Manel Royo

Manel Royo Castell (born 28 February 1994) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left-back.^[2]

Manel Royo

Personal information
Full name	Manel Royo Castell[1]
Date of birth	(1994-02-28) 28 February 1994 (age 31)
Place of birth	Alcanar, Spain
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Left-back
Youth career
	Alcanar
2006–2007	Amposta
2007–2008	Gimnàstic
2008–2010	Espanyol
2010–2011	Villarreal
2011–2012	Roda
2012–2013	Villarreal
2013–2014	Nike Academy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2015	Conquense	24	(0)
2015–2017	Valledolid B	62	(0)
2017–2018	Espanyol B	21	(0)
2018–2019	Barakaldo	15	(0)
2019	Teplice B	6	(0)
2019	Teplice	4	(0)
2020–2021	Ebro	26	(0)
2021–2022	Costa Brava	35	(0)
2022–2024	Almere City	45	(1)
2024–2025	NAC Breda	19	(1)
2025	Andorra	4	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 May 2025

Career

Born in Alcanar, Tarragona, Catalonia, Royo began his career with hometown side CD Alcanar, and subsequently played for CF Amposta, Gimnàstic de Tarragona, RCD Espanyol and Villarreal CF as a youth.^[3] In 2013, after leaving the latter, he spent a year at the Nike Academy before signing for Segunda División B side UB Conquense on 30 July 2014.^[4]

On 3 July 2015, Royo moved to Real Valladolid, being assigned to the reserves also in the third division.^[5] On 3 July 2017, he returned to Espanyol and was assigned to the B-team in Tercera División.^[6]

Royo left Espanyol in July 2018, and spent nearly four months without a club before agreeing to a deal with Barakaldo CF on 27 November.^[7][8] In June of the following year, he moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing for Czech club FK Teplice.^[9]

Royo made his professional – and Fortuna liga – debut on 1 September 2019, coming on as a late substitute for Pavel Moulis in a 0–0 home draw against MFK Karviná. The following 8 February, after featuring rarely, he returned to his home country and signed for CD Ebro in the third tier.^[10]

On 15 July 2021, Royo agreed to a deal with Primera División RFEF side UE Llagostera.^[11] The club later changed name to UE Costa Brava, and despite being an undisputed starter during the entire campaign, he was unable to prevent team relegation.

Royo joined Dutch Eerste Divisie club Almere City FC on 19 July 2022, signing a two-year contract.^[12] He made his competitive debut on the opening day of the 2022–23 season, coming off the bench in the 76th minute for Thomas Poll in a 3–0 loss to VVV-Venlo,^[13][14] and achieved promotion to the Eredivisie with the club at the end of the season.^[15]

On 24 January 2024, Royo joined NAC Breda on a one-and-a-half-year contract, with a club option for another season.^[16] He also helped the club to a top tier promotion, but was rarely used afterwards.

On 2 February 2025, Royo moved to FC Andorra in the Spanish third tier.^[17]