he scored in group stage defeats of Belgium (2–1)[38] and Poland (5–0).[39]

In June 2021, Fornals was called up as a standby for Spain’s UEFA Euro 2020 squad following Sergio Busquets' positive test for COVID-19.[40] Making his first start on 8 September, against Kosovo in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier, he scored his first goal for the national side when he opened a 2–0 win in Pristina.[41]

## Personal life

[edit]

Fornals' wife, Lara, gave birth to their son Martín in November 2021.[42]

## Career statistics

[edit]

### Club

[edit]

As of match played 1 September 2024[43][44][45]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition  Club  | Season  | League  | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental  | Total

|
|
|
|
|
|

Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals
Málaga | 2015–16 | La Liga | 27 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 29 | 1
2016–17 | 32 | 6 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 34 | 6
Total  | 59 | 7 | 4 | 0 | – | – | 63 | 7
Villarreal | 2017–18 | La Liga  | 35 | 3 | 4 | 0 | – | 7[c] | 1 | 46 | 4
2018–19 | 35 | 2 | 3 | 0 | – | 12[c] | 3 | 50 | 5
Total  | 70 | 5 | 7 | 0 | – | 19 | 4 | 96 | 9
West Ham United | 2019–20 | Premier League | 36 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | 40 | 4
2020–21 | 33 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 36 | 6
2021–22 | 36 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12[c] | 0 | 54 | 6
2022–23 | 32 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14[d] | 3 | 50 | 7
2023–24 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5[c] | 0 | 23 | 0
Total  | 152 | 16 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 31 | 3 | 203 | 23
Betis | 2023–24 | La Liga  | 15 | 3 | – | – | – | 15 | 3
2024–25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0
Total  | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3
Career total  | 299 | 31 | 23 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 50 | 7 | 380 | 42

1. ^ Includes Copa del Rey, FA Cup
2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
3. ^ a b c d Appearances in UEFA Europa League
4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

### International

[edit]

National team | Year | Apps | Goals

|
|
|

Spain[46] | 2016 | 1 | 0
2018 | 1 | 0
2021 | 4 | 1
Total | 6 | 1

Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first.

List of international goals scored by Pablo Fornals  No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | 8 September 2021 | Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo | 4 |  Kosovo | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification[41]

## Honours

[edit]

West Ham United

* UEFA Europa Conference League: 2022–23[22]

Spain U21

* UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2019[37]

Spain

* UEFA Nations League runner-up: 2020–21[47]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Acta del partido celebrado el 30 de marzo de 2019, en Vigo" [Minutes of the match held on 30 March 2019, in Vigo] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
2. ^ a b c "Pablo Fornals" (in Spanish). Eurosport. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
3. ^ Cortés, Sergio (25 March 2015). "Sellada la renovación de Pablo, a corto plazo en la órbita del primer equipo" [Curtain call to renewal of Pablo, short-time target for the first team]. Diario Sur (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 September 2015.
4. ^ Cejudo, José Ignacio (27 November 2015). "Pablo Fornals, coherencia en una situación caótica" [Pablo Fornals, coherence in chaotic situation]. Ideal (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 June 2023.
5. ^ "Salva Ballesta y su 'influencia' en Fornals en el filial del Málaga: "Le daba castañazos"" [Salva Ballesta and his 'influence' on Fornals in Málaga's reserves: "I would rough him up"] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 11 September 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
6. ^ Siguero, Santiago (26 September 2015). "Kameni para al Madrid" [Kameni stops Madrid]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 September 2015.
7. ^ "Fornals, la última perla del Málaga" [Fornals, Málaga's latest gem]. Marca (in Spanish). 29 November 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
8. ^ Egea, Pablo (4 December 2016). "Fornals borra la sonrisa de Prandelli" [Fornals wipes Prandelli's smile]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 December 2016.
9. ^ "Pablo Fornals pays own release clause to join Villarreal from Malaga". Sky Sports. 24 July 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
10. ^ "Pablo Fornals regresa al Villarreal CF" [Pablo Fornals returns to Villarreal CF] (in Spanish). Villarreal CF. 24 July 2017. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
11. ^ "Fornals produces wonderful moment to secure a historic victory at the Bernabeu". Marca. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
12. ^ Haisley, Billy (26 September 2018). "Pablo Fornals might have just scored the goal of the season". Deadspin. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
13. ^ "Spain discovers next midfield talent in Pablo Fornals". USA Today. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
14. ^ "Pablo Fornals: West Ham sign Spain forward for £24m". BBC Sport. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
15. ^ "Fornals: Why moving to West Ham was the easiest decision". West Ham United F.C. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
16. ^ Rose, Gary (10 August 2019). "West Ham 0–5 Manchester City: Raheem Sterling gets hat-trick in VAR-dominated game". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
17. ^ Pritchard, Dafydd (27 August 2019). "Carabao Cup: Newport County 0–2 West Ham United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
18. ^ "West Ham 3–0 Southampton: Pablo Fornals' double sends Hammers into Europa League". Sky Sports. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
19. ^ Jones, James (6 May 2022). "West Ham favourite admits pride in Europa League achievements". West Ham World. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
20. ^ "Fornals: The feeling is unbelievable". West Ham United F.C. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
21. ^ Colman, Jonty (23 April 2023). "West Ham's David Moyes responds to Pablo Fornals tears after scorpion kick goal vs Bournemouth". Football London. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
22. ^ a b Stone, Simon (7 June 2023). "Fiorentina 1–2 West Ham United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
23. ^ Steinberg, Jacob (7 June 2023). "Jarrod Bowen strikes at the last to earn Conference League glory for West Ham". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
24. ^ Winrow, Ian (3 December 2022). "Six from six for Moyes as Fornals double keeps Hammers perfect". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
25. ^ Ouzia, Malik (19 May 2023). "Emotional Pablo Fornals sends message to West Ham fans after late heroics to defeat AZ Alkmaar". Evening Standard. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
26. ^ "Pablo Fornals completes move from West Ham to Real Betis". BBC Sport. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
27. ^ "West Ham double exit confirmed after computer said no". RTÉ. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
28. ^ Morán, Miguel Ángel (1 February 2024). "Pablo Fornals, nuevo jugador del Betis... a la espera del 'ok' de LaLiga" [Pablo Fornals, new player of Betis... waiting for LaLiga's ok]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 February 2024.
29. ^ "El Real Betis y el West Ham United acuerdan el traspaso de Pablo Fornals" [Real Betis and West Ham United agree the transfer of Pablo Fornals] (in Spanish). Real Betis. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
30. ^ "Pablo Fornals departs". West Ham United F.C. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
31. ^ "Pablo Fornals y un debut dubitativo" [Pablo Fornals and a doubtful debut] (in Spanish). One Football. 5 February 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
32. ^ Emons, Michael (9 February 2024). "Cadiz 0–2 Real Betis: Home fans throw ponchos on to pitch in protest at club's poor run". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
33. ^ "Pablo Fornals stuns on Real Betis debut with a spectacular solo goal". Soccer Tonic. 10 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
34. ^ Criado, José (29 March 2016). "Pablo Fornals debuta con la sub´21 y se gusta" [Pablo Fornals debuts with the under-21 and impresses]. La Opinión de Málaga (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2016.
35. ^ "Pablo called-up to join Spain's first team". Málaga CF. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
36. ^ Campos, Tomás (29 May 2016). "Nolito endulza un duelo atípico" [Nolito sweetens an atypical duel]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2016.
37. ^ a b Begley, Emlyn (30 June 2019). "Spain U21 2–1 Germany U21". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
38. ^ García, Miguel Ángel (19 June 2019). "Fornals mantiene en pie a España" [Fornals keeps Spain standing]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 September 2019.
39. ^ Zárate, Óscar (22 June 2019). "5–0: Manita de oro de La Rojita" [5–0: Golden fiver by La Rojita]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 September 2019.
40. ^ Collings, Simon (7 June 2021). "Spain squad: West Ham's Pablo Fornals on standby for Euros after Sergio Busquets tests positive for Covid-19". Evening Standard. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
41. ^ a b "Kosovo 0–2 Spain: Pablo Fornals scores first goal for his country". BBC Sport. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
42. ^ "Pablo Fornals: I want to make my son proud". West Ham United F.C. 16 January 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
43. ^ Pablo Fornals at Soccerway
44. ^ Pablo Fornals at WorldFootball.net
45. ^ Pablo Fornals – UEFA competition record (archive)
46. ^ "Pablo Fornals". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
47. ^ "Spain 1–2 France". UEFA. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pablo Fornals.

* West Ham United official profile (archive)
* Pablo Fornals at BDFutbol
* Pablo Fornals at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)
* Pablo Fornals at Soccerbase
* Pablo Fornals at National-Football-Teams.com

* v
* t
* e

Real Betis - current squad

* 1 Silva
* 2 Bellerín
* 3 Llorente
* 4 Johnny
* 5 Bartra
* 6 Natan
* 7 Juanmi
* 8 Roque
* 9 Ávila
* 10 Abde
* 11 Bakambu
* 12 Rodriguez
* 13 Adrián
* 14 William
* 15 Perraud
* 16 Altimira
* 17 Rodri
* 18 Fornals
* 19 Losada
* 20 Lo Celso
* 21 Roca
* 22 Isco
* 23 Sabaly
* 24 Ruibal
* 25 Vieites
* 38 Diao
* Head coach: Pellegrini

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals
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