The former Academy defenders extend their contracts with the club for three more seasons

Villarreal CF has come to an agreement for the extension of Jaume Costa and Mario’s contracts, who will wear Yellow until 2021 and 2023, respectively. Thus, as Jaume Costa’s contract was up in 2018 and Mario’s in 2020, both men are now linked to the Submarine for three more seasons. The press conference to announce the contract renewals will be held this Thursday at the Villarreal CF Training Ground (Ciudad Deportiva) after the Submarine’s morning training session.

The club continues to renew contracts and in doing so guarantees a strong core for Villarreal for years to come, as Sergio Asenjo and Manu Trigueros’ contracts were also extended in 2016. Mario and Jaume Costa both established themselves in the First Team after breaking into the squad from the Villarreal B team, demonstrating the club’s firm commitment to the Yellows Reserves and Academy teams. Mario came to Villarreal in the 2007/08 campaign, while Jaume Costa arrived in the 2010/11 season. A lifetime as Yellows.

What's more, both Mario and Jaume Costa are two of the most utilized players by Fran Escribá this season, racking up 1,987 and 1,553 minutes, respectively, between LaLiga Santander, UEFA Champions League Play-off, UEFA Europa League and Copa del Rey competitions.

Mario Gaspar Pérez Martínez (Novelda, Spain, 24/11/1990)

Coming from Fundación Albacete, the Alicante native joined Villarreal in the 2007/08 campaign, and has since progressed through the Submarine ranks, having represented the U19s, as well as both the B and C teams. At just 18 years of age, he made his debut in the First Division (2008/09) against Atlético de Madrid. That same season, Mario helped the Villarreal B team to promotion to the Second Division, which is considered to be a historic milestone for the Yellow Reserve team. In the 2010/11 season he moved up to the First Team full time, where he has since become one of the captains of the Submarine. Mario has also represented Spain on three occasions, scoring two brilliant goals for the Senior national team.

Jaume Costa Jordá (Valencia, Spain, 18/03/1988)

The left back from Valencia joined the Villarreal B team in the 2010/11 season and he soon became a key figure for the Reserves and played six games with the First Team too. This secured his move up to the First Team for the 2012/13 campaign. From then on, Costa has become one of the Submarine’s defensive pillars and also one of the team’s captains.