Formed at Osasuna, he spent most of his early career at Atlético Madrid, scoring 44 goals in 329 games in all competitions over eight seasons and winning six major titles, including the 2014 national championship and the 2010 Europa League.

[4] García scored five league goals (the first on 26 October 2005 in a 3–2 home win over Athletic Bilbao)[5] in his first full season as the Navarrese finished in fourth place in La Liga, starting in 28 of his 33 appearances at the age of just 19.

[6][7] In July 2007, after helping Osasuna to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup with one goal in 12 games, García signed a five-year contract with Atlético Madrid, reuniting with former boss Aguirre upon the €13 million deal.

[9] However, he started the UEFA Europa League final against Fulham, as the Portuguese was cup-tied, playing the full 90 minutes and extra time in the 2–1 victory for the first honour of his career;[10] additionally, he appeared in the second half of the Copa del Rey's decider against Sevilla FC, a 2–0 loss.

[11] On 27 August 2010, García featured the entire match in the UEFA Super Cup against Inter Milan, giving away a penalty kick in the last minute for a foul on Goran Pandev; the shot was however saved by David de Gea, and the Colchoneros won it 2–0.

[18] On 9 April 2014, after playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 UEFA Champions League home defeat of Barcelona that qualified Atlético Madrid for the semi-finals for the first time in 40 years,[19] García became the club's most capped player in the competition with 22 appearances, surpassing Luis Aragonés.

[33] In the final of the Copa del Rey against Mallorca on 6 April 2024, García was the first Athletic player to take a penalty in the deciding shoot-out, which he scored (his side went on to win 4–2);[34] a commentator remarked "his pulse stayed steady".