Oriol Romeu is one of the most talented midfielders to have emerged from the Spanish academy system in recent years. Tireless in his work rate and gifted with excellent ball distribution skills, he made his mark in the Premier League with outstanding performances for Southampton before returning to LaLiga to play for Girona and Barcelona.
Oriol stood out from a very young age among players of his generation, both in Barcelona’s youth ranks and in the Spanish national teams. Thanks to his exceptional performances, he experienced a meteoric rise between 2009 and 2011. During that time, he became a key figure for Barça B — helping the team earn promotion to the Segunda División and achieve an impressive third-place finish in the 2010–11 season — and made his debut for the first team under Pep Guardiola, during one of the club’s most successful eras.
Meanwhile, he progressed through Spain’s youth categories, becoming an essential player. He played in two consecutive U-20 World Cups (2009, 2011) and two straight U-19 European Championships (2009, 2010). Comparisons with Sergio Busquets — due to his position and style of play — began to emerge.
Such rapid progression demanded a bigger challenge. André Villas-Boas’ Chelsea came calling, and Oriol began the 2011–12 season at a spectacular level. That campaign ended with remarkable results: Chelsea won both the Champions League and the FA Cup, trophies that now feature in the Catalan’s honors list.
The following season brought the toughest moment of his career. A knee injury in December 2012 sidelined him for several months. Once recovered, Chelsea loaned him to Valencia and Stuttgart to help him regain his best form. Through hard work and determination, he succeeded. In the summer of 2015, Ronald Koeman’s Southampton signed him to make him one of the cornerstones of their project. Oriol quickly won over the Saints’ fans. In his first season, he helped the team qualify for the Europa League. In his second, he reached the EFL Cup final against the mighty Manchester United — Southampton’s first final since 2003. Oriol finished that season with a very special honor: he was voted Southampton’s Player of the Year by both fans and teammates. He was also the third player with the most tackles in the Premier League. In 2022, Oriol embarked on a new adventure by joining Girona, where he became an indispensable player and helped the team finish tenth in LaLiga. His impressive campaign led FC Barcelona to sign him for the 2023–24 season. In the summer of 2024, he decided to return to Girona to strengthen the team in their historic Champions League campaign.
That outstanding season led FC Barcelona to sign him for the 2023–24 campaign. In the summer of 2024, he decided to return to Girona to strengthen the team for their historic Champions League season.
After his spell at the club where he became a footballer, Oriol Romeu has returned to Southampton to help during a difficult time for the club that showed him so much affection. The midfielder from Ulldecona will try to assist the Saints in their Championship campaign.
Oriol is deeply committed to everything he does and has a distinctive style on social media. He often shares and comments on topics that interest him — films, sports, books, concerts, and more. He also stands out for his entrepreneurial spirit. He personally manages his annual football camp in his hometown of Ulldecona (the Oriol Romeu Experience) and runs OR Fit, his gym, while also participating in the Terres de l’Ebre training club alongside Edu Albacar. In 2020, he presented his projects at Casfid’s innovation talk on sports and technology, together with Esteban Granero and Manu García.
Career as a player
- 2008-11. Under18 Barcelona y Barcelona B
- European Championship U17 with Spanish Team 2008
- European Atlantic Cup winner with Spanish Team 2009
- Round of 16 World Cup Under 20 with Spanish Team 2009
- Promotion to second division 2009-10
- European runner up with Spanish Team U19 2010
- 2010-11. Barcelona B (play some games with the fist team)
- Third classified at second division 2010-11
- He made his debut with the first team in an official match on August 14, 2010 (first leg of the Spanish Super Cup against Sevilla)
- He made his debut with Barcelona in the First Division on May 15, 2011 (against Deportivo)
- Spanish League Champion 2011
- Spanish Supercup Champion 2011
- 2011-2015. Chelsea.
- Champions League Champion 2011-12
- FA Cup Champion 2011-2012
- Called Up with the Spanish Olympic Team London 2012
- Europa League Champion 2012-13
- 2013-14. Valencia (loan)
- 2014-15. Stuttgart (loan)
- 2015-2022 Southampton
- Sixth classified Premier League 2015-16: qualified Europa League 2016-17
- EFL Cup runner up 2016-17
- He played 81 oficial games (three goals and one assist)
- Voted Southampton’s Best Player in the 2016-17 season, both in the fans’ vote and in the vote of his teammates.
- 2022-2023. Girona FC.
- 2023-2024. FC Barcelona.
- 2024-2025. Girona FC
- 2025-2026. Southampton
- 2026-present. Fukuoka Wasp