| Gabri Veiga | |
| Full Name: | Gabriel Veiga Novas |
| Birth Date: | 27 May 2002 |
| Birth Place: | O Porriño, Galicia, Spain |
| Height: | 1.84 m |
| Position: | Central midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Al-Ahli |
| Clubnumber: | 24 |
| Youthclubs1: | UD Louro Tameiga |
| Youthclubs2: | Santa Mariña |
| Youthclubs3: | Celta |
| Years1: | 2019–2021 |
| Clubs1: | Celta B |
| Caps1: | 63 |
| Goals1: | 10 |
| Years2: | 2021–2023 |
| Clubs2: | Celta |
| Caps2: | 50 |
| Goals2: | 11 |
| Years3: | 2023– |
| Clubs3: | Al-Ahli |
| Caps3: | 18 |
| Goals3: | 4 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2019–2020 |
| Nationalteam1: | Spain U18 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 5 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 2 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2022– |
| Nationalteam2: | Spain U21 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 13 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 2 |
| Club-Update: | 27 May 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 21 November 2023 |
Gabriel Veiga Novas (pronounced as /gl/; born 27 May 2002) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli.
Veiga was born in O Porriño, Pontevedra, Galicia, and was a RC Celta de Vigo youth graduate. He made his senior debut with the reserves at the age of 17 on 25 August 2019, starting in a 2–2 Segunda División B away draw against Internacional de Madrid.[1]
Veiga scored his first goal on 1 December 2019, netting the opener in a 1–6 loss at CD Atlético Baleares.[2] He made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 19 September of the following year, coming on as a late substitute for Renato Tapia in a 2–1 home win against Valencia CF.[3]
Veiga scored his first professional goal on 10 September 2022, but in a 4–1 away loss against Atlético Madrid. The following 11 January, he was promoted to the main squad, being assigned the number 24 jersey.[4]
Despite strong interest from top European clubs including Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Napoli,[5] [6] on 26 August 2023, Veiga joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, signing a three-year deal,[7] after activating his €40m release clause.[8] Veiga's decision to reject interest from European clubs in favour of the lucrative contract offer from Saudi Arabia drew criticism from fans, media and fellow players for a perceived lack of sporting ambition.[9] [10] Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos labelled the move as "embarrassing".[9]
| Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Celta B | 2019–20 | Segunda División B | 14 | 1 | — | — | — | 14 | 1 | ||||
| 2020–21 | Segunda División B | 17 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||||
| 2021–22 | Primera División RFEF | 31 | 9 | — | — | — | 31 | 9 | |||||
| 2022–23 | Primera Federación | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 63 | 10 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 64 | 10 | |||||
| Celta | 2020–21 | La Liga | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22 | La Liga | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 | ||||
| 2022–23 | La Liga | 36 | 11 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 11 | ||||
| 2023–24 | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 50 | 11 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 56 | 11 | |||||
| Al-Ahli | 2023–24 | Saudi Pro League | 18 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 4 | |||
| 2024–25 | Saudi Pro League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 18 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 4 | |||
| Career total | 131 | 25 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 141 | 25 | |||
Individual
February 2023[11]