Francisco Javier Álvarez Rodríguez

Francisco Javier "Fran" Álvarez Rodríguez (born 21 January 1998) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Polish club Widzew Łódź.

Career Villarreal Born in Socovos, Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha, Álvarez was a Villarreal CF youth graduate. He made his senior debut with the reserves on 19 August 2017, coming on as a second-half substitute for Dani Raba in a 1–0 Segunda División B away win over CD Atlético Baleares, but spent the vast majority of the campaign playing for the C-team in Tercera División.

Albacete On 7 July 2021, Álvarez signed a one-year deal with Albacete Balompié, freshly relegated to Primera División RFEF. On 21 June 2022, after being regularly used as Alba achieved promotion to the second division, he signed a new one-year contract with the club.

Álvarez made his professional debut on 9 October 2022, replacing goalscorer Manu Fuster in a 1–1 home draw against CD Tenerife. He scored his first professional goal the following 7 May, netting the opener in a 5–0 away routing of UD Ibiza.

Widzew Łódź On 26 June 2023, Álvarez moved abroad for the first time in his career and signed a two-year contract with Polish Ekstraklasa side Widzew Łódź, where he was assigned squad number #10. He debuted in his new club on 23 July 2023 in a 3–2 home victory over Puszcza Niepołomice. He also scored his first goal for Widzew in the 35th minute of that match. During that season, he played 31 times (of which 28 Ekstraklasa matches were played and three in the Polish Cup).

On 1 September 2024, Álvarez was given two yellow cards and, as a consequence, he received a red card and was sent off the pitch. In July 2025, he extended his contract with the club until 2028.