Javier Espinosa González (born 19 September 1992) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Segunda Federación club Talavera de la Reina.
Club career Barcelona B
Born in Talavera de la Reina, Toledo, Castilla–La Mancha, Espinosa moved to FC Barcelona's youth system, La Masia, at the age of 13.Javi Espinosa: otro Iniesta se cuece en La Masía (Javi Espinosa: another Iniesta being cooked in La Masía); Sport, 22 March 2011 (in Spanish) 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.Festival de goles en Soria (Goal festival in Soria); Diario AS, 26 February 2011 (in Spanish)
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.
Villarreal On 11 July 2014, Espinosa signed a three-year contract with Villarreal CF.El Villarreal CF ficha a Javier Espinosa (Villarreal CF sign Javier Espinosa) ; Villarreal CF, 11 July 2014 (in Spanish) 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.El Villarreal sigue disfrutando del verano (Villarreal still enjoying summer); Marca, 25 August 2014 (in Spanish)
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.El Villarreal llega a tiempo (Villarreal arrive on time); Marca, 21 September 2014 (in Spanish) On 9 January 2015, he was loaned to fellow top-flight side UD Almería until June.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); UD Almería, 9 January 2015 (in Spanish)
On 28 August 2015, Espinosa joined Elche CF of the second division, in a season-long loan.
Levante On 19 July 2016, after cutting ties with Villarreal, Espinosa signed a two-year deal with Levante, recently relegated to division two.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); Levante UD, 19 July 2016 (in Spanish) He helped to achieve promotion at the first attempt, then extended his link until 2019; he was immediately loaned to Granada CF for one year.Comunicado Espinosa se suma al Granada CF (Announcement Espinosa adds to Granada CF); Granada CF, 7 August 2017 (in Spanish)
Espinosa terminated his contract with the Valencian club on 30 August 2018.
Twente On 31 August 2018, Espinosa moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing for FC Twente. He made his debut in the Dutch Eerste Divisie on 8 September, starting in a 1–2 home loss against TOP Oss.
Later career On 1 February 2021, Espinosa signed a short-term deal with CF Fuenlabrada back in his country's second tier. In the ensuing summer, he agreed to a two-year contract at AEK Larnaca FC of the Cypriot First Division.
International career Espinosa was part of the Spanish squad that finished third at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He was initially selected for the 2011 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, but withdrew due to injury.
Career statistics
ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBarcelona B2009–1010—102010–1141—412011–12321—3212012–13275—2752013–14377—377Total1011400000010114Villarreal2014–15612072—153Almería2014–1515110—161Elche2015–1638010—390 Career totals1601640720017118
Honours Levante Segunda División: 2016–17
Twente Eerste Divisie: 2018–19
Spain U17 FIFA U-17 World Cup third place: 2009
References
External links