Celta Vigo are facing a difficult start to pre-season after the injury to Javi Galán, the newly signed left-back. The player, who joined the club three weeks ago after terminating his contract with Osasuna, suffered discomfort during last Saturday’s friendly against Braga in Portugal, and medical tests confirmed a muscle tear in his left rectus femoris. The Galician side announced the injury on Tuesday, though no recovery timeline has been provided yet.
What happened to Javi Galán at Celta Vigo?
Galán picked up the injury in the 23rd minute of the 1-1 draw with Braga, the first test for Claudio Giráldez’s side. The 28-year-old completed just 23 minutes before being substituted with discomfort. Further scans revealed the extent of the damage: a muscle tear in the left rectus femoris, diagnosed via ultrasound by the club’s medical staff.
The left-back, a former Atlético Madrid and Osasuna player, arrived at Celta on a two-year deal until 2028. His signing was finalized on July 1, 2026, just three weeks before the Braga friendly. The club is already working on a temporary replacement as the transfer window remains open under Marco Garcés.
How does Galán’s injury impact Celta Vigo?
The Galician side now has another absentee in a pre-season already shaped by change. Galán joins Ilaix Moriba -still nursing an Achilles tendon issue- and Pablo Durán, recovering from shoulder surgery in late May. Only Moriba, who did not feature in Braga, has resumed full training with the group this week.
Celta, sixth in La Liga with 54 points from 14 wins, 12 draws, and 12 losses in 38 games, are using these friendlies to finalize the squad. Giráldez needs to wrap up signings and exits before the new campaign, with their first official match set for July 25 against Sporting Gijón at Balaídos.
What’s next for Celta and their injured players?
For now, Galán remains in individual rehab at the medical facility. The club has not specified a return date, but time is tight: the side needs the left-back for Matchday 1. Meanwhile, Moriba and Durán are making progress, though no timelines have been confirmed.
Celta closed the 2025-26 season with a 1-1 draw at home to Sevilla on May 23, entering these friendlies on a recent run of two wins and two draws (WWDDL). The loss to Braga in pre-season doesn’t overshadow the team’s rhythm, but Galán’s injury forces Giráldez to rethink his starting XI for the league opener.
