Last Updated on September 11, 2026 by Filepe
David Mella Boullón is a Spanish professional footballer born on May 23, 2005, in Teo, A Coruña, Galicia. The winger has spent much of his development at Deportivo de La Coruña and has also represented Spain at several youth international levels.
Sport runs strongly through the Mella family. David’s father, Gonzalo Mella, was a professional footballer who also represented Deportivo, while his mother, Chus, played basketball professionally. David has a brother named Marcos and a sister named Laura, both of whom have played important roles in his development. Away from football, Mella has also publicly identified Paula Fafián as his girlfriend.
Who Is David Mella’s Girlfriend?
David Mella’s publicly identified girlfriend is Paula Fafián.
Mella first publicly referred to Paula simply as his girlfriend while discussing the people who had supported him during his career. At the presentation of his Deportivo contract extension in November 2024, he thanked Paula alongside his parents, siblings, grandparents and other close relatives.
He joked that Paula had to “put up with him every day” and explained that having her and the rest of his family nearby made his football journey much easier.
Her full identity became more clearly documented in September 2025, when AS Chile identified Paula Fafián as Mella’s girlfriend while she attended Spain’s FIFA Under-20 World Cup campaign in Chile.
David Mella and Paula Fafián’s Relationship
Mella has generally kept the details of his romantic life private, so information such as exactly when he and Paula began dating has not been widely disclosed.
However, Paula has been part of his close support network during important stages of his Deportivo career. She appeared in the video produced for his 2024 contract renewal and recalled seeing David particularly upset after Deportivo failed to win promotion in the 2022 playoff against Albacete.
In 2025, Paula travelled to Chile to support Mella during the Under-20 World Cup. She attended alongside his sister Laura, another family member and his representative Javier Casas.
Is David Mella Married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that David Mella is married.
The most recent established reports identifying his relationship describe Paula Fafián as his girlfriend rather than his wife. There have been no credible reports of a wedding or engagement.
Does David Mella Have Children?
There is no reliable public information indicating that David Mella has children.
The Deportivo winger has spoken extensively about his parents, siblings, grandparents and girlfriend without identifying himself as a father. As of now, no son or daughter has been publicly confirmed.
Who Are David Mella’s Parents?
David Mella’s parents are Gonzalo Mella and Chus. Both come from high-level sporting backgrounds, giving David an unusually experienced support system while he developed as a young athlete.
Gonzalo was a professional footballer and played for Deportivo de La Coruña, while Chus competed as a professional basketball player. Gonzalo has explained that both he and his wife later studied Physical Education and worked in areas connected with athletic performance.
Their sporting backgrounds have helped them advise David about the psychological and physical demands of professional football without interfering directly with the tactical decisions of his coaches.
Who Is David Mella’s Father, Gonzalo Mella?
David Mella’s father is Gonzalo Mella Liñares, a former Spanish professional footballer born in Teo in December 1967.
Gonzalo developed at Deportivo and made his first-team debut at Riazor in November 1987 when he was 20 years old. He played as a forward and represented Deportivo during a period when the club was competing in Spain’s Segunda División.
He later played for Racing de Ferrol, Compostela and Bergantiños. After his playing career, Gonzalo also worked in football-related roles, including physical preparation.
Did David Mella’s Father Play for Deportivo?
Yes. Gonzalo Mella played for Deportivo between the late 1980s and 1990.
One of his most memorable moments came in January 1990 when he scored against Real Betis. More than three decades later, David followed his father by making his own Deportivo first-team debut at Riazor.
The connection made David’s breakthrough particularly emotional for the family. During Deportivo’s 2024 promotion celebrations, David even wore one of his father’s old Deportivo shirts.
How Has Gonzalo Mella Influenced David’s Career?
Gonzalo has been closely involved as an adviser throughout his son’s development but has said that he tries not to behave like David’s coach.
His experience in professional football allows him to explain difficult periods such as injuries, reduced playing time or changes in form. Gonzalo has said that both he and Chus often acted as “firefighters,” helping David understand why coaches sometimes made decisions he did not initially like.
The family also prioritized keeping David close to home during his development rather than accepting every opportunity offered by larger clubs elsewhere.
Who Is David Mella’s Mother, Chus?
David Mella’s mother is known publicly as Chus. She was a professional basketball player before later working in areas associated with sport and physical performance.
Gonzalo has said that Chus was actually the faster athlete of the couple. Her speed was particularly useful during her basketball career, and David appears to have inherited some of the acceleration that has become one of his defining qualities as a winger.
Chus and Gonzalo are both graduates in Physical Education, giving them professional as well as personal experience of high-performance sport.
David Mella’s Close Relationship With His Mother
David also shares an emotional connection with his mother beyond sport.
A song that David and Chus used to sing together became important enough to him that he had its title tattooed on his arm. Spanish reporting has highlighted that relationship while discussing the influence his mother had on both his personality and athletic qualities.
Chus has also regularly attended important moments in her son’s career and was present during the presentation of his Deportivo contract extension.
Does David Mella Have Siblings?
Yes. David Mella has at least two siblings: a brother named Marcos and a sister named Laura.
Both have been publicly identified in reliable reporting and have contributed to David’s development in different ways.
Marcos inspired David to play football when he was young and regularly trained with him, while Laura helped David academically when he moved into Deportivo’s residence.
Who Is Marcos Mella, David Mella’s Brother?
Marcos Mella is David’s brother and was also a talented footballer.
David has said that Marcos was the person who first inspired him to play. When David was very young, he followed his brother into futsal and began building the skills that eventually took him to Deportivo.
Marcos played as a left-footed central midfielder and reached División de Honor Juvenil level. However, he eventually decided not to pursue professional football and now plays mainly recreationally with friends.
Despite David becoming a professional and Spain youth international, he has said that Marcos will always be the best footballer in the family in his eyes.
How Did Marcos Help David Mella?
Marcos’s influence continued after childhood. David publicly thanked his brother for training with him at home and helping him become a better player.
That support was one of several examples Mella gave when explaining why his family had been so important during his rise through Deportivo’s academy.
Marcos also appeared in the club video announcing David’s 2024 contract extension, recalling the emotional moment when his younger brother finally made his senior Deportivo debut.
Who Is Laura Mella, David Mella’s Sister?
Laura Mella is David’s sister. Her name was publicly confirmed during the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile, where she travelled to support her brother.
Laura has been another important figure in David’s development. When he moved into Deportivo’s academy residence, she helped him with his studies, something David specifically remembered when thanking his family after renewing his contract.
Laura has also described her brother as a major source of pride and has supported his decision to remain at Deportivo despite interest from other clubs.
Laura Mella and Paula Fafián at the Under-20 World Cup
Laura travelled to Chile in September 2025 alongside David’s girlfriend Paula Fafián to watch him represent Spain at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
Speaking to AS Chile from the stands, Laura explained that David had invited both her and Paula to make the trip.
She described David as an incredible person and expressed her pride in watching her younger brother represent Spain on the international stage.
David Mella’s Sporting Family
David grew up in an environment where competitive sport was completely normal.
His father had experienced professional football, his mother had played basketball professionally, and his brother Marcos was a talented youth footballer. Both parents also studied Physical Education and later worked around sport and performance.
That background gave David access to relatives who understood issues such as training, injuries, pressure, discipline and recovery long before he became a first-team footballer.
How David Mella’s Parents Helped Him Reach Deportivo
Family support became especially important because reaching Deportivo’s academy required a demanding routine.
For approximately four years, David regularly travelled from the Santiago and Teo area to A Coruña for training. He has publicly thanked his parents for making those journeys repeatedly so that he could pursue his ambition.
When he eventually moved into the academy residence, other relatives took on different roles. Laura helped him study, Marcos trained with him, his grandparents provided emotional support and an aunt regularly made long journeys from France to watch him play.
Why David Mella Chose to Stay at Deportivo
When Mella renewed his Deportivo contract through 2029, he repeatedly emphasized that being close to his family was one of the biggest reasons for remaining in A Coruña.
He had attracted interest from other clubs, including Brighton & Hove Albion, but said he rejected the possibility of leaving almost immediately.
For Mella, playing at Riazor while remaining close to the people who helped him throughout childhood was more important than immediately moving abroad.
David Mella’s Family and Deportivo
The Mella family’s relationship with Deportivo stretches across generations.
Gonzalo represented the club during the late 1980s, and David grew up surrounded by stories and memories of Deportivo. His relatives have said that he wanted to wear Deportivo shirts from childhood, including when going to parks and beaches.
That lifelong connection became professional when David joined the academy and eventually reached the first team. His 2024 renewal video prominently featured his father, mother, siblings, grandparents, aunt and girlfriend, emphasizing how closely his Deportivo story is tied to his family.
Frequently Asked Questions About David Mella’s Family
Who is David Mella’s girlfriend?
David Mella’s publicly identified girlfriend is Paula Fafián. She has supported him at Deportivo matches and travelled to Chile with his family during the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
Is David Mella married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that David Mella is married. Paula Fafián has been publicly identified as his girlfriend.
Does David Mella have children?
There is no reliable public information confirming that David Mella has children.
Who are David Mella’s parents?
David Mella’s parents are Gonzalo Mella and Chus. Gonzalo was a professional footballer, while Chus was a professional basketball player.
Who is David Mella’s father?
His father is Gonzalo Mella Liñares, a former forward who played for Deportivo, Racing de Ferrol, Compostela and Bergantiños.
Who is David Mella’s mother?
His mother is known publicly as Chus. She played professional basketball and later worked in areas related to sports performance.
Does David Mella have a brother?
Yes. His brother is Marcos Mella, a former youth midfielder who reached División de Honor Juvenil level before deciding not to pursue professional football.
Does David Mella have a sister?
Yes. His sister is Laura Mella. David has credited Laura with helping him academically when he moved into Deportivo’s academy residence.
Was David Mella’s father also a Deportivo player?
Yes. Gonzalo Mella made his Deportivo first-team debut in 1987 and represented the club during the late 1980s and 1990.
Was David Mella’s mother an athlete?
Yes. Chus played basketball professionally. Both she and Gonzalo later studied Physical Education and worked in fields connected with sports performance.
Where is David Mella from?
David Mella was born in Teo, A Coruña, Galicia, on May 23, 2005.
What is David Mella’s full name?
His full name is David Mella Boullón.
Filepe Junior is a football writer tracking La Liga transfers, covering major signings, squad planning, and player movements across Spanish clubs.
