A 17-year-old Moroccan minor was discovered hiding beneath the Real Valladolid team bus after the club’s return journey from Ceuta, having remained concealed during the ferry crossing to mainland Spain and more than 100 kilometres of road travel.

The young man was found after members of the Valladolid squad heard cries for help coming from underneath the vehicle as it travelled through the province of Cádiz on Sunday night, 20 September.

The Incident Happened After the Ceuta Match

Real Valladolid had travelled to Ceuta to face AD Ceuta FC in the sixth round of the 2026/27 LaLiga Hypermotion season.

The match at the Alfonso Murube Stadium ended 1-1. Valladolid took the lead through Juanmi Latasa in the 53rd minute before Carlos Hernández equalised for Ceuta in added time.

After the match, the Valladolid delegation headed back to the port with the team buses before boarding a ferry to Algeciras.

The Minor Hid Under the Bus

According to information confirmed by sources at Real Valladolid to EFE, the teenager had hidden in the lower part of one of the team buses before it crossed the Strait of Gibraltar.

He remained concealed beneath the vehicle throughout the ferry journey from Ceuta to Algeciras, a crossing reported to have taken around 45 minutes.

Once the bus reached mainland Spain, it continued north towards Valladolid.

He Remained Hidden for More Than 100 Kilometres

The young man stayed beneath the bus for more than 100 kilometres after the ferry crossing.

The vehicle had been travelling for more than an hour from Algeciras when members of the expedition began hearing noises and cries coming from underneath the coach.

The bus stopped at a service area in the Jerez de la Frontera area, where the players discovered the teenager in the vicinity of the rear axle. Reports from several Spanish outlets place the discovery near Jerez, although a precise service-area location has not been officially identified.

Players Came to His Aid

The players helped the teenager out from beneath the bus after discovering that he was exhausted and had difficulty moving.

The team provided him with water, food and clothing while waiting for emergency services.

The medical staff accompanying the first team also attended to him. EFE reported that the club's first-team doctor, Alberto López Moreno, helped care for the young man until an ambulance arrived.

Guardia Civil Was Contacted

The Real Valladolid delegation contacted the Guardia Civil and requested medical assistance.

The teenager was subsequently taken into the care of the relevant authorities. Spanish reports said he had some minor bruising and complained of physical discomfort after remaining in the confined position for so long.

There is no indication in the verified reports that members of Real Valladolid knew the young man was beneath the bus before he was discovered.

Communication Was Initially Difficult

Communication with the teenager was reportedly complicated because he did not speak Spanish.

Members of the travelling delegation initially tried to communicate with him using translation tools and Arabic assistance before emergency services took over the situation.

The young man reportedly told members of the team that he was 17 and expressed a wish to be taken to a centre for minors in Algeciras. These details came from the club's account of the incident and reports based on those sources.

A Dangerous Journey

Travelling beneath a moving bus for an extended period presents a serious physical risk, particularly during a ferry crossing and subsequent motorway journey.

In this case, the teenager remained in the underside of the vehicle from Ceuta to Algeciras and then continued beneath the bus for more than 100 kilometres before asking for help.

The football expedition stopped and remained with him until the authorities and medical services arrived, after which the team continued its journey to Valladolid.

A Route From Ceuta to Mainland Spain

Ceuta is Spanish territory on the North African coast, separated from mainland Spain by the Strait of Gibraltar.

The incident therefore involved an attempt to travel from Ceuta to mainland Spain without detection, rather than an entry into Spain from Morocco by crossing the international border into Ceuta at that moment.

The case highlights one of the dangerous methods used by some migrants attempting to travel from Ceuta to the Spanish mainland, where concealing themselves inside or underneath vehicles can expose them to severe injury.

The Valladolid Team Continued Its Journey

After the authorities and medical services took charge of the teenager, the Real Valladolid delegation resumed its journey.

The club subsequently completed its return to Valladolid following the away match in Ceuta.