Espanyol Squad Depth 2026-27: Full Team Analysis

RCD Espanyol enter 2026/27 with a deeper and more competitive squad than they had at the end of last season. Sporting director Monchi reshaped the group during his first summer in charge of recruitment.

Àlex Calatrava arrived permanently, while Quilindschy Hartman, Gabriel Moscardo, Unai Núñez, Vanja Drkušić, Bryan Zaragoza and Andoni Gorosabel joined on loan deals. The changes have particularly improved central defence, defensive midfield and the wide attacking positions.

Espanyol have taken four points from their opening four matches. They began with an impressive 3-0 win over Levante before losing narrowly to Real Madrid and Real Sociedad, then drew 1-1 with Sevilla through Marcos Fernández’s stoppage-time equaliser.

Those results already show an important characteristic of Manolo González’s squad: Espanyol can compete, but the quality of their alternatives is not equal across every department.

Espanyol’s 2026/27 Squad at a Glance

The main first-team options include:

Goalkeepers: Marko Dmitrović, Àngel Fortuño
Centre-backs: Leandro Cabrera, Unai Núñez, Vanja Drkušić, Clemens Riedel
Full-back options: Omar El Hilali, Andoni Gorosabel, Quilindschy Hartman, Roger Hinojo
Central midfield: Urko González de Zárate, Edu Expósito, Pol Lozano, Gabriel Moscardo, José Ángel, Antoniu Roca/Bauza and other academy options around the senior group
Advanced midfield: Àlex Calatrava, Javi Hernández
Wide forwards: Bryan Zaragoza, Tyrhys Dolan, Jofre Carreras, Javi Puado
Centre-forward and supporting forwards: Roberto Fernández, Marcos Fernández, Pere Milla, Kike García

Puado and Kike García remain unavailable, while Gorosabel is still working toward full match fitness.

Goalkeeper Depth

Marko Dmitrović remains the established No. 1. His experience is important for a team that often faces periods without the ball and needs reliability behind a relatively aggressive defensive structure. Àngel Fortuño is the main alternative.

That gives Manolo a clear hierarchy, but it is also one of the thinner departments in the squad. Fortuño is highly regarded, yet he does not have anything close to Dmitrović’s senior top-flight experience.

For a domestic-only season, two goalkeepers can be sufficient. The risk would come from a prolonged Dmitrović absence rather than ordinary rotation.

Central Defence Has Genuine Competition

Espanyol’s centre-back depth has improved substantially. Unai Núñez arrived from Celta with extensive experience in La Liga, while Vanja Drkušić adds physical strength, aggression and international experience.

They join Leandro Cabrera and Clemens Riedel. Cabrera remains the senior defensive reference. He provides leadership, aerial strength and familiarity with Manolo’s system. Riedel offers a younger alternative and has received significant responsibility during the opening weeks. That gives Espanyol four credible natural centre-backs.

This matters because Manolo does not have to keep the same partnership together simply because there is no alternative. Form, opponent profile and physical condition can now influence selection. The quality difference between the first and fourth options is also smaller here than in several other positions.

Full-Back Depth Is Better Balanced

Omar El Hilali remains one of the most dependable right-sided defenders in the squad. Gorosabel was brought in specifically to increase the competition after Rubén Sánchez moved to Elche. The former Real Sociedad, Alavés and Athletic defender brings extensive Primera División experience.

His current physical condition has delayed his introduction, but once fit, Manolo should have two genuine senior options at right-back. The left side changed significantly following Carlos Romero’s departure.

Quilindschy Hartman arrived on loan from Burnley to replace much of Romero’s attacking contribution. He is comfortable advancing high up the flank and has senior international experience with the Netherlands.

Roger Hinojo provides another option behind him. Right-back probably has slightly more proven depth than left-back, but Espanyol should no longer need to improvise regularly on either side.

Moscardo Gives the Midfield a New Defensive Option

Gabriel Moscardo is one of the most interesting additions. The PSG midfielder gives Espanyol a natural holding option who can protect the defence, recover possession and help move the ball through the first phase of buildup.

Urko González de Zárate can perform a similar deeper role and has already been used extensively by Manolo. Having both is useful because Espanyol no longer needs one player to handle every defensive-midfield responsibility.

Further forward, Edu Expósito provides passing and attacking support, while Pol Lozano brings experience and tactical discipline. The overall midfield has enough numbers and different profiles for Manolo to rotate.

What it lacks is an obvious elite creator from central areas. Espanyol’s most dangerous chance creation is likely to come from the wings and from Calatrava rather than through one dominant central playmaker. That is not necessarily a weakness if the attacking structure functions properly, but it shapes how the team needs to create chances.

Àlex Calatrava Adds a Different Creative Profile

Calatrava arrived after an excellent period with Castellón, where he established himself as one of the more productive attacking players in the Segunda División.

He can receive between midfield and defence, drive forward with the ball, and contribute both goals and assists. His presence is useful because Espanyol do not need to ask their deeper midfielders to become creators.

Javi Hernández provides another technically capable option in advanced positions and has already started league matches this season.

That gives Manolo alternatives behind the striker, although Calatrava may become particularly important when opponents defend deep, and Espanyol cannot rely purely on transitions.

Bryan Zaragoza Changes the Wide-Attacking Depth

Bryan Zaragoza was the most significant late addition. His main value is obvious: he can beat defenders. Espanyol already had Tyrhys Dolan and Jofre Carreras, but Zaragoza provides another natural one-versus-one attacker who can play from either side.

Dolan has started the season productively and scored in the opening 3-0 victory over Levante. Jofre offers direct running and familiarity with Manolo’s football, while Puado should eventually return to the competition once his recovery from an ACL injury is complete.

When Puado is fully available, the wide group should contain significantly more competition than it currently does. A combination of Zaragoza, Dolan, Jofre and Puado means Manolo can change wingers without automatically removing all of the team’s pace and individual attacking threat.

For now, however, Puado remains unavailable, and Zaragoza is still rebuilding match rhythm after an incomplete preseason. The depth is strong on paper but not yet fully usable.

Roberto Fernández Is Carrying the Centre-Forward Role

Roberto Fernández has started the season as Espanyol’s main striker. He scored twice against Levante and gives the attack a forward who can run behind defenders, compete physically and occupy centre-backs. The problem is the current depth behind him.

Kike García would normally provide an experienced alternative, but he required surgery in August after suffering a hamstring tendon injury and remains some distance from returning.

Pere Milla can operate centrally, while Marcos Fernández gives Manolo another option and has already demonstrated his value by scoring the late equaliser against Sevilla.

Those alternatives are useful, but Roberto is currently the only fully available striker who combines regular senior minutes with the profile of a conventional first-choice No. 9. Until Kike returns, centre-forward is therefore more vulnerable than the total number of forwards suggests.

Injuries Reveal Where the Real Drop-Off Exists

Espanyol’s current absences provide a useful test of the squad. Puado’s absence does not leave the wings empty because Zaragoza, Dolan and Jofre remain available. Gorosabel being unavailable can be managed because Omar El Hilali is an established right-back.

Kike García’s absence is more significant because there is no equivalent experienced centre-forward behind Roberto. That is the most useful way to judge depth: not by counting players, but by asking whether losing one starter forces the team to change how it plays.

By that measure, centre-back, right-back and wing are well protected. Goalkeeper and centre-forward have larger potential drop-offs.

A Congested September Will Test Manolo’s Rotation

Espanyol do not have European football, but their immediate league schedule provides a short-term rotation test. They face Osasuna, Rayo Vallecano and Elche within six days. That will make the deeper midfield and defensive options useful even without a European campaign.

Manolo can rotate between Núñez, Cabrera, Drkušić and Riedel at centre-back, while Moscardo and Urko provide alternatives at the base of midfield. The forward line is less straightforward while Puado and Kike remain unavailable.

Once those two return and Zaragoza reaches full match sharpness, Espanyol should have greater flexibility in attack than they currently possess.

Overall Squad Depth Assessment

Overall Assessment: Well-Balanced With Improved Defensive and Wide Depth

Espanyol’s summer recruitment has addressed several clear needs. Central defence now contains four credible options. Moscardo increases competition in defensive midfield.

Bryan Zaragoza gives the attack another player capable of creating something individually, and Gorosabel should eventually give Omar genuine competition at right-back. The main limitations are more specific.

Dmitrović is difficult to replace with equivalent experience, while Kike García’s injury leaves Roberto with a heavier centre-forward workload than would be ideal. Puado’s eventual return should also make a significant difference because he adds goals, versatility and another established attacking option.

For a team without European football, the squad does not need to be enormous. It needs reliable alternatives in the positions most vulnerable to injuries and form. Espanyol are much closer to having that balance than they were before the summer window.

Conclusion

RCD Espanyol’s 2026/27 squad has improved because the club added competition rather than simply increasing numbers.

Unai Núñez and Vanja Drkušić strengthen central defence, Gabriel Moscardo gives Manolo González another defensive-midfield option, while Bryan Zaragoza adds the one-versus-one threat the attack needed.

There are still areas to monitor. Centre-forward depth is temporarily reduced by Kike García’s injury, Javi Puado is still completing his long recovery, and Gorosabel has yet to reach full competitive fitness. But the underlying squad is balanced.

Espanyol can now make changes in defence, midfield and on the wings without automatically weakening the entire structure. For a domestic-only La Liga campaign, that gives Manolo a credible platform to manage injuries, form changes and rotation without becoming overly dependent on one fixed starting XI.