Javier Espinosa

For the president of Ecuador, see Juan Javier Espinosa.

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

Javier Espinosa

Espinosa in action for Elche in 2015
Personal information
Full name	Javier Espinosa González
Date of birth	(1992-09-19) 19 September 1992 (age 33)
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

Espinosa playing for Barcelona B in 2012

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 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 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

As of 29 May 2016^[17][18]

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

Honours

Levante

• Segunda División: 2016–17^[17]

Twente

• Eerste Divisie: 2018–19^[17]

Spain U17

• FIFA U-17 World Cup third place: 2009^[20][21]