Iago Aspas Spanish Footballer Born 1987 in Moaña

Early life

Iago Aspas Juncal was born on 1 August 1987 in Moaña, in the province of Pontevedra, Galicia. He came up through the youth system of the nearby club Celta de Vigo and spent one of his final junior years on loan at Rápido de Bouzas. His older brother Jonathan also came through the Celta academy.

Career

Celta de Vigo. Aspas made his first-team debut in the 2007-08 season, when Celta were in the second division. His second appearance, on 6 June 2009, came as a substitute against Alavés, and his two goals in a 2-1 win helped the club avoid relegation. He was promoted from the reserve side for 2009-10 and spent several seasons in the second tier. In 2011-12 he scored a career-high 23 league goals as Celta returned to La Liga after five years away. He was named the division's best forward and won the Zarra Trophy for the second division. He debuted in the top flight on 18 August 2012 and scored 12 league goals that season as Celta stayed up on the final matchday.

Liverpool. In June 2013 Aspas joined Liverpool for a reported fee of between £7 million and £9 million, wearing the number 9 shirt. A dispute over his representation delayed the deal's completion until 23 June. He made his Premier League debut on 17 August 2013, setting up a goal for Daniel Sturridge in a 1-0 win over Stoke City. His only competitive goal for the club came in the FA Cup on 5 January 2014 against Oldham Athletic. Behind Coutinho, Sterling, Sturridge and Suárez in the attack, he had few opportunities.

Sevilla. In July 2014 Aspas moved on loan to Sevilla, with a permanent deal as an obligatory option. He scored in the Europa League group stage against Rijeka and scored a hat-trick against Sabadell in the Copa del Rey, followed by another treble in the return leg. He finished joint top scorer in that competition with Neymar on seven goals. His first league goal for Sevilla was the winner against Espanyol on 1 February 2015. Sevilla won the 2014-15 Europa League.

Return to Celta. In June 2015 Sevilla signed Aspas from Liverpool and sold him straight back to Celta for €5 million the same day. He scored twice against Barcelona that September in a 4-1 home win. In October 2016 he was La Liga Player of the Month after scoring five goals.

His 19 goals in 2016-17 brought him the Zarra Trophy for the top Spanish scorer, and in 2017-18 he scored 22, behind only Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Suárez overall. On 5 November 2017 he reached 100 goals for Celta. On 24 June 2020 he reached 100 La Liga goals in 209 games, among the quickest since the Spanish Civil War. Three days later he reached 150 goals for Celta, and on 1 November 2020 he passed a 69-year-old club record held by Hermidita for top-flight goals. In 2021-22 he scored 17 goals and was again the top Spanish scorer. His 200th competitive goal for Celta came in February 2024.

In December 2024 he agreed an extension to 2026. On the final day of 2024-25 he scored and assisted in a 2-1 win over Getafe, which sent Celta into the Europa League for the first time in eight years. On 5 October 2025 he tied Manolo's club record of 533 appearances, and 18 days later he broke it, scoring his 217th goal for the club in a Europa League win against Nice.

International. Aspas was selected for a Spain friendly in 2013 but did not make the final squad. He made his debut on 15 November 2016 against England, coming on at half-time and scoring in a 2-2 draw. He was in the squad for the 2018 World Cup, where he scored a last-minute backheeled equaliser against Morocco, and he missed in the penalty shoot-out loss to Russia in the round of 16. In March 2023, after nearly four years out of the squad, he was recalled for Euro 2024 qualifiers. He also scored for Galicia in a 1-1 friendly with Venezuela on 20 May 2016.

Recognition

Aspas won the Zarra Trophy in 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2021-22, and also received it in the second division in 2011-12. He was La Liga Player of the Month in October 2016, November 2017, April 2019 and December 2020, and was on La Liga's team of the season for 2024-25. With Sevilla he won the 2014-15 Europa League.

Personal life

Aspas married Jennifer Rueda in June 2019, and the couple have three children.