Rafa Mujica
Spanish footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rafael Sebastián Mujica García (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈrafa ˈmuxika]; born 29 October 1998) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Qatari club Al Sadd. Mainly a forward, he can also play as a winger. He represented Spain at under-19 level.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rafael Sebastián Mujica García | ||
| Date of birth | 29 October 1998 | ||
| Place of birth | Las Palmas, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Al Sadd | ||
| Number | 19 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Las Palmas | |||
| 2015–2017 | Barcelona | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2019 | Barcelona B | 60 | (10) |
| 2018 | → Cornellà (loan) | 16 | (6) |
| 2019–2021 | Leeds United | 0 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | → Extremadura (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2020 | → Villarreal B (loan) | 4 | (3) |
| 2020–2021 | → Oviedo (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2021 | → Las Palmas (loan) | 13 | (1) |
| 2021–2022 | Las Palmas | 14 | (1) |
| 2022–2024 | Arouca | 57 | (28) |
| 2024– | Al Sadd | 38 | (27) |
| International career | |||
| 2016 | Spain U19 | 2 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17 July 2026 | |||
Club career
Barcelona
Born in Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Mújica joined Barcelona's youth setup on 19 May 2015, from Las Palmas.[1][2] On 26 March 2016, aged only 17, he made his senior debut with the reserves by coming on as a late substitute for Juan Cámara in a 2–0 Segunda División B away win against Llosetense.[3] Mujica scored his first senior goal on 9 April 2016, netting his team's only strike in a 1–3 home loss against Sabadell.[4] He played for the first team during the 2016–17 pre-season under manager Luis Enrique, including scoring against English side Leicester City in a 4–2 victory during a pre-season friendly on 4 August.[5][6]
In February 2017, Mujica suffered a hamstring rupture which required surgery, which hampered his progress,[7] keeping him sidelined for nine-and-a-half months and missing out the club's promotion in the play-offs.[8] He made his professional debut on 6 January 2018, replacing Vitinho in a 1–1 away draw against Real Zaragoza in the Segunda División.[9]
On 31 January 2018, Mujica was loaned to Cornellà in the third division, until June.[10] He contributed with six goals in 16 matches for the side; highlights included scoring in the season's Copa Catalunya final in a 3–2 victory against UA Horta on 2 June, to help the club lift the trophy for the first time.[11] After his loan spell, Mujica returned to Barcelona, training with the first team during the summer of 2018. He returned to the B-team for the 2018–19 season, and played 33 games for the side scoring seven goals and providing one assist in Segunda División B during the season.[12]
In January 2019, Mujica was also named by manager Ernesto Valverde in Barcelona's first team squad for the Copa del Rey fixture against Levante.[13][14] On 27 June, Mújica announced on his official Twitter page he would be leaving Barcelona,[15] and the club officially released him when his contract expired three days later.[16]
Leeds United
On 4 July 2019, Leeds United announced the signing of Mujica on a three-year contract, running until the summer of 2022. He would initially be part of Carlos Corberán's under-23 team.[17] A few days later, he played in the first team under manager Marcelo Bielsa in the club's first pre-season friendly, as a second-half substitute against York City in a 5–0 win.[18] On 23 August 2019, Mujica joined Extremadura in the Spanish Segunda División on a one-year loan deal,[19] with the option to buy.[20] He made his debut for the club on 1 September, in a 2–1 loss against Cadiz,[21] but returned to his parent club early in January 2020, having made just seven league appearances for Extremadura.[22][23][24] On 24 January 2020, Mujica joined Villarreal on loan until the end of the season,[22] being assigned to the B-team.[25] On 26 August, he moved to second division club Real Oviedo on a season-long loan.[26]
Las Palmas
On 1 February 2021, after leaving Oviedo early, Mujica joined his hometown club Las Palmas on loan until the end of the second-tier season.[27] On 2 July, the move was made permanent for an undisclosed fee.[28]
Arouca
On 21 June 2022, Mujica moved to Portuguese Primeira Liga side Arouca on a two-year deal.[29] This is when Rafa Mujica played his best football scoring 28 goals in 57 games for the club and winning a Forward Of The League award.
Al Sadd
On 30 May 2024, it was announced Mújica would join Qatari club Al Sadd SC at the opening of the transfer window on 1 July 2024, costing a fee of €10 million, and signing a four-year contract.[30][31][32]
International career
He has represented Spain at international level up to under-19s.
Career statistics
- As of match played 27 April 2026[33]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Barcelona B | 2015–16 | Segunda División B | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | ||||
| 2016–17 | 18 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 2 | ||||||
| 2017–18 | Segunda División | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||||
| 2018–19 | Segunda División B | 33 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 7 | |||||
| Total | 60 | 10 | — | — | — | — | 60 | 10 | ||||||
| Cornellà (loan) | 2017–18 | Segunda División B | 16 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 6 | ||||
| Leeds United U21 | 2019–20 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Extremadura (loan) | 2019–20 | Segunda División | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | |||
| Villarreal B (loan) | 2019–20 | Segunda División B | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 4 | ||||
| Real Oviedo (loan) | 2020–21 | Segunda División | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | |||
| Las Palmas (loan) | 2020–21 | Segunda División | 13 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 1 | ||||
| Las Palmas | 2021–22 | Segunda División | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 17 | 1 | |||
| Total | 29 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 30 | 2 | |||||
| Arouca | 2022–23 | Primeira Liga | 27 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | — | — | 32 | 14 | ||
| 2023–24 | 30 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2[c] | 1 | — | 36 | 23 | |||
| Total | 57 | 28 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | 68 | 37 | |||
| Al Sadd | 2024–25 | Qatar Stars League | 18 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7[d] | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 30 | 20 |
| 2025–26 | 20 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10[f] | 8 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 17 | ||
| Total | 38 | 27 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 62 | 37 | ||
| Career total | 218 | 77 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 19 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 256 | 98 | ||
- Includes Copa del Rey, Taça de Portugal, Qatar Cup
- Includes Taça da Liga
- Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
- Appearances in AFC Champions League Elite
- Appearance in UAE–Qatar Super Shield
- Appearances in AFC Champions League Elite
Honours
Barcelona Youth
Barcelona B
UE Cornellà
Al Sadd
Individual
- Primeira Liga Player of the Month: February 2024,
- Primeira Liga Forward of the Month: February 2024,
- Primeira Liga Team of the Year: 2023–24[35]
- AFC Champions League Elite top scorer: 2025–26[36]