Villarreal To Visit Filbert Way: Leicester City’s Spanish Links
The final game before the Community Shield three days later, it provides the first chance for Leicester fans to see new signings Patson Daka, Boubakary Soumaré and Ryan Bertrand in action on home turf.
There will also be an opportunity to watch several La Liga stars, as the UEFA Europa League winners arrive on Filbert Way, with tickets now available on general sale.
Ahead of the encounter against El Submarino Amarillo, here’s a look at the four Spanish players to feature in the Club’s recent history…
Ignasi Miguel
Defender Ignasi Miguel was the first Spanish player to sign for Leicester City, brought in on a season-long loan at the beginning of the 2013/14 Championship campaign.
The centre-back made his debut in the second round of the League Cup in late August – a 5-2 win over Carlisle United and also scored his only goal for the Club in the competition.
Coming against Fulham, the Barcelona-born defender helped the Foxes progress into the quarter-finals of the competition.
Making a total of 12 appearances for Nigel Pearson’s promotion-winning side, seven of those came in the league as Leicester emerged as champions, earning a place back in the Premier League.
The 28-year-old joined Norwich City in the summer of 2014 and has since featured for a host of Spanish sides, including Málaga, Getafe and Leganés.
Luis Hernández
Following Premier League glory in 2016, Leicester moved to bring in reinforcements for their maiden UEFA Champions League campaign, including the acquisition of full-back Luis Hernández from Sporting Gijón.
Debuting in the Community Shield against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in August, he then started the season opener away at Hull City in central defence.
Hernández was involved in a landmark moment in City’s history as his long throw-in, via a flick on, fell to Marc Albrighton to score the Club’s first-ever goal in the Champions League, just five minutes into the opening group game at Club Brugge.
The Madrid-born defender departed midway through the 2016/17 season, joining Málaga, where he made over a century of league appearances before a move to current club, Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Ayoze Pérez
The only current Spanish Leicester City player, Ayoze Pérez was a summer recruit from fellow top-flight outfit Newcastle United in July 2019, having scored 48 times for the North East club in five seasons.
His Foxes career, meanwhile, began against Wolverhampton Wanderers in August, before his maiden goals arrived during a record-breaking night on the South Coast.
Pérez scored a hat-trick in City’s 9-0 success over Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium – the Premier League’s biggest-ever away win. The forward had also netted his first hat-trick for Newcastle against the same opponents some six months earlier.
The 28-year-old managed a further five goals across the league campaign, including two in the 4-1 victory over West Ham United, taking his tally to eight in 33 appearances.
The 2020/21 season provided three more strikes in all competitions, with both of his league goals coming in victories over Sheffield United, while his strike against Stoke City in the Emirates FA Cup Third Round sent Leicester on the way to winning the competition for the first time.
Vicente Iborra
Another player who could feature in Wednesday's fixture is former City midfielder Vicente Iborra. Signed under Claude Puel in July 2017, the Spaniard had captained Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League last-16 against Leicester five months earlier.
The defensive midfielder registered an assist on debut in the 2-0 League Cup victory over Liverpool in September and made his Premier League bow later that month.
Moncada-born Iborra then scored his first Foxes goal during a 2-2 draw against Stoke City in November, one of three league strikes during his first season at the Club. In total, he made 37 appearances, scoring four times before moving back to his homeland and signing for current club Villarreal in January 2019.