Javier Espinosa
Spanish footballer (born 1992)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Javier Espinosa González (born 19 September 1992) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder.[1]
|
Espinosa in action for Elche in 2015 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Javier Espinosa González | ||
| Date of birth | 19 September 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Talavera de la Reina, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2005–2011 | Barcelona | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2014 | Barcelona B | 101 | (14) |
| 2014–2016 | Villarreal | 6 | (1) |
| 2015 | → Almería (loan) | 15 | (1) |
| 2015–2016 | → Elche (loan) | 38 | (0) |
| 2016–2018 | Levante | 27 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | → Granada (loan) | 27 | (2) |
| 2018–2020 | Twente | 52 | (5) |
| 2021 | Fuenlabrada | 14 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | AEK Larnaca | 28 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2009 | Spain U17 | 5 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:13, 4 July 2022 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Barcelona B
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Born in Talavera de la Reina, Toledo, Castilla–La Mancha, Espinosa moved to FC Barcelona's youth system, La Masia, at the age of 13.[2] On 1 May 2010, whilst still a junior, he made his senior debut with the B team, playing the second half in a 2–1 home win against Valencia CF Mestalla in the Segunda División B. On 26 February of the following year, after replacing fellow youth graduate Albert Dalmau, he contributed one goal to a 6–4 Segunda División away victory over CD Numancia.[3]
Espinosa became a regular fixture under new manager Eusebio Sacristán. He scored five times in 27 games in the 2012–13 season, again spent in the second tier, and continued to appear regularly the following campaign, netting a career-best seven goals as Barça B finished third.[4]
Villarreal
On 11 July 2014, Espinosa signed a three-year contract with Villarreal CF.[5] He made his debut in La Liga on 24 August, replacing Cani in the 63rd minute of a 2–0 away defeat of Levante UD.[6]
Espinosa scored his first goal in the main division on 21 September, his team's first in a 4–2 home win over Rayo Vallecano.[7] On 9 January 2015, he was loaned to fellow top-flight side UD Almería until June.[8]
On 28 August 2015, Espinosa joined Elche CF of the second division, in a season-long loan.[9]
Levante
On 19 July 2016, after cutting ties with Villarreal, Espinosa signed a two-year deal with Levante, recently relegated to division two.[10] He helped to achieve promotion at the first attempt, then extended his link until 2019; he was immediately loaned to Granada CF for one year.[11]
Espinosa terminated his contract with the Valencian club on 30 August 2018.[12]
Twente
On 31 August 2018, Espinosa moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing for FC Twente.[13] He made his debut in the Dutch Eerste Divisie on 8 September, starting in a 1–2 home loss against TOP Oss.[14]
Later career
On 1 February 2021, Espinosa signed a short-term deal with CF Fuenlabrada back in his country's second tier.[15] In the ensuing summer, he agreed to a two-year contract at AEK Larnaca FC of the Cypriot First Division.[16]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other [19] | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Barcelona B | 2009–10 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 2010–11 | 4 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | ||||||
| 2011–12 | 32 | 1 | — | 32 | 1 | ||||||
| 2012–13 | 27 | 5 | — | 27 | 5 | ||||||
| 2013–14 | 37 | 7 | — | 37 | 7 | ||||||
| Total | 101 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 101 | 14 | |
| Villarreal | 2014–15 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | — | 15 | 3 | |
| Almería | 2014–15 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 16 | 1 | |||
| Elche | 2015–16 | 38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 39 | 0 | |||
| Career totals | 160 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 171 | 18 | |