He amassed La Liga totals of 314 matches and 44 goals over 13 seasons, representing in the competition Deportivo, Málaga, Atlético Madrid, Villarreal and Osasuna and winning four major titles with the third club, including the 2013–14 league championship.

[8] After helping the Basque team avoid relegation with three league goals, he returned to A Coruña to be loaned again on 14 August, this time to newly promoted Málaga CF on a season-long deal.

In the Copa del Rey, the Galicians faced Córdoba CF in the round of 16: after a 1–1 draw in Andalusia, he scored the 1–1 in the 90th minute of the second leg, taking the match to extra time where he netted two more for a 3–1 victory and a spot in the quarter-finals.

[24] On 30 April of the following year, he scored his third official goal of the season, starting and helping his team win 3–1 at Chelsea and progress to the final of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 1974.

[25] On 12 July 2014, Adrián signed a five-year deal with Portuguese club FC Porto, who paid €11 million to Atlético Madrid for 60% of his economic rights.

[31] On 28 April 2016, Adrián scored the only goal at the Estadio El Madrigal against Liverpool, coming on for Roberto Soldado late into the second half and netting in the 90th minute of the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals.

[37] Adrián returned to Spain's top flight on 30 July 2019, with the free agent joining newly promoted CA Osasuna on a one-year contract.

[42] In the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Canada, Adrián scored a hat-trick for Spain in the final group stage game against Jordan on 7 July, with all three goals coming in a span of ten minutes late in the first half.

[45] In the semi-final against Belarus, he scored the late 1–1 which took the game into extra time, adding another in that period in an eventual 3–1 win;[46] he was awarded the Golden Boot as the highest scorer in the tournament.

[47] Adrián made his full side debut on 26 May 2012 in a friendly with Serbia: after replacing Soldado at half-time, he scored with a header in the 64th minute, and later won a penalty kick which resulted in the final 2–0 in St.