Rioja was born in Las Cabezas de San Juan, Seville, Andalusia, and was a CD Cabecense youth graduate.
He made his senior debut on 2 September 2012, playing the last 22 minutes of a 2–0 Tercera División home win against Cádiz CF B. Rioja scored his first senior goal on 18 November 2012, in a 4–0 home routing of Arcos CF, and finished the campaign with four goals in 35 appearances.
On 27 June of the following year, he signed a three-year deal with Real Madrid and was assigned to the C-team in Segunda División B.
[6] Rioja scored his first professional goal on 26 August 2018, netting the opener in a 1–1 home draw against CD Tenerife.
On 1 July 2019, Rioja signed a four-year deal with La Liga side Deportivo Alavés, as the club activated his release clause.