Julio César Enciso Espínola (born 23 January 2004) is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion and the Paraguay national team.[3]
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Julio César Enciso Espínola[1] | ||
Date of birth | (2004-01-23) 23 January 2004 (age 18) | ||
Place of birth | Caaguazú, Paraguay | ||
Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Brighton & Hove Albion | ||
Number | 20 | ||
Youth career | |||
0000–2019 | Libertad | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2019–2022 | Libertad | 55 | (18) |
2022– | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2019 | Paraguay U15 | ||
2021– | Paraguay | 9 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:03, 13 November 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 08:52, 17 November 2022 (UTC) |
Enciso started playing football at his local club, at Caaguazú, Paraguay. At eleven years old he was recruited by the Club Libertad.[2] Enciso made his senior debut for Club Libertad on 17 March 2019, aged 15, in a 4–0 home victory against Deportivo Santaní.[4] He became the youngest player to debut with Libertad.[2]
On 17 June 2022, Enciso transferred to Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion for a transfer fee of £9.5 million plus future add-on fees, signing an initial four-year contract.[5][6] He made his Brighton debut on 24 August, playing 80 minutes of the 3–0 away win over League One side Forest Green Rovers in the EFL Cup second round, where he claimed assist to Steven Alzate's long range goal.[7] Enciso made his Premier League debut on 29 October, coming on as a 65th minute substitute for Adam Lallana in Brighton’s 4–1 home win over Chelsea.[8]
Enciso is a Paraguayan youth international, having played with the Paraguay U15 side at the 2019 South American U-15 Championship.[2] He first represented the senior Paraguay national team in a 3–1 2021 Copa América win over Bolivia on 14 June 2021.[9]
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Brighton & Hove Albion | 2022–23 | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Career total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Paraguay | 2021 | 2 | 0 |
2022 | 7 | 0 | |
Total | 9 | 0 |
Club Libertad
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. – current squad | |
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Paraguay squad – 2021 Copa América | ||
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