Carles Gil Bio
Carles Gil de Pareja Vicent (born 22 November 1992) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Major League Soccer club New England Revolution, where he serves as captain. He began his career at Valencia, playing mostly for the reserves before making his first-team debut in 2014, and spent two seasons on loan at Elche, helping the club win promotion to La Liga in 2013. After a spell in the Premier League with Aston Villa and a return to Spain with Deportivo La Coruña, he signed with the New England Revolution in 2019.
During his time with the Revolution, Gil has become one of the most decorated players in club history, winning multiple Major League Soccer awards, including the MLS Newcomer of the Year in 2019 and both the Landon Donovan MVP and the MLS Comeback Player of the Year in 2021.
Early Life and Background
Carles Gil was born on 22 November 1992 in Valencia, in the Valencian Community of Spain. Standing 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) tall, he grew up surrounded by football culture in a region with a strong tradition of producing technically skilled midfielders. From a young age, he was drawn to the sport and developed his game in the local youth circuits.
Gil joined the Valencia CF youth system at the age of five and spent more than a decade progressing through the ranks. He was a standout in the academy and was eventually promoted toward the senior setup, signing a professional contract until 2016 shortly after his late-teens breakthrough with the reserves.
Path to Soccer
Gil made his senior debut at only 17 with Valencia’s reserve team, playing one match in the Segunda División B. He was brought into the main squad for the 2010, 2011, and 2012 pre-seasons, scoring the third goal in the latter against SV Rödinghausen in a 4–0 away win, performances that convinced the club to tie him to a long-term deal.
He was then loaned to neighbouring Elche CF for the 2012–13 campaign, where he quickly became a key attacking figure. He scored on his Segunda División debut against SD Ponferradina and netted again the following match at Hércules CF, helping Elche return to La Liga after nearly 25 years. He remained with Elche for 2013–14, making his top-flight debut on 19 August 2013 at Rayo Vallecano and scoring his first La Liga goal on 1 March 2014 in a home win over RC Celta de Vigo.
Carles Gil Career
Early Career (2009–2012)
Gil’s first notable senior experience came with Valencia B in Spain’s lower divisions, where he made his debut as a 17-year-old. Although his appearances were limited, his progress was steady, and he impressed enough in training and pre-season matches with the senior side to earn a place in first-team preparations across three consecutive summers.
During this period, he scored in pre-season against SV Rödinghausen and signed a professional contract extending through 2016, marking him as one of the more promising young attacking midfielders in Valencia’s pipeline.
Valencia and Elche Breakthrough (2012–2015)
After two seasons on loan at Elche, where he was central to their promotion push and first season back in La Liga, Gil returned to Valencia and made his league debut on 29 August 2014 in a 3–0 home defeat of Málaga CF. He scored his only competitive goal for Valencia on 28 September 2014, contributing to a 1–1 away draw at Real Sociedad.
His breakthrough was most clearly defined at Elche, where he scored consistently in the Segunda División and became a vital part of an attacking unit that returned the club to Spain’s top flight. His first La Liga goal, the only goal in a home win over Celta de Vigo, announced his arrival at the highest level.
Aston Villa Era (2015–2018)
On 13 January 2015, Gil joined Premier League side Aston Villa for a fee in the region of £3.2 million, signing a four-and-a-half-year deal and receiving the number 25 jersey. He debuted four days later as a substitute against Liverpool, and manager Paul Lambert praised his performance as “as good a debut as I’ve seen.”
He scored his first Villa goal in an FA Cup tie against Bournemouth and provided his first assist for Jores Okore’s header against Chelsea. His first Premier League goal came on 13 September 2015 at Leicester City, and he added an equalising volley against Sunderland on 2 January, despite the defeat.
Deportivo La Coruña Era (2016–2019)
On 20 July 2016, Gil returned to Spain’s top flight on loan at Deportivo de La Coruña, with the move later extended and an obligatory buyout clause included. He featured regularly as Deportivo battled relegation, but played only six minutes after the appointment of coach Clarence Seedorf, as the club was eventually relegated.
New England Revolution Era (2019–Present)
On 30 January 2019, Gil joined the New England Revolution as a Designated Player on a multi-year contract, for a club record transfer fee of $2 million. He scored on his MLS debut on 2 March, the equaliser in a 1–1 draw at FC Dallas, and finished his first season with 10 goals and 14 assists, leading the side as they returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
In 2020, injuries limited him to 152 minutes by late October, but he returned in time for the playoffs, scoring in wins over the Montreal Impact and Orlando City SC. On 24 May 2021, he agreed to an extension until 2024, and that season helped the Revolution to their first Supporters’ Shield in 26 years, finishing with 18 assists and a league-record 73 points. He won the MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award, was named MLS Best XI, Revolution Team Most Valuable Player, MLS Player of the Month for June, and on 7 December was named the league’s Most Valuable Player.
In 2023, Gil scored the second-fastest goal in Revolution history in a 3–3 draw with Atlanta United, was added to the MLS All-Star Game roster by coach Wayne Rooney, and won the Revolution Golden Boot with 11 goals and 15 assists. In March 2024, he extended through 2026 with a one-year option, and in October was named team MVP for a club-record fourth time. On 19 April 2025, in a 2–0 home win over New York City, he set the all-time Revolution assists record with 74, surpassing Steve Ralston.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gil is best known for his playmaking vision, precise passing, and ability to deliver from set pieces and open play. His compact frame and low center of gravity allow him to operate in tight spaces between the lines, while his understanding of tempo makes him a natural captain and the offensive engine of the Revolution.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature milestones include his 2019 Newcomer of the Year award, the 2021 Supporters’ Shield and MVP honors, the 2024 club-record fourth team MVP award, and his 19 April 2025 record-breaking 74th assist for the Revolution.
Carles Gil Career Wins
Carles Gil’s verified career wins span Spain’s lower divisions with Elche, the Premier League with Aston Villa, and Major League Soccer with the New England Revolution. His most prominent team honours include helping Elche win promotion to La Liga and leading the Revolution to their first Supporters’ Shield.
Elche Highlights
During two seasons on loan at Elche, Gil became a vital part of the squad that returned to La Liga in 2013. His first Segunda División goal came against SD Ponferradina on 19 August 2012, and he added a second the following week at Hércules CF. He scored his first La Liga goal on 1 March 2014 in a home win over RC Celta de Vigo.
New England Revolution Highlights
Since joining in 2019, Gil has led the Revolution to multiple playoff appearances and the 2021 Supporters’ Shield. In 2021, he finished as the MLS assist leader with 18 and set a then-league points record with 73. He has won the Revolution Golden Boot, team MVP honors a club-record four times, and the league MVP award.
Other Wins & Performances
Gil earned the MLS Newcomer of the Year in 2019 and was named to the MLS Best XI in 2021. He also won the Players’ Player of the Year in 2023, the MLS Comeback Player of the Year in 2021, and has been a regular MLS Player of the Week and Player of the Month honoree throughout his Revolution tenure.
Carles Gil Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Gil’s younger brother, Ignacio, is also a footballer and an attacking midfielder. Ignacio came through the Valencia academy and later joined Carles at the New England Revolution, where the brothers were teammates.
Personal Life
Gil is married to María. In September 2022, he missed his brother’s MLS debut due to the birth of his first child, Marco.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with Carles Gil continuing his role as captain and central playmaker for the New England Revolution. On 19 April 2025, in a 2–0 home victory over New York City, he set the all-time assists record for the club with 74, surpassing Steve Ralston’s long-standing tally.
His influence on the team’s offensive output remained clear, with the Revolution leaning on his vision and set-piece delivery to drive their attack. The performance of the wider squad around him, combined with his continued fitness, positioned the club as a contender in the Eastern Conference.
Looking forward, Gil’s form and leadership will be central to the Revolution’s playoff push, with the franchise counting on his consistency and creative output to challenge for major honours.
