Signed: June 2007 from Real Sociedad Gimnastica de Torrelavega

A mobile and tenacious ball winner, Ruben was recently recruited on a four-year contract after a successful trial period.

He was a youth player with Real Racing Club de Santander and was promoted to the B team in 1999. The defensive midfielder helped Racing B to gain promotion to the Spanish Second Division in 2001-02 and then in 2004-05, he moved to another second-level side, Union Deportiva Lanzerote.

Ruben remained in the Second Division the following season when he signed for Palencia CF and also in 2006-07, when he transferred to Real Sociedad Gimnastica de Torrelavega. However, Ruben had the ability to play at a higher level and last season he was on loan to the Greek club, Aris FC (Thessaloniki).

Although there was interest from Greek clubs, Ruben wanted to join Hearts and paid for his own release from Gimnastica.