Jorge Meré

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Meré and the second or maternal family name is Pérez.

Jorge Meré Pérez (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxoɾxe meˈɾe ˈpeɾeθ]; born 17 April 1997) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back.

Jorge Meré

Meré playing with Köln in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Jorge Meré Pérez
Date of birth	(1997-04-17) 17 April 1997 (age 28)[1][2]
Place of birth	Oviedo, Spain[1]
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[3][2]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Youth career
2005–2010	Oviedo
2010–2014	Sporting Gijón
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2013–2015	Sporting Gijón B	47	(3)
2015–2017	Sporting Gijón	61	(0)
2017–2022	1. FC Köln	83	(2)
2022–2024	América	10	(0)
2022	→ Mazatlán (loan)	6	(0)
2023–2024	→ Cádiz (loan)	20	(0)
International career
2013–2014	Spain U17	10	(2)
2014	Spain U18	2	(0)
2014–2016	Spain U19	16	(0)
2015–2019	Spain U21	31	(3)
Medal record Representing  Spain Winner European U19 Championship 2015
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11 April 2024

Club career

Sporting Gijón

Born in Oviedo, Asturias, Meré joined Sporting de Gijón's youth setup in 2010 after starting out at neighbours Real Oviedo,^[4] and he made his senior debut with the reserves in the 2013–14 season (aged only 16), in Segunda División B. On 24 July 2014, he signed a new five-year deal with the club, with a €25 million release clause.^[5]

In January 2015, Meré was linked to Newcastle United,^[6] but nothing came of it. On 11 April, he played his first game as a professional, starting in a 1–1 away draw against Real Zaragoza in the Segunda División.^[7]

Meré appeared in five matches for the first team during the campaign, as they returned to La Liga after a three-year absence. He made his debut in the competition on 23 September 2015, starting in a 2–1 away loss to Rayo Vallecano.^[8]

Meré contributed 25 appearances during 2015–16, overcoming Bernardo Espinosa (who was sidelined due to an injury), Igor Lichnovsky and Ognjen Vranješ as his side avoided relegation in the last matchday.^[9] He was named Sporting's player of the season, with his father accepting the award on his behalf.^[10]

1. FC Köln

On 20 July 2017, Meré joined 1. FC Köln on a five-year contract for a fee believed to be between €8.5 million and €9 million,^[11] becoming the highest transfer ever received by Sporting.^[12] His first game in the Bundesliga took place on 9 September, when he played the second half of a 3–0 away loss against FC Augsburg.^[13]

Meré scored his first goal as a professional on 2 February 2018, but in a 2–3 home defeat to Borussia Dortmund.^[14]

América

On 18 January 2022, Meré agreed to a deal at Club América of the Mexican Liga MX.^[15] In August, he was loaned to Mazatlán F.C. in the same country and league.^[16]

Meré returned to Spain and its top flight in January 2023, on loan to Cádiz CF until 30 June.^[17]

International career

Meré represented Spain at every age group level, from the under-15 to the under-21s. In 2012 he appeared for the former at the Mexico Cup of Nations,^[18] and was part of the under-19 squad who won the UEFA European Championship in 2015;^[19] earlier in that year, aged only 18, he earned his first cap for the under-21 team, in a 4–0 win over Belarus.^[20]

In May 2016, 19-year-old Meré was called up to the full squad for the first time, for a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina.^[21]

Career statistics

As of match played 4 June 2023^[22]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sporting Gijón B	2013–14	Segunda División B	19	0	—		—		—		19	0
	2014–15	Segunda División B	28	3	—		—		—		28	3
	Total		47	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	47	3
Sporting Gijón	2014–15	Segunda División	5	0	0	0	—		—		5	0
	2015–16	La Liga	25	0	1	0	—		—		26	0
	2016–17	La Liga	31	0	1	0	—		—		32	0
	Total		61	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	63	0
1. FC Köln	2017–18	Bundesliga	22	1	1	0	3[a]	0	—		26	1
	2018–19	2. Bundesliga	26	0	2	0	—		—		28	0
	2019–20	Bundesliga	11	1	2	0	—		—		13	1
	2020–21	Bundesliga	16	0	3	0	—		1[b]	0	20	0
	2021–22	Bundesliga	8	0	1	0	—		—		9	0
	Total		83	2	9	0	3	0	1	0	96	2
Club América	2021–22	Liga MX	10	0	0	0	—		—		10	0
Mazatlán (loan)	2022–23	Liga MX	6	0	—		—		—		6	0
Cádiz (loan)	2022–23	La Liga	10	0	—		—		—		10	0
Career total			217	5	11	0	3	0	1	0	232	5

1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
2. Appearance in Bundesliga relegation playoffs

Honours

1. FC Köln

• 2. Bundesliga: 2018–19^[23]

Spain U19

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2015^[19]

Spain U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2019;^[24] runner-up 2017^[25]