Malaga

The captain, who has started 129 of a possible 130 league games across three seasons at the club. His 13 clean sheets last term were among the best in the division and underpinned a return to the top flight after eight years away. Experience gained at Mirandes and Real Oviedo shows in his shot-stopping and the way he organises the back line.

A 2004-born back-up goalkeeper developed in Malaga's academy. His height and reach make him a natural shot-stopper, and he waits his turn behind the undisputed Alfonso Herrero. The club sees him as a long-term option between the posts.

A 186cm goalkeeper from Cartagena, Spain.

A right-back who has built his reputation on consistency. His blend of defensive solidity and attacking projection kept him in the side throughout the promotion campaign, and the right flank remains one of the team's main outlets. He is counted on as a starter in the top flight.

A centre-back from Alaves' academy who returned to Spain after spells at Istra in Croatia and Sochaux in France. With his contract extended to 2027, he is a fixture in the middle of the back line, bringing height and aggression in duels.

A centre-back who gathered top-flight experience at Valladolid and Espanyol, signed to bring exactly that to a promoted side. He defends through positioning and reading of the game, though his injury record means staying fit is the key to his minutes.

A centre-back who joined on a free transfer from Andorra. His 186cm frame and strength in duels are his calling cards, though a long knee injury has kept him out and the question is how quickly he can climb back up the pecking order.

A left-sided player who arrived on loan from Espanyol with an option to buy, brought in to fill the club's problem position. He built his career in the lower divisions with Mirandes and Elche, and now competes with academy product Rafita for the left flank.

A centre-back born in 2003 whose 185cm frame anchors his defending. He formed the central pairing with Einar Galilea last season and, despite his age, is counted on as a first-choice option in the top flight.

A centre-back born in 2001 whose duelling is his main asset. He ranks behind the Galilea-Recio pairing but is viewed as a genuine alternative, and a clean run of fitness would push him up the pecking order.

A 171cm defender from Málaga, Spain. Joined Malaga after spells with Numancia, Sabadell, Extremadura.

Born in 2006, he still racked up 37 appearances last season and has been tied down to 2028. His versatility — pivot, interior midfielder, even emergency centre-back — is prized, and he plays with a composure beyond his years.

A left-back who broke through from Malaga's academy, converted to the position after starting out as a winger. Tied down until 2029, he now competes with loan arrival Jose Salinas for the left flank.

A defender from Spain.

A La Masia graduate who arrived via Bayern Munich. Possesses excellent precision with his left foot and thrives on attacking overlaps. Already capped by Morocco, he is considered a highly promising young left-back.

A tall Swedish international midfielder. Excels in ball-winning and forward drive, with rapid transitions from defence to attack. Won the Premier League Goal of the Month while on loan from Napoli.

A midfielder born in 2001 developed at the club. At 173cm he is small, but technique in tight areas and energy keep him involved.

A Moroccan midfielder born in 2002. Mobility at 172cm and technique let him play centrally or out wide.

A midfielder raised in Real Madrid's academy who arrived on loan from Celta after a spell at Sporting Gijon. A regular during the promotion season, he brings composure and distribution to midfield and settles the tempo when the game gets loose.

The team's creative hub, and the man who scored the goal that clinched promotion. He combines slick dribbling with quality set-piece delivery, and averaged above 7.3 in ratings last season. Wearing the number 10, he carries the attack into the top flight.

A 180cm midfielder born in 2003. Promoted from the club's academy, he is building minutes in the top flight.

A versatile midfielder from Alcorcon's academy capable of filling a wide range of roles, from a ball-winning anchor to an attacking playmaker. Wears Levante's number 10 as the central figure controlling the team's balance between attack and defence.

An interior midfielder who leads with his physicality. His signature move is carrying the ball through the lines from a second-line position, and that drive was a factor in last season's promotion push. He pairs a high work rate with strength in duels.

A Nigerian midfielder born in 2005, a young addition to the first-team squad.

A 167cm midfielder from Marbella, Republic of Ireland.

A striker who won the Segunda golden boot with 25 goals. He blends a 185cm frame with genuine finishing, and chose to stay for the top-flight campaign after leading the promotion charge. He is the name in this attack, and defences plan around him.

A winger whose pace and unpredictable movement helped drive promotion. A product of Atletico Madrid's academy, he has since built his career through Huesca and Mirandes. In the top flight he faces fresh competition for his place.

A striker who scored four times last season and was retained as a squad option. At 184cm and 81kg he plays as a physical presence up front, and though third in the pecking order he is used late in games to change the pattern.

An attacker back at Malaga after eleven years away, arriving on loan with an option to buy. He scored 7 in 22 for the reserve side Atletico Malagueno, and manager Juan Funes knows him from exactly that spell — how he is used will be worth watching.

A forward born in 2004 who came through Atletico Madrid's academy. He beat expectations with 12 goals last season and can either partner the golden-boot winner Chupe or spell him, using his 184cm frame to good effect.

An attacker developed in Real Sociedad's academy who has since played for Celta and Andorra. He can fill several forward positions and is used from the bench to change the shape of a game.

A young forward promoted from the club's academy, gaining top-flight experience.

A forward from Spain.