Altimira becomes Villarreal's first January window departure
The Catalan defender leaves the Yellow Submarine after three seasons, with more exits potentially on the way as Villarreal trim their squad.
Villarreal have wasted no time in streamlining their squad for the second half of the season, with Adrià Altimira becoming the first player to exit in the January transfer window.
Three-year stint comes to an end
The Catalan defender has parted ways with the Yellow Submarine after three seasons at the club, during which he primarily featured for their reserve team in Segunda División before eventually making the step up to the first team.
Altimira’s departure hardly comes as a shock to those following the club closely. The full-back found himself down the pecking order with Pau Navarro and Santiago Mouriño ahead of him in the defensive hierarchy. With Villarreal now out of both the Champions League and Copa del Rey, the need for squad depth has diminished significantly.
Limited first-team opportunities
During his time with the first team, Altimira managed 22 official appearances across the 2023/24 and 2025/26 campaigns. Last season, he spent time on loan at CD Leganés in La Liga, gaining valuable top-flight experience.
More departures on the horizon
Altimira’s exit appears to be just the beginning of Villarreal’s January clear-out. The club has several other players who seem destined for the chop, with Manor Solomon and Diego Conde both struggling for minutes in the first half of the season.
For the Yellow Submarine, this January window looks set to be more about trimming the fat than bringing in new talent. After their early cup exits, the focus seems firmly on streamlining the squad for their remaining league campaign.
With the transfer window now officially open, expect more movement at La Cerámica in the coming weeks as Villarreal continue their squad restructuring. Altimira might be the first out the door, but he’s unlikely to be the last player packing his brown bread.