Valencia officially announced on Thursday that they have activated Luis Rioja's contract extension clause ahead of schedule, extending his contract until June 30, 2027.

Rioja's original contract included an automatic renewal clause, which would automatically activate upon reaching a certain number of appearances. According to the official statement, the club decided to trigger this clause early, based on their recognition of Rioja's performance, professionalism, and dedication.

However, the details Rioja subsequently provided differed slightly from the official statement. After the contract extension was finalized, he stated: "I originally needed to play a few more games before my contract would automatically be renewed, which led to much speculation. I can now tell everyone without reservation: after communicating with me, the club decided to cancel the original renewal clause and change it to a fixed-term one-year contract. Ultimately, this fully demonstrates their high level of trust in me."

"I will continue to repay this trust through hard training, giving my all, and committing 100% to ensure everything goes smoothly. I will be in top form to meet the challenges and do my best to achieve our goals and make this project a success."

Rioja was also overjoyed with the contract extension. He said, "I am very happy. I am incredibly happy to continue spending another season with you all, with this amazing group of fans, with this great club, and with the dressing room we have built together. This is something I have always wanted and hoped for. I hope to repay everyone's trust in me with my performance."

“I think everything becomes more meaningful when players choose to renew their contracts, or when they, like me, are eager to continue playing for the club. For me, the most important thing is daily life here – coming to the training ground every day with high spirits, working with joy, and sharing the good atmosphere with my teammates. I feel incredibly honored to be able to represent Valencia CF and all the fans.”

This contract extension means that Rioja will play for Valencia for at least another season. He joined Valencia in August 2024 for €1.2 million and has made 52 appearances for the team, scoring 7 goals and providing 6 assists.

Besides Valencia, Rioja also played for several other teams, including Cabresen, Marbella, Almería, and Alavés. He primarily played as a winger and gradually adapted to the pace of the top league at Alavés.