Juan Foyth: Fierce, formidable and fearless

By Emily Anderson

Villarreal is a great club and I didn’t think twice about coming here. I’m convinced that this is a very good opportunity to keep competing but, above all, to improve every day and help the team grow. I can’t wait to start playing and help the team.

Those were the words of Juan Foyth, as he joined Villarreal on loan from Tottenham Hotspur for the 2020/21 season. The versatile defender played a key role in helping the Yellow Submarine to win their first-ever trophy and, not surprisingly, after that unforgettable Europa League final, Yellows fans were chanting his name from the stands pleading with him to stay. It seems like it was a no-brainer for Villarreal, as Foyth had impressed so much during the 2020/21 campaign the club took no time in announcing they would buy the Argentine defender outright on a five-year deal. Yellows fans got their wish.

It all began for Foyth back in La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Born in 1998, Foyth began his career playing in the youth academy at Estudiantes de La Plata, his hometown club,where he would play for a number of years. Initially, he started out as an attacking midfielder and later on moved backwards to play as a centre-back. Nowadays, he can play anywhere across the back line and even as a holding midfielder. In the 2020/21 season, Foyth played in a variety of positiongs, before ending the season mostly as right-back for Villarreal and was formidable up and down the right flank. Among some of Foyth’s key qualities are his physical strength, defensive prowess and his ability to anticipate and read the game so well.

2017 was a big year for Foyth as it saw him step up to the world stage and the elite of Argentinean football. It was in this year that he signed his first professional contract with Estudiantes de La Plata and started playing for the Argentina U20 national team, earning multiple caps for his country. He made nine appearances at the 2017 South American Youth Football Championships in Ecuador and three at the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup.

Also in 2017, Foyth made his debut for Estudiantes de La Plata in Primera División aged 19 and against Patronato. Foyth later went on to play in Argentina’s top flight a further six times and additionally, he made two appearances in the Copa Sudamericana.

In August 2017, Foyth joined Tottenham Hotspur, (with a five-year contract until 2022). He made his debut with the club the following month, in a cup tie against Barnsley and Tottenham won. Foyth then made his Premier League debut in late 2018 in an away win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Foyth’s next Premier League appearance would come in an away match against Crystal Palace and this is when Foyth scored his first goal for Spurs to help Tottenham to go on and win the match.

In October 2018, Foyth received his first call-up to the senior Argentina national team and he made his debut the following month in a game against Mexico. Foyth helped Argentina secure a 2–0 win and he was also awarded the ‘Man of the Match’ award. He was then selected for the team at the 2019 Copa America.

In September 2020, Foyth signed a new deal with Tottenham and was loaned out to Villarreal. Foyth was not hesitant to join the club, he expressed his excitment about joining Villarreal.

“Villarreal is a great club and I didn’t think twice about coming here. I realised straight away that this club is fantastic.” — Juan Foyth

In Foyth’s first season with Villarreal he played in 32 games, (16 in La Liga, 12 in the Europa League and 4 in the Copa del Rey). He quickly became the ninth most used player by head coach Unai Emery and also become a key player in the Yellows’ conquest of the UEFA Europa League.

In June 2021, he signed a permanent deal with the club, which will see him play for the Yellows until 2026. When Foyth signed, Villarreal CF CEO Fernando Roig Negueroles said, “Juan has qualities and virtues that fit perfectly with our team. I’m sure he will perform to a high level.”

“We’ve made a great addition to the side who will bring us a lot.” — Fernando Roig Negueroles, Villarreal CF CEO