[2][3] Born in Osuna, Province of Seville, Andalusia, and a product of Real Betis' youth ranks, López signed with RCD Espanyol in 2007.

[4] On 4 October 2009, he made his debut for the first team of the latter club in a La Liga match against Villarreal CF, taking the pitch with less than ten minutes to go as the ten-man side eventually held off the hosts to a 0–0 draw.

[5][6] The vast majority of his first season was spent, however, with the reserves, which suffered relegation from Segunda División B. López was promoted to the main squad for the 2010–11 campaign, being used by manager Mauricio Pochettino in various midfield and defender positions.

[8] On 29 March 2014, after Kiko Casilla was sent off late in the home fixture against FC Barcelona and his team had no replacements left, López played as a goalkeeper; he conceded no goals in the 1–0 defeat.

[9] He extended his contract for two more years in March 2017,[10] and earned an automatic extension to that deal due to playing the majority of games at the age of 33.