Biography
Who is Oriol Romeu?
Early life and beginnings
Oriol Romeu Vidal was born in Ulldecona, located in the Catalonia region of Spain. He began his footballing path with his local club, CF Ulldecona. In 2004, he moved to the youth academy of Espanyol before joining the Barcelona academy later that same year.
He progressed through the various youth levels at Barcelona until he reached the reserve team, Barcelona B. During his time with the senior squad, Pep Guardiola gave him his first appearance in a friendly match against Kazma SC. He was also part of the squad for the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup held in Abu Dhabi.
Move to Chelsea and loans
In August 2011, Oriol Romeu transferred from Barcelona to Chelsea for a fee of 5 million euros. He wore the number 6 shirt for the London club and made his official debut against Sunderland. He also featured in the UEFA Champions League during his tenure there, including a match against Genk.
During his time in England, he experienced several loan spells to gain more experience. He returned to Spain in 2013 to play for Valencia for one season. Following that, he moved to Germany in 2014 to join VfB Stuttgart on a loan deal.
Success at Southampton and Girona
Oriol Romeu joined Southampton in August 2015 for a transfer fee of 5 million pounds. He became a key figure for the club, eventually winning the Player of the Season award for the 2016-17 campaign. He made a total of 256 appearances during his initial period with the Saints.
In September 2022, he moved to Girona on a permanent transfer and scored his first La Liga goal shortly after. He later returned to Barcelona in 2023 before going on loan back to Girona for the 2024-25 season. After a second stint at Southampton in 2025, he joined Avispa Fukuoka in July 2026.
International career highlights
He has represented Spain at several youth levels, including the under-17, under-19, and under-20 teams. A major achievement came in 2008 when he was part of the Spanish under-17 squad that won the European Championship. He also played in the 2010 UEFA Under-19 Championship elite qualification round.
On the senior international stage, he was a member of the Spanish team during the 2012 Olympics. He appeared as a substitute in the opening match and started the final game of the tournament for his country.
Personal life and interests
Outside of his professional football career, Oriol has shown a strong interest in literature. He is an author who has written an autobiography titled La temporada de mi vida, el viaje interior de un futbolista. This book explores his internal path through the world of professional sports.
He remains a highly recognized figure in Spanish football due to his defensive midfield skills and his history with several top-tier European clubs. His career has spanned multiple leagues including La Liga, the Premier League, and the J1 League.
Birthday and age
Oriol Romeu was born on September 24, 1991, which makes Oriol 35 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. Oriol shares the date with 52 other famous people.
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