Nacho Méndez

Ignacio "Nacho" Méndez-Navia Fernández (born 30 March 1998) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder.

Nacho Méndez

Personal information
Full name	Ignacio Méndez-Navia Fernández
Date of birth	(1998-03-30) 30 March 1998 (age 27)
Place of birth	Luanco, Spain
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
	Roces
2010–2016	Sporting Gijón
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2018	Sporting B	51	(5)
2017–2025	Sporting Gijón	203	(15)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20 June 2025

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Méndez-Navia and the second or maternal family name is Fernández.

Club career

Born in Luanco, Asturias, Méndez joined Sporting de Gijón's youth setup in 2010, from TSK Roces. He made his senior debut with the reserves on 21 August 2016, coming on as a second-half substitute and scoring his team's sixth in a 7–0 Tercera División home routing of UC Ceares.^[2]

On 26 April 2017, Méndez renewed his contract until 2019.^[3] After spending the whole 2017 pre-season with the first team, he made his professional debut on 27 August by starting in a 2–0 home win against CD Lugo in the Segunda División.^[4]

Méndez scored his first professional goal on 6 September 2017, netting the game's only in an away success over CF Reus Deportiu, in the season's Copa del Rey.^[5] On 22 December, he extended his contract until 2021, being definitely promoted to the main squad ahead of the following season.^[6]

On 8 October 2020, Méndez further extended his link with Sporting until 2025.^[7]

Career statistics

As of match played 4 November 2023^[8][9]

Club statistics

Club	Season	League			National Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sporting Gijón B	2017–18	Segunda División B	19	0	—		4[a]	1	23	1
Sporting Gijón	2017–18	Segunda División	11	0	2	1	—		13	1
	2018–19	Segunda División	31	2	5	0	—		36	2
	2019–20	Segunda División	28	3	1	0	—		29	3
	2020–21	Segunda División	23	0	1	0	—		24	0
	2021–22	Segunda División	29	1	4	1	—		33	2
	2022–23	Segunda División	3	0	0	0	—		3	0
	2023–24	Segunda División	14	1	0	0	—		14	1
	Total		139	7	13	2	0	0	152	9
Career totals			158	7	13	2	4	1	175	10

1. Appearances in the 2018 Segunda División B play-offs