He made his first-team debut on 5 December 2006 against A.S. Roma in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, starting and playing 27 minutes in the 1–0 away loss,[2] and spent his first professional year with the reserves in the Segunda División B, featuring regularly but suffering relegation.

After starting the 2007–08 season on loan with Segunda División side Xerez CD, Ñíguez switched in the January transfer window to Iraklis F.C.

Ñíguez signed a two-year loan contract with Scottish Premier League club Rangers on 13 August 2008, with an option to buy.

[3] He made his official debut in the 7–1 defeat of Hamilton Academical on 6 December, coming on as a second-half substitute and immediately creating a goal for compatriot Nacho Novo.

[4] He scored his first competitive goal for his new team in a Scottish Cup tie against Third Division side Forfar Athletic, and was booked for removing his shirt in celebration.

[7] On 30 August 2009, still on loan from Valencia, Ñíguez joined RC Celta de Vigo of division two, playing less than one third of the matches during the campaign due to a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury.

[27] Ñíguez came from a football family: his father, José Antonio, played several years with Elche – including the 1984–85 season in La Liga – as a striker.