Carles Gil Bio
Carles Gil de Pareja Vicent, born on 22 November 1992 in Valencia, Spain, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder and captains Major League Soccer club New England Revolution. A product of Valencia CF’s youth academy, he rose through the reserves before establishing himself across Spain’s top two divisions, the Premier League, and ultimately MLS. He is widely regarded as one of the league’s most creative playmakers since joining the Revolution in 2019.
Standing 171 cm tall, Gil combines technical passing with consistent end product, producing goals and assists at a high rate for his club. His honors include the 2019 MLS Newcomer of the Year, the 2021 MLS Best XI selection, the 2021 MLS Comeback Player of the Year award, and the 2023 Players’ Player of the Year recognition.
Early Life and Background
Carles Gil de Pareja Vicent was born on 22 November 1992 in Valencia, a city on Spain’s eastern Mediterranean coast with a deep footballing tradition. Growing up in the region gave him early exposure to the sport, and he joined the Valencia CF youth system at the age of five. The club’s academy, located in his hometown, provided a structured path through age-group football and into competitive senior football.
He developed through Valencia’s reserve teams and made his senior debut at just 17 years old, playing one match in the Tercera-tier Segunda División B during the 2008–09 season. Across the 2010, 2011, and 2012 pre-seasons, he trained with the first team and scored the third goal in a 4–0 away win over SV Rödinghausen in 2012, earning a professional contract that ran until 2016.
Path to Soccer
Gil’s progression accelerated when Valencia loaned him to neighboring Elche CF for the 2012–13 season, his first extended spell in a senior starting XI. He made his Segunda División debut on 19 August 2012, scoring in a 4–2 home win over SD Ponferradina, and found the net again in his next match, a 2–1 victory at Hércules CF. Those performances established him as a key attacking piece as Elche pushed for promotion to La Liga.
He remained at Elche for 2013–14 on loan from Valencia and helped the club return to Spain’s top flight for the first time in nearly 25 years. He scored his first La Liga goal on 1 March 2014, the lone strike in a home win over RC Celta de Vigo. A first call-up to the Spanish under-21 side followed on 30 August 2013, under coach Julen Lopetegui, with his debut arriving on 9 September in a 4–0 qualifying win over Albania, where he assisted Jesé’s final goal.
Carles Gil Career
Early Career (2009–2012)
Gil spent his formative senior years with Valencia B in the lower tiers of Spanish football, learning the professional environment while still a teenager. Brief stints in pre-season with Valencia’s first team offered glimpses of his ability at a higher level, and his goal against SV Rödinghausen in 2012 helped seal his promotion to a full professional contract.
Those development years shaped his reading of the game and prepared him for the physical demands of regular senior football. By the time he was loaned to Elche, he had already become a regular starter in Spain’s lower professional divisions.
Elche Breakthrough (2012–2014)
The two-season loan to Elche transformed Gil from a promising reserve into a first-division contributor. In 2012–13, he was a regular in the Segunda División and scored in his opening two league appearances. Elche won promotion to La Liga that season, and Gil continued as an important attacking piece in 2013–14 as the club adjusted to top-flight football.
He opened his La Liga account on 1 March 2014 against RC Celta de Vigo, the lone goal in a home win. The campaign confirmed his readiness to compete at the highest level in Spain and led directly to his return to the Valencia first team for 2014–15.
Aston Villa Era (2015–2018)
On 13 January 2015, Gil joined Premier League side Aston Villa for a fee in the region of £3.2 million, signing a four-and-a-half-year deal and taking the number 25 jersey. He debuted four days later as a substitute in a 0–2 home loss to Liverpool, earning praise from manager Paul Lambert for the quality of his display.
His first start arrived on 25 January 2015 in an FA Cup tie against Bournemouth, where he opened the scoring from the edge of the box in a 2–1 victory. He netted his first Premier League goal on 13 September 2015, briefly putting Villa 2–0 up in a 3–2 loss at Leicester City, and added an equalizer against Sunderland on 2 January 2016 with an aerial volley from Adama Traoré’s cross.
Deportivo La Coruña Era (2016–2018)
On 20 July 2016, Gil returned to Spain’s top flight on loan at Deportivo de La Coruña, with an option to buy. The move was extended the following July with an obligatory buyout clause attached. Deportivo were eventually relegated from La Liga, and Gil featured sparingly after the appointment of new coach Clarence Seedorf, managing only six minutes under the Dutchman’s tenure.
New England Revolution Era (2019–Present)
On 30 January 2019, Gil joined the New England Revolution as a Designated Player on a multi-year contract, for a club-record transfer fee of $2 million. He scored on his MLS debut on 2 March, equalizing in a 1–1 draw at FC Dallas. By season’s end he had recorded 10 goals and 14 assists, led the side in scoring, and guided New England to their first playoff appearance since 2015, earning the MLS Newcomer of the Year award and a place on the 2019 MLS Best XI.
Injuries limited him to 152 minutes by late October 2020, but he returned for the playoffs and scored in wins over the Montreal Impact and Orlando City SC, also assisting three post-season goals. On 24 May 2021, he agreed to a contract extension through 2024 that increased his salary to $2.7 million and placed him among the league’s top earners. That season he helped New England claim their first Supporters’ Shield with three games to spare, finished as the league’s assist leader with 18, and was named MLS Comeback Player of the Year as the team set a new points record with 73. On 7 December 2021, he was named the league’s Most Valuable Player.
On 31 May 2023, Gil scored the second-fastest goal in Revolution history in a 3–3 draw against Atlanta United FC and was selected for that year’s MLS All-Star Game by coach Wayne Rooney. He won the Revolution Golden Boot for the second time with 11 goals and 15 assists, was named Players’ Player of the Year for a third time, and earned MLS Player of the Week for matchweek 16. In March 2024, he agreed to an extension through 2026, with a one-year option. He was included on the MLS Team of the Matchday for weeks 31 and 33 of 2024, and in October he was named his team’s Most Valuable Player for a club-record fourth time.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gil’s game is built on close ball control, sharp passing, and the ability to deliver accurate final balls from central positions. He excels at setting the tempo in possession and combines well with overlapping wide players. His vision and willingness to receive between the lines make him the offensive hub of the Revolution’s attack, and his consistent production reflects the trust built with the club’s staff and teammates.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most significant moments of his MLS career are his 2021 Supporters’ Shield triumph and his December 2021 league MVP award. On 19 April 2025, in a 2–0 home victory over New York City, he set the all-time assists record for the Revolution with 74, surpassing Steve Ralston’s tally, and on 9 August he broke Taylor Twellman’s goal contributions record by recording two assists in a 2–0 defeat of D.C. United to reach 130.
Carles Gil Career Wins
Carles Gil de Pareja Vicent has collected a steady run of individual and team honors across Spanish football, the Premier League, and Major League Soccer. His most prestigious club achievement came with Elche in 2013, when he helped the club win promotion to La Liga after nearly 25 years away from the top flight. With the New England Revolution, he won the Supporters’ Shield in 2021 and lifted the MLS MVP award that same December.
Elche Highlights
Gil was a key attacking figure as Elche returned to La Liga in 2013 and remained influential during their 2013–14 top-flight campaign. He opened his La Liga account on 1 March 2014 against RC Celta de Vigo with the only goal in a home win, marking a clear step up in level for the young midfielder.
Other Wins & Performances
Gil’s individual awards span his time in MLS, including the 2019 MLS Newcomer of the Year, 2019 MLS Best XI, 2021 MLS Best XI, 2021 MLS Comeback Player of the Year, 2021 Revolution Team Most Valuable Player, and 2023 Players’ Player of the Year. He has also been named Revolution Team Most Valuable Player four times, a club record.
Carles Gil Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Gil’s younger brother, Ignacio, is also a professional footballer and attacking midfielder. Ignacio came through Valencia’s academy, and the two were teammates at New England, sharing an MLS pitch together in 2022.
Personal Life
Carles Gil de Pareja Vicent is married to María. In September 2022, he missed his brother Ignacio’s MLS debut due to the birth of his first child, Marco. The family ties run deep in football, with both brothers representing Valencia at youth level before continuing their careers abroad.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has continued to showcase Carles Gil de Pareja Vicent as the creative engine of the New England Revolution. On 19 April 2025, he set the all-time assists record for the club with 74, surpassing Steve Ralston’s tally, in a 2–0 home victory over New York City. The milestone cemented his status as the most prolific playmaker in Revolution history.
He extended that record-setting form on 9 August 2025, breaking Taylor Twellman’s goal contributions record with two assists in a 2–0 defeat of D.C. United to reach 130 combined goals and assists for the club. His consistent production has once again placed him among the league’s top creators.
With the season still unfolding, Gil’s blend of veteran composure and reliable end product gives New England a steady offensive foundation heading into the closing stretch. His leadership as captain and his chemistry with the club’s young attacking players suggest the records may continue to fall before the year is out.