Nicolás González Iglesias (born 3 January 2002), sometimes known as just Nico, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Valencia on loan from Barcelona.
![]() González playing for Barcelona in 2021 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Nicolás González Iglesias[1] | ||
Date of birth | (2002-01-03) 3 January 2002 (age 20)[2] | ||
Place of birth | A Coruña, Spain[1] | ||
Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current team |
Valencia (on loan from Barcelona) | ||
Number | 17 | ||
Youth career | |||
2009–2013 | Montañeros | ||
2013–2020 | Barcelona | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2019–2022 | Barcelona B | 27 | (0) |
2021– | Barcelona | 27 | (2) |
2022– | → Valencia (loan) | 6 | (1) |
National team‡ | |||
2018–2019 | Spain U17 | 7 | (0) |
2021– | Spain U21 | 5 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 August 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 September 2022 |
Nico was born in A Coruña, Galicia, and started his career with local side Montañeros at the age of seven. In December 2012, he agreed to a move to Barcelona, effective as of the following July.[3]
On 19 May 2019, aged just 17, Nico made his senior debut for the reserves, coming on as a late substitute for Kike Saverio in a 2–1 Segunda División B away loss against Castellón.[4] In the 2020–21 season, he was initially a member of the Juvenil A before starting to feature regularly for the B-team from November 2020 onwards.
On 12 May 2021, Nico renewed his contract until 2024, with a €500 million buyout clause.[5] After featuring in the main squad during the pre-season, he made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 15 August, replacing Sergio Busquets in the opening game of the 2021–22 La Liga season, a 4–2 win over Real Sociedad.[6][7]
Nico scored his first professional goal on 12 December 2021, netting the opener in a 2–2 away draw against Osasuna.[8]
On 13 August 2022, Nico renewed his contract until 2026, and later signed with Valencia on a season-long loan.[9]
He is the son of former Spanish footballer and Deportivo La Coruña legend Fran González and the nephew of José Ramón.[10]
Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Barcelona B | 2018–19 | Segunda División B | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
2019–20 | Segunda División B | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
2020–21 | Segunda División B | 23[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | — | — | 1[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 24 | 0 | |||
2021–22 | Primera División RFEF | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
Total | 26 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 | ||||
Barcelona | 2021–22 | La Liga | 27 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7[lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 37 | 2 |
Valencia (loan) | 2022–23 | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Career total | 54 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 65 | 2 |
Valencia CF – current squad | |
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