Víctor Chust
Víctor Chust García (born 5 March 2000) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for La Liga club Elche CF, on loan from Cádiz CF.[1][2] Chust began his youth career at Valencia CF before joining Real Madrid's academy in 2012, where he progressed through the ranks until 2019.[2] He made his senior debut for Real Madrid's first team in the 2020–21 season, appearing in two La Liga matches.[1] In 2021, Chust transferred to Cádiz CF, becoming a regular starter and accumulating 101 appearances across La Liga and Segunda División over four seasons, during which he scored four goals.[1] He joined Elche on loan in August 2025, where he has made nine appearances in the 2025–26 La Liga season as of November 2025.[1][3] At the international level, Chust has represented Spain's youth teams, including the U17, U19 and U21 squads.[4][5]Club career
Youth career
Víctor Chust García was born on 5 March 2000 in Valencia, Spain.[2] At the age of eight, Chust joined the youth academy of his hometown club, Valencia CF, in 2008, where he began his formative years in football. He progressed through the club's age-group teams over the next four years, developing his skills as a centre-back in a competitive environment known for nurturing local talent. In 2012, at age 12, Chust transferred to Real Madrid's renowned youth system, La Fábrica, marking a significant step in his early career.[2] Within Real Madrid's academy, Chust advanced through various youth levels, including the Cadete and Juvenil categories, honing his defensive abilities and tactical awareness. By 2017, he was part of the Juvenil A (U19) team that secured the Copa del Rey Juvenil title. His development culminated in the 2019–20 season, where, as captain of the Real Madrid U19 side, he played a key role in winning the UEFA Youth League, defeating Benfica 3–2 in the final to claim Real Madrid's third title in the competition. During this period, Chust grew physically to a height of 1.84 metres, contributing to his commanding presence on the pitch.[2][5] In 2019, at the age of 19, Chust transitioned from Real Madrid's youth setup to the club's reserve team, Castilla, signaling the end of his pure youth career phase.Real Madrid
Víctor Chust signed his first professional contract with Real Madrid in 2019, coinciding with his promotion to the club's reserve team, Real Madrid Castilla, which competed in the Segunda División B.[6] This move marked his transition from the youth ranks to semi-professional football, where he primarily played as a centre-back.[2] During the 2019–2021 period, Chust made 26 appearances for Castilla, contributing to the team's defensive efforts amid promotion pushes in the third tier.[5] His performances highlighted his potential as a reliable defender, though the team did not achieve promotion during his tenure.[7] In 2020, under manager Zinedine Zidane, Chust was integrated into the senior squad, earning call-ups for matches as injuries affected the first-team defense.[8] He made his La Liga debut on 9 February 2021 as a substitute against Getafe in a 2–0 home win.[9] Over the 2020–2021 season, Chust accumulated two La Liga appearances and one in the Copa del Rey, without scoring any goals.[7] Chust's limited first-team opportunities stemmed from stiff competition in the centre-back position, notably from veterans like Sergio Ramos, which prompted the decision for a loan move in 2021 to gain more experience.[10] Prior to his departure, his contract was extended until 2022.[11]Cádiz
Víctor Chust joined Cádiz CF on a season-long loan from Real Madrid on 10 August 2021, providing defensive reinforcement during the club's second consecutive La Liga campaign.[12] Under head coach Álvaro Cervera, who managed the team until January 2022, Chust quickly adapted to the demands of top-flight football, featuring in competitive matches and contributing to a backline focused on solidity amid a challenging season.[13] During the 2021–22 La Liga season, Chust made 25 appearances, starting 20, and played 1,830 minutes as Cádiz secured a 16th-place finish with 39 points, narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day of the campaign. His composed performances at centre-back helped stabilize the defense during a relegation scrap, earning praise for his ball-playing ability and positioning. On 6 July 2022, following the expiration of his loan, Cádiz completed a permanent transfer for Chust, acquiring him for €1 million while Real Madrid retained 50% of his future sell-on rights; he signed a four-year contract until June 2026.[14] In the subsequent 2022–23 season, Chust transitioned into a more prominent role, becoming a regular starter alongside defenders like Fali de Cádiz, though limited to 14 league appearances due to injuries.[15] Chust marked a personal milestone on 9 October 2022, scoring his first La Liga goal for Cádiz in a 2–2 draw against Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium, heading in a corner to equalize early in the second half. Over the following seasons, he solidified his status as a key player, starting 22 of 22 league matches in 2023–24 amid Cádiz's intense relegation battle, which ended in an 18th-place finish and direct drop to the Segunda División.[16] In the 2024–25 Segunda División campaign, Chust featured in 40 league games, scoring three goals, as the team finished 12th and focused on rebuilding. By the end of the 2024–25 season, Chust had amassed 76 league appearances and four goals across his permanent spell at the club.[1] Chust's partnership with Fali became a cornerstone of Cádiz's defense from 2022 onward, with the duo combining physicality and tactical awareness in multiple campaigns, including the high-stakes survival efforts in La Liga. In July 2024, ahead of the 2024–25 season, Chust extended his contract with Cádiz until June 2028, affirming his long-term commitment before departing on loan in August 2025.[17] As of July 2025, he remained a vital asset in the club's Segunda push, having evolved from a promising loanee into a dependable starter central to Cádiz's defensive identity.[2]Elche (loan)
On 7 August 2025, Víctor Chust joined Elche CF on a season-long loan from Cádiz CF, with the agreement running until the end of the 2025–26 campaign and including an option for Elche to make the transfer permanent.[2] The move came amid Cádiz's relegation to the Segunda División at the end of the 2023–24 La Liga season, where they finished 18th and were demoted following a goalless draw against Las Palmas on 19 May 2024.[18] For Elche, competing in La Liga, the signing addressed a need for defensive depth, with Chust selected for his prior top-flight experience accumulated during over 60 La Liga appearances with Cádiz.[19] Chust made his debut for Elche on 23 August 2025, coming on as a substitute in the 46th minute during a 1–1 home draw against Atlético Madrid in the league opener.[20] He quickly established himself in the starting lineup, featuring in subsequent matches such as full 90-minute outings against UD Levante (2–0 win on 29 August) and Sevilla FC (2–2 draw on 12 September). As of November 2025, Chust had made 9 appearances for Elche in La Liga, starting 6 and accumulating 597 minutes on the pitch.[1] In terms of defensive contributions, Chust has averaged around 2 tackles per match, with a total of 18 tackles, 6 interceptions, and 25 clearances across his appearances, while winning 13 aerial duels to help solidify Elche's backline in competitive fixtures like the 0–0 draw against Athletic Bilbao on 19 October.[1] His integration has been marked by three yellow cards, including bookings in matches against Sevilla and CA Osasuna, reflecting an aggressive style in duels. The loan emphasizes Chust's development in a higher division, positioning him for a potential return to Cádiz while providing Elche with a reliable centre-back option.[20]International career
Spain U17
Chust earned his first call-up to the Spain under-17 national team in September 2016 at the age of 16, while developing in Real Madrid's youth system.[4] Over the period from 2016 to 2017, he accumulated 19 caps for the team, featuring primarily as a starter in UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifiers and friendly matches.[4] His international breakthrough came during the 2017 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Croatia, where Spain secured the title with a 2–2 draw against England in the final, followed by a 4–1 victory in the penalty shootout; Chust started in the match and converted the decisive penalty.[21][22] In the tournament, he contributed to Spain's defensive solidity as a composed centre-back, providing stability during the high-stakes knockout stages.[23][24] Following Spain's triumph, which marked their record-extending ninth U17 European title, Chust transitioned to higher age-group representations, beginning with the under-19 team in 2018.[22] Chust was also selected for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India, where he made seven appearances as Spain reached the final but lost 5–4 after extra time to England.Spain U19
Chust earned his first call-up to the Spain U19 national team in October 2018, shortly after his achievements with the U17 squad, while continuing to develop in Real Madrid's youth system.[5] He accumulated 10 caps for the team without scoring, featuring in qualifying matches for the 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship and the finals tournament itself.[7][5] Selected for the finals in Armenia, Chust featured in multiple matches, including starts against Italy in the group stage and France in the semi-final, helping anchor the defense during Spain's run to the title.[25][26] The team secured their eighth U19 European Championship by defeating Portugal 2–0 in the final on 27 July 2019.[27] Chust's involvement with the U19 side concluded in 2019, paving the way for his progression to the Spain U21 team in subsequent years.[5]Spain U21
Víctor Chust received his first call-up to the Spain U21 team in September 2021, ahead of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying matches for the 2023 tournament, at the age of 21 during his transition from Real Madrid Castilla to a senior role.[4] He made his debut on 8 October 2021, coming on as a substitute in the 64th minute during a 3–2 victory over Slovakia in a qualifier at Estadio La Cartuja in Seville.[28] Over the course of 2021 and 2022, Chust earned six caps in total, featuring in four qualifying matches and two friendlies as a centre-back.[4] His appearances included starts against Lithuania (8–0 win on 25 March 2022, where he played the full 90 minutes and received a yellow card) and Slovakia (3–2 win on 29 March 2022, 39 minutes played), as well as substitute roles in the 6–0 qualifying rout of Northern Ireland on 3 June 2022 (39 minutes) and friendlies against Romania (4–1 win on 23 September 2022, 61 minutes) and Norway (3–0 win on 27 September 2022, 75 minutes).[29] Primarily serving as a backup defender amid strong squad depth, Chust did not participate in the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals, where Spain reached the semi-finals, and received no further call-ups after his last appearance in September 2022 as he prioritized club commitments.[4]Career statistics and honours
Career statistics
Víctor Chust's club career statistics are compiled from reliable sources, providing a breakdown of his appearances and goals across various competitions. Data for youth levels prior to senior debuts are summarized where detailed records are unavailable.[30][1]Club Statistics
Chust began his youth career at Valencia CF, where he progressed through the academy ranks from 2008 to 2012 without senior appearances; detailed match data for this period is not publicly tracked in professional databases.[2] At Real Madrid Castilla (2019–2021), Chust featured in the Segunda División B, accumulating 19 league appearances with 0 goals. He also appeared in 7 matches in the UEFA Youth League for Real Madrid U19 during the 2019–20 season. Overall for reserve/youth levels: 26 appearances with 0 goals. His debut season (2019–20) included league matches and 7 in the UEFA Youth League, followed by 14 league appearances in 2020–21 (adjusted for accurate league totals).[30] For Real Madrid's first team (2020–2022), Chust made 3 appearances with 0 goals, comprising 2 in La Liga (2020–21) and 1 in the Copa del Rey (2021–22).[1][30] With Cádiz CF (2021–2025), Chust recorded 107 appearances and 4 goals across La Liga, Segunda División, and Copa del Rey. Key seasons include 29 total apps (0 goals) in 2021–22, 14 total apps (1 goal) in 2022–23, 23 total apps (0 goals) in 2023–24, and 41 total apps (3 goals) in 2024–25.[30][1][7] On loan at Elche CF (2025–present), as of November 19, 2025, Chust has 9 appearances and 0 goals in La Liga, with 6 starts totaling 597 minutes played.[2][1]| Club | Years | Total Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valencia Youth | 2008–2012 | N/A | N/A |
| Real Madrid Castilla | 2019–2021 | 26 | 0 |
| Real Madrid (First Team) | 2020–2022 | 3 | 0 |
| Cádiz CF | 2021–2025 | 107 | 4 |
| Elche CF (loan) | 2025– | 9 | 0 |
International Statistics
Chust represented Spain at youth levels, earning caps without scoring. For the U17 team (2016–2017), he made 19 appearances and 0 goals. At U19 (2018–2019), he recorded 10 appearances and 0 goals. With the U21 side (2021–2022), Chust has 6 appearances and 0 goals.| Team | Years | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain U17 | 2016–2017 | 19 | 0 |
| Spain U19 | 2018–2019 | 10 | 0 |
| Spain U21 | 2021–2022 | 6 | 0 |
Honours
Víctor Chust has won several youth titles at both club and international levels, with no senior club honours as of November 2025.[31]Club
- UEFA Youth League: 2019–20 (Real Madrid U19)
Chust featured in seven matches during Real Madrid's triumphant campaign, contributing to their first-ever Youth League title with a strong defensive presence as a centre-back.[32][33] He was selected for the tournament's team of the tournament, highlighting his key role in the squad's success.[33]