Javier Espinosa Explained

Javier Espinosa
Fullname:Javier Espinosa González
Birth Date:19 September 1992
Birth Place:Talavera de la Reina, Spain
Height:1.740NaN0
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:2005–2011
Youthclubs1:Barcelona
Years1:2010–2014
Caps1:101
Goals1:14
Years2:2014–2016
Caps2:6
Goals2:1
Years3:2015
Clubs3:Almería (loan)
Caps3:15
Goals3:1
Years4:2015–2016
Clubs4:Elche (loan)
Caps4:38
Goals4:0
Years5:2016–2018
Caps5:27
Goals5:0
Years6:2017–2018
Clubs6:Granada (loan)
Caps6:27
Goals6:2
Years7:2018–2020
Caps7:52
Goals7:5
Years8:2021
Caps8:14
Goals8:0
Years9:2021–2023
Caps9:28
Goals9:1
Nationalyears1:2009
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:1
Club-Update:20:13, 4 July 2022 (UTC)

Javier Espinosa González (born 19 September 1992) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder.[1]

Club career

Barcelona B

Born in Talavera de la Reina, Toledo, Castile-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 top flight 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 league side UD Almería until June.[8]

On 28 August 2015, Espinosa joined Elche CF of the second division, in a season-long loan deal.[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] After helping achieve promotion at the first attempt, he extended his link until 2019 and 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, after nearly a year of inactivity, 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

[17]

ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOther [18] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barcelona B2009–101010
2010–114141
2011–12321321
2012–13275275
2013–14377377
Total1011400000010114
Villarreal2014–15612072153
Almería2014–1515110161
Elche2015–1638010390
Career totals1601640720017118

Honours

Levante

2016–17[17]

Twente

2018–19[17]

Spain U17

Notes and References

  1. News: Se reactiva el fichaje de Javier Espinosa. Javier Espinosa signing again in the news. Levante-EMV. es. 9 July 2014. 27 June 2019.
  2. https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/javi-espinosa-iniesta-cuece-masia-959427 Javi Espinosa: otro Iniesta se cuece en La Masía (Javi Espinosa: another Iniesta being cooked in La Masía)
  3. http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2011/02/26/mas_futbol/1298674835_850215.html Festival de goles en Soria (Goal festival in Soria)
  4. Web site: Todos los goles del Barça B 2013–14. All 2013–14 Barça B goals. FC Barcelona. es. 22 June 2014. 10 December 2015.
  5. http://www.villarrealcf.es/noticias/noticias-generales-informacion-del-club/item/6073-el-villarreal-cf-ficha-a-javier-espinosa El Villarreal CF ficha a Javier Espinosa (Villarreal CF sign Javier Espinosa)
  6. https://www.marca.com/eventos/marcador/futbol/2014_15/primera/jornada_1/lev_vil/ El Villarreal sigue disfrutando del verano (Villarreal still enjoying summer)
  7. http://www.marca.com/eventos/marcador/futbol/2014_15/primera/jornada_4/vil_ray/ El Villarreal llega a tiempo (Villarreal arrive on time)
  8. http://www.udalmeriasad.com/noticia/el-almeria-cierra-el-fichaje-del-centrocampista-espinosa-un-jugador-de-calidad-y-talento El Almería cierra el fichaje del centrocampista Espinosa, un jugador de calidad y talento (Almería complete the signing of midfielder Espinosa, a player of quality and talent)
  9. Web site: Espinosa jugará cedido en el Elche CF. Espinosa will play on loan at Elche CF. Villarreal CF. es. 28 August 2015. 18 October 2022.
  10. https://www.levanteud.com/es/info/el-levante-ud-llega-a-un-acuerdo-con-javier-espinosa-para-su-incorporacion-para-las-dos-proximas-temporadas El Levante UD llega a un acuerdo con Javier Espinosa para su incorporación para las dos próximas temporadas (Levante UD reach an agreement with Javier Espinosa for his signing for the following two seasons)
  11. http://www.granadacf.es/noticia/comunicado-espinosa-se-suma-al-granada-cf Comunicado Espinosa se suma al Granada CF (Announcement Espinosa adds to Granada CF)
  12. Web site: Espinosa se desvincula del Levante. Espinosa cuts ties with Levante. Levante UD. es. 30 August 2018. 30 August 2018.
  13. Web site: Espinosa ya es jugador del Twente. Espinosa is already a Twente player. El Desmarque. Luis. Sancho. Javier. Casero. es. 31 August 2018. 1 September 2018.
  14. Web site: Matig spelend FC Twente onderuit tegen TOP Oss: 1–2. Subpar FC Twente downed by TOP Oss: 1–2. Twente Sport. Johan. Van Nassau. nl. 8 September 2018. 12 December 2018.
  15. Web site: Espinosa, nuevo jugador del CF Fuenlabrada. Espinosa, new player of CF Fuenlabrada. CF Fuenlabrada. es. 1 February 2021. 5 February 2021.
  16. News: El exblaugrana Javier Espinosa ficha por el AEK Larnaca de Chipre. Former blaugrana Javier Espinosa signs for Cyprus' AEK Larnaca. Sport. es. 25 August 2021. 18 October 2022.
  17. Web site: Javier Espinosa. Soccerway. 22 June 2014.
  18. Includes other competitive competitions, including the Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup.
  19. News: La sub 17 empezará la próxima semana a preparar el Mundial. The under 17s will start World Cup preparations next week. Marca. es. 1 October 2009. 18 October 2022.
  20. News: Consuelo de bronce. Bronze consolation. El Mundo. es. 15 November 2009. 18 October 2022.