Iker Almena Horcajo (born 4 May 2004) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right back or right winger for Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah FC.

Iker Almena
Personal information
Full name Iker Almena Horcajo
Date of birth (2004-05-04) 4 May 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Al Qadsiah
Number 30
Youth career
Can Vidalet
2011–2017 Barcelona
2017–2019 Cornellà
2019–2020 Gavà
2020 Académica
2020–2022 Can Vidalet
2022–2023 Girona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Can Vidalet 24 (1)
2022–2024 Girona B 37 (6)
2023–2024 Girona 2 (0)
2024– Al Qadsiah 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 August 2024

Career

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Born in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Almena began his career with CF Can Vidalet before joining FC Barcelona's La Masia in 2011, aged seven.[1] After leaving the club in 2017, he subsequently represented UE Cornellà and CF Gavà's youth sides EF Gavà before moving to Portuguese side Académica de Coimbra in 2020; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he returned to his first club Can Vidalet.[2]

Initially a member of the Juvenil squad, Almena made his senior on 16 May 2021, playing the last 20 minutes in a 2–2 Primera Catalana home draw against CFJ Mollerussa, and scored his first goal seven days later in a 4–0 away routing of FC Alcarràs. In 2022, after another campaign alternating between the Juvenil and the first teams, he moved to Girona FC and returned to youth football.[3]

On 4 September 2023, after already making his debut with the reserves and featuring with the main squad in the pre-season, Almena renewed his contract with the Blanquivermells until 2026.[4] He made his first team debut on 7 December, starting in a 5–2 away win over Orihuela CF, for the season's Copa del Rey.[5]

After impressing in the 2024 pre-season,[6] Almena made his La Liga debut on 15 August of that year; after coming on as a second-half substitute for Portu, he assisted Gabriel Misehouy's equalizer in a 1–1 away draw against Real Betis.[7][8]

Almena was transferred to Al Qadsiah FC on 30 August 2024.[9]

Career statistics

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As of match played 25 August 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Can Vidalet 2021–22 Primera Catalana 11 1 11 1
2022–23 Primera Catalana 13 0 13 0
Total 24 1 24 1
Girona B 2022–23 Tercera Federación 7 0 7 0
2023–24 Tercera Federación 30 6 30 6
Total 37 6 37 6
Girona 2023–24 La Liga 0 0 1 0 1 0
2024–25 La Liga 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Career total 63 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 64 7

References

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  1. ^ "Iker Almena Horcajo" (in Spanish). Futbol Base Català. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Mucha suerte Iker 🍀⚽" [Best of luck Iker 🍀⚽]. CF Can Vidalet (in Spanish). Facebook. 11 July 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  3. ^ "La 'perla' que ilusiona en Girona: "Si está a este nivel..."" [The 'pearl' who brings high hopes at Girona: "If he remains at this level..."] (in Spanish). Sport. 21 July 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Iker Almena, until 2026". Girona FC. 4 September 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  5. ^ "El Girona despierta como un campeón de la pesadilla de Orihuela" [Girona wake up as a champion from the nightmare of Orihuela] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Almena: goles de atención" [Almena: goals of warning] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Almena y Misehouy amargan al Betis" [Almena and Misehouy bitter Betis] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Iker Almena derriba la puerta de Míchel... y de Primera" [Iker Almena brings down Míchel... and Primera's door] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 17 August 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Iker Almena, traspasado al Al Qadisiyah" [Iker Almena, transferred to Al Qadisiyah]. Girona FC (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 August 2024.
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