Javi Montero
Spanish footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Francisco Javier "Javi" Montero Rubio (born 14 January 1999) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Segunda División club Leganés. Mainly a central defender, he can also play as a left-back.
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Montero with Beşiktaş in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francisco Javier Montero Rubio[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 14 January 1999[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Seville, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Leganés | ||
| Number | 3 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Nervión | |||
| 2014–2018 | Atlético Madrid | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2019 | Atlético Madrid B | 17 | (0) |
| 2018–2021 | Atlético Madrid | 9 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | → Deportivo La Coruña (loan) | 30 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | → Beşiktaş (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| 2021–2024 | Beşiktaş | 20 | (1) |
| 2023 | → Hamburger SV (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → Arouca (loan) | 29 | (1) |
| 2024–2025 | Racing Santander | 25 | (1) |
| 2025–2026 | Málaga | 25 | (1) |
| 2026– | Leganés | 2 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2019 | Spain U21 | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:46, 29 September 2026 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Atlético Madrid
Born in Seville, Andalusia, Montero joined Atlético Madrid's youth setup in 2014 at the age of 15, from hometown club AD Nervión.[3] In 2018, after finishing his development, he was called up to the first team by manager Diego Simeone for the pre-season, playing with protective glasses due to an eye injury suffered back in 2017.[4]
Montero made his senior debut with the reserves on 23 September 2018, starting in a 4–2 Segunda División B away win against CDA Navalcarnero.[5] He first appeared with the main squad on 30 October, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 away defeat of UE Sant Andreu in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey.[6]
Montero's first UEFA Champions League match occurred on 6 November 2018, when he came on as a half-time substitute for the injured José María Giménez in a 2–0 home victory over Borussia Dortmund in the group stage.[7] He completed a trio of debuts four days later, when he started and was replaced by Gelson Martins early into the second half of an eventual 3–2 La Liga win against Athletic Bilbao also at the Metropolitano Stadium.[8]
On 2 September 2019, Montero renewed his contract until 2024,[9] and was immediately loaned to Deportivo de La Coruña for the season.[10] He started in all his appearances but one during his spell in Galicia, but his side suffered relegation from Segunda División.[11]
Beşiktaş
Montero joined Beşiktaş J.K. on a season-long loan on 2 September 2020.[12] One year later, he signed a permanent deal.[13][14]
On 15 January 2023, Montero was loaned to German 2. Bundesliga club Hamburger SV until the end of the campaign.[15] In August 2023, also on loan, he moved to F.C. Arouca of the Portuguese Primeira Liga; he was the fourth Spaniard to join the latter under new manager Daniel Ramos in a month, in a squad already with two other compatriots.[16]
Racing Santander
On 13 August 2024, the free agent Montero returned to Spain, on a two-year contract at second-tier Racing de Santander.[17] He scored his only goal on 16 November, closing the 2–0 home win over Burgos CF.[18]
Montero left the Campos de Sport de El Sardinero by mutual agreement on 4 August 2025.[19]
Málaga
Hours after leaving Racing, Montero was announced at fellow second-division club Málaga CF on a one-year deal.[20] He totalled 30 games during his only season in a top-flight promotion,[21] scoring in the 3–3 draw away to FC Andorra on 1 April 2026.[22]
Leganés
On 29 August 2026, Montero agreed to a two-year contract at CD Leganés.[23]
International career
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Atlético Madrid B | 2018–19 | Segunda División B | 17 | 0 | — | — | — | 2[a] | 0 | 19 | 0 | |||
| Atlético Madrid | 2018–19 | La Liga | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 2[b] | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | ||
| Deportivo (loan) | 2019–20 | Segunda División | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 31 | 0 | |||
| Beşiktaş (loan) | 2020–21 | Süper Lig | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 1[c] | 0 | — | 17 | 0 | ||
| Beşiktaş | 2021–22 | Süper Lig | 17 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 4[b] | 1 | 1[d] | 0 | 25 | 2 | |
| 2022–23 | Süper Lig | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 33 | 1 | 7 | 0 | — | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 2 | |||
| Hamburger SV (loan) | 2022–23 | 2. Bundesliga | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1[e] | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Arouca (loan) | 2023–24 | Primeira Liga | 29 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 34 | 1 | |
| Career total | 122 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 149 | 3 | ||
- Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs
- Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- Appearance in UEFA Europa League
- Appearance in Turkish Super Cup
- Appearance in 2. Bundesliga promotion play-offs
Honours
Beşiktaş
