Arriving at Paris-Saint-Germain in 2022, under the leadership of Christophe Galtier, Carlos Soler, 29, joined the capital for 18 million euros after a solid career in Valencia. At the time, the Spanish midfielder had 225 matches with “Los Ches”, including 12 goals in all competitions over his last two seasons, and was number 10 and playmaker for Pepe Bordalas’ team. But once in Paris, where expectations were perhaps too high, the player never found the level that had made his reputation in La Liga.
His first season (2022-2023) was correct statistically, but disappointing overall: 6 goals and 3 assists in 35 games, including only 18 starts. The next one, under Luis Enrique, was even more difficult. Soler only scored two small goals in 28 games and was never really able to express himself in a central role. However, in January 2024, the Spanish coach defended his player in front of the media: “When I see a player who can play well and understand what situations you need to control, it’s very interesting. Carlos Soler is one of these players. He’s a top player, I took him to the World Cup where there are 23 world-class players. He can still improve, that’s what I expect from him. »
The terrible descent into hell for Carlos Soler
Despite this displayed confidence, Soler was quite logically pushed out in the following transfer window and loaned to West Ham to discover the Premier League. A mixed experience: the Hammers finished 14th in the championship in 2024-2025, and Soler was never really an indisputable starter, only scoring one goal and providing one assist over the entire season. Returning to Paris without having convinced in England, the Spanish midfielder was finally sold to Real Sociedad for 6 million euros, returning to La Liga where he had previously shone. But the Basque season is proving complicated: with only one victory in the first nine days, Soler has never been able to instill what he once achieved in Valencia. Even this Saturday, against Oviedo (3-3), he did not start, barred by Gorrotxategi and Benat Imaz, and never entered the second half, a sign that confidence in him remains very limited.
With these performances at half-mast, a return to the Spanish selection for the 2026 World Cup seems out of reach for Soler, who has not been selected since 2023. The player, who has just celebrated the birth of a child, however maintains a combative state of mind: after the victory against Bilbao (0-1), he published on his social networks: “personality and courage. One step closer. » But for now, Carlos Soler’s career looks more like a succession of missed opportunities than a return to grace, and time is running out for him to regain the consistency that was his strength at Valencia.
