Fermín López Explained

Fermín López
Full Name:Fermín López Marín
Birth Date:11 May 2003
Birth Place:El Campillo, Spain
Height:175 cm
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Barcelona
Clubnumber:16
Youthyears1:2010–2011
Youthclubs1:El Campillo
Youthyears2:2011–2012
Youthclubs2:Recreativo
Youthyears3:2012–2016
Youthclubs3:Betis
Youthyears4:2016–2022
Youthclubs4:Barcelona
Years1:2022–2023
Clubs1:Barcelona B
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Years2:2022–2023
Clubs2:Linares (loan)
Caps2:37
Goals2:12
Years3:2023–
Clubs3:Barcelona
Caps3:31
Goals3:8
Nationalyears1:2023–
Nationalteam1:Spain U21
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2024–
Nationalteam2:Spain U23
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:6
Nationalyears3:2024–
Nationalteam3:Spain
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:21:10, 26 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:9 August 2024 (UTC)

Fermín López Marín (born 11 May 2003) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Barcelona and the Spain national team.

Club career

Early career

Born in El Campillo, Huelva, Andalusia, López began playing football with his local club CD FB El Campillo, and followed that with a stint at Recreativo de Huelva before moving to Real Betis in 2012.[1] In the summer of 2016, he moved to the youth academy of Barcelona.[2]

Barcelona

2022–23 season: Loan to Linares

On 19 August 2022, López signed a professional contract with Barcelona Atlètic for two years until 2024, and immediately went on loan with Linares Deportivo in the Primera Federación for the 2022–23 season.[3] He made his senior debut nine days later, starting in a 2–0 home win over Mérida AD.

López scored his first senior goal on 30 October 2022, in a 2–1 away success over Rayo Majadahonda. He finished the campaign with 12 goals in 40 appearances overall, being an undisputed starter for Linares.

2023–24 season: First team debut

After strong performances in training with Barcelona before the preseason, López was called up to their senior preseason squad in July 2023. He received international recognition after a strong performance for Barcelona, as he scored a goal and provided an assist in a friendly 3–0 win over their rivals Real Madrid on 29 July 2023.[4] After the game, Xavi confirmed that López was to stay with their senior side for the 2023–24 season.[5]

On 27 August 2023, López made his La Liga debut for Barcelona in a 4–3 away win over Villarreal.[6] Two days later, he signed a new contract at the club until 30 June 2027, with a buyout clause of €400 million.[7] The following 10 September, Fermin would make his official debut with Barça Atlètic after receiving Xavi's permission to play for them.[8] He was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in a 1–0 away loss to Gimnàstic de Tarragona.[9] López would later return to the first team setup and made his UEFA Champions League debut on 19 September, coming off the bench to replace Gavi in the 58th minute of a 5–0 home victory over Royal Antwerp in the competition's group stage.[10] A week later, in an away match against Mallorca, he scored his first goal for Barcelona and first La Liga goal: after coming on as a substitute on the 64th minute, with Barça losing 2–1, he scored a 75th minute equalizer, setting the final score at 2–2.[11]

On 25 October 2023, López scored a goal on his first start in the Champions League in a 2–1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk,[12] in which he was also named player of the match.[13]

International career

On 6 October 2023, López was called up to the Spain under-21 squad; he later made his debut on 13 October in a 0–0 draw against the Uzbekistan under-23 team.[14] [15] He then went on to score his first goal for the team in a 4-0 away win over Kazakhstan in a qualifying match for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship on 17 October.[16]

On 27 May 2024, López was selected in the Spanish senior 29-man preliminary squad for the UEFA Euro 2024.[17] On 5 June, he debuted in a 5–0 friendly victory against Andorra at the Estadio Nuevo Vivero in Badajoz, coming on as a substitute to Barcelona teammate Pedri in the 62nd minute and assisting on the last goal of the game by another Barcelona player Ferran Torres.[18]

In May 2024, López was named in Spain's 26-man squad for the UEFA Euro 2024. The team would go on to win the tournament, with López being a largely unused substitute.[19] In July 2024, he was selected in the Spain under-23 squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics. He and Spain would go on to win the Olympic gold medal at the men's football event in the Olympics. López along with his teammate Álex Baena became only the second and third players ever to win the UEFA European Championship and the Summer Olympic gold medal in the same year, after the French goalkeeper Albert Rust.[20]

Style of play

López is an energetic, right-footed central midfielder, who also has the versatility to play as an attacking midfielder. He is technically proficient, has great movement off the ball, is adept at exploiting space, and is productive with goals and assists.[21]

Career statistics

Club

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueCopa del ReyEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barcelona B2022–23Primera Federación0000
2023–241010
Total1010
Linares (loan)2022–23Primera Federación3712304012
Barcelona2023–24La Liga3182182104211
Career total69205182108323

International

[22]

Appearances and goals by national team and year!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
Spain202420
Total20

Honours

Spain U23

Spain

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: One for the Future : Fermín López from Juvenil A. 23 October 2021. Barça Buzz.
  2. Web site: Who is Fermin Lopez? The surprise star of Barcelona's preseason tour. 30 July 2023. sport.
  3. Web site: El Barça Atlètic cede a Fermín López al Linares. 19 August 2022. Mundo Deportivo.
  4. Web site: Fermin Lopez Dazzles For FC Barcelona With Screamer And Assist Vs. Real Madrid In El Clasico Thrashing (VIDEO). Tom. Sanderson. Forbes. 29 July 2023.
  5. Web site: Xavi reveals what's next for El Clasico starboy Fermin Lopez. Kosta. König. 29 July 2023. Tribuna.com.
  6. Web site: Fermín López makes official first team debut . FC Barcelona . 27 August 2023 .
  7. Web site: Fermín López, blaugrana until 2027 . FC Barcelona . 29 August 2023 .
  8. News: Humilde Fermín: pidió él a Xavi jugar con el Barça Atlètic. Humble Fermín: He asked Xavi to play with Barça Atlètic. 30 September 2023. Sport. 10 September 2023.
  9. News: Casadó: "Fermín estaba llorando después del partido". Casadó: "Fermín was crying after the game".. 30 September 2023. Mundo Deportivo. 11 September 2023.
  10. Web site: Quiroz . Andrés . 2023-09-20 . Fermín López made his debut in the Champions League in the win against Antwerp . 2023-09-27 . FCBN . en.
  11. Web site: Baynes . Ciaran . 2023-09-26 . Mallorca 2-2 Barcelona: Youngster Fermin Lopez comes off bench to rescue a point for Xavi Hernandez's side . 2023-09-27 . Eurosport . en.
  12. Web site: Barcelona 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk: Fermin Lopez stars in Champions League win . sport.es . 25 October 2023 .
  13. Web site: Fermin Lopez talks after Man of the Match performance during Barcelona 2–1 Shakhtar . OneFootball . 25 October 2023 .
  14. Web site: Oficial Lista de convocados para los partidos frente a Uzbekistán y Kazajistán . Royal Spanish Football Federation . es . 6 October 2023 . 10 November 2023.
  15. Web site: Crónica Empate sin goles en el amistoso frente a Uzbekistán (0-0) . Royal Spanish Football Federation . es . 13 October 2023 . 10 November 2023.
  16. Web site: Crónica Goleada para seguir en lo más alto (0-4) . Royal Spanish Football Federation . es . 17 October 2023 . 10 November 2023.
  17. News: 27 May 2024 . Euro 2024 provisional squad . . 30 May 2024 .
  18. News: Fermín debutó con una precisa asistencia a Ferran. Fermín debuted with a precise assist to Ferran. sport.es. 5 June 2024. es.
  19. Web site: Spain Squad UEFA EURO 2024 . 15 July 2024 . UEFA.com.
  20. Web site: Lista para el Torneo Olímpico Masculino de Fútbol. List for the Men's Olympic Football Tournament. es. 10 July 2024. Royal Spanish Football Federation.
  21. Web site: Fermin Lopez impressing Barcelona management on pre-season tour of the USA. 25 July 2023.
  22. Web site: Fermín López. EU-Football.info. 5 June 2024.
  23. News: Ronay . Barney . 9 August 2024 . Camello’s extra-time double clinches football gold for Spain against France . 9 August 2024 . The Guardian . 0261-3077.
  24. Web site: Spain 2-1 England UEFA EURO 2024 Final . 14 July 2024 . 14 July 2024 . UEFA.com.