What Professional Clubs Really Look For in Players

Players ask me all the time what professional clubs are actually looking for. As an agent, my opinion does not matter much because I am not the one making the final decisions.

So instead of guessing, I went straight to the source.

Not one club.
Not two.
Four professional clubs we work with.

Two from lower divisions.
Two from top La Liga academies.

You are about to hear the truth from people who sign players for a living.

Let’s break it down.

Club 1 AD Torrejón. What they look for in male players

The first academy director explained it simply.

Yes, technical and tactical ability matter. At their level the goal is to move up into División de Honor, the top youth category in Spain. You need quality to survive there.

But what he values just as much is your daily behaviour.

He said he looks closely at:

• How you train every day
• How you behave with teammates
• Whether you show discipline
• Whether you show commitment
• Whether your family environment is stable
• Whether you carry yourself like a professional

He was clear.
It is not just technical ability.
It is your attitude every single day.

In Spain, players who thrive are not only talented. They are consistent. They behave like pros long before they become pros.

Club 2 Levante U.D. What a top La Liga women’s academy looks for

The women’s game in Spain has exploded and this academy is one of the strongest in the country. They have played Champions League. Their players are now in top divisions. So their standards are high.

They said the key traits they want are:

• A player who is adaptable
• A player who is proactive
• A player who is prepared for the future
• A player who is not scared of challenges
• A player who understands both the micro and macro tasks of the game

They work heavily on individual development before team development. They want players who can handle the jump to the first team without fear.

For female players, the message was clear.
They want thinkers.
Learners.
Players who understand the game and grow fast.

Club 3 CD Leganés. What Spanish methodology demands

Another coach spoke about attitude.

Yes, you need skill. That is a given. But in Spain, the methodology is completely different from what many foreign players are used to. Training is more technical. The game model is strict. The tempo is higher.

They said they look for:

• Players who want to learn Spanish football
• Players who understand the drills and why they exist
• Players who think quickly
• Players who want to improve themselves
• Players who want to be good teammates

Spain does not reward ego.
Spain rewards intelligence.
If you want to survive there, you need curiosity and humility.

Club 4. What RC Celta looks for in trialists

Representatives from Celta said their number one priority is simple.

Interest.

Real, genuine interest from the player.

They want players who:

• Show they want to learn
• Ask questions
• Are willing to fail without fear
• Improve quickly within short periods
• Have strong technical quality
• Understand the game deeply
• Are hardworking and disciplined

One quote stood out.

“If a player can improve in a short period of time, it means that over a long period they will improve even more.”

They want players who have:

• High technical level
• High game understanding
• High willingness to sacrifice

In Spain, sacrifice is not a dramatic word.
It means commitment.
Consistency.
Daily hunger.

The pattern across all four clubs

After speaking with all four professional clubs, a clear pattern appeared.

Here is what actually matters:

• Technical quality
• Tactical intelligence
• Adaptability
• Coachability
• Discipline
• Commitment
• Fearlessness
• Daily professionalism
• Ability to improve quickly
• Team behaviour

Here is what they did not care about:

• Your highlight reel
• Your Instagram clips
• Your excuses
• Your opinions
• Your hype
• Your past

They want players who are ready to grow.
Players who want to learn.
Players who treat every training session like an investment.

The takeaway

If you want to impress professional clubs, understand this.

Talent gets you noticed.
Your attitude gets you signed.
Your behaviour keeps you signed.

The players who rise in Spain are not always the most gifted. They are the ones who improve the fastest, adapt the quickest and carry themselves like professionals long before they get paid like one.