Jefferson Abel Díaz Beleño (born 5 December 2000) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Major League Soccer side Minnesota United.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jefferson Abel Díaz Beleño | ||
| Date of birth | 5 December 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | San Andrés, Colombia | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Minnesota United | ||
| Number | 28 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Élite Capital | |||
| 2017–2019 | Real Cartagena | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2021 | Real Cartagena | 43 | (3) |
| 2022 | Valledupar | 25 | (2) |
| 2023–2024 | Deportivo Cali | 43 | (4) |
| 2024– | Minnesota United | 9 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:51, 20 October 2024 (UTC) | |||
Career
editReal Cartagena
editBorn in San Andrés, Díaz began his career with Real Cartagena, as a forward.[1] He made his first team debut on 3 July 2017, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 0–0 Categoría Primera B home draw against Unión Magdalena.[2]
Mainly a backup option, Díaz scored his first senior goal on 4 March 2020, netting the equalizer a 1–1 home draw against Dépor in the Copa Colombia. He only started to feature regularly in the 2021 season, after manager Nilton Bernal converted him into a centre-back,[3] but was released at the end of the year.
Valledupar
editOn 8 February 2022, Díaz moved to fellow second division side Valledupar.[4] He immediately became a first-choice, and scored twice in 29 appearances overall during the year.
Deportivo Cali
editIn January 2023, Díaz signed for Categoría Primera A side Deportivo Cali, after a week on trial at the club.[5] He made his debut in the category on 12 February, replacing Gustavo Ramírez late into a 1–1 away draw against Atlético Nacional.
Díaz scored his first goal in the top tier on 15 April 2023, netting his side's second in a 2–1 home win over Unión Magdalena.[1]
Minnesota United
editOn 29 July 2024, Díaz joined Major League Soccer side Minnesota United on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[6]
Career statistics
edit- As of 14 July 2024[7]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Real Cartagena | 2017 | Categoría Primera B | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2020 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 17 | 2 | ||||
| 2021 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 43 | 3 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 50 | 4 | ||||
| Valledupar | 2022 | Categoría Primera B | 25 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 2 | ||
| Deportivo Cali | 2023 | Categoría Primera A | 30 | 2 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 37 | 3 | ||
| 2024 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 43 | 4 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 50 | 5 | ||||
| Career total | 111 | 9 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 129 | 11 | ||
- ^ Includes Copa Colombia
References
edit- ^ a b "Jefferson Díaz, el sanandresano que le dio el triunfo al Deportivo Cali sobre el Unión Magdalena" [Jefferson Díaz, the sanandresano who gave the win to Deportivo Cali against Unión Magdalena] (in Spanish). El País. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "«Pude venir a este gran equipo»: Jefferson Díaz" ["I could come to this great team": Jefferson Díaz] (in Spanish). Primer Tiempo. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "Real Cartagena anota, pero es el segundo equipo que más goles recibe" [Real Cartagena score, but is the second team which receives more goals] (in Spanish). El Universal. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "Jefferson Díaz, ex Real Cartagena, es nuevo jugador de Valledupar FC" [Jefferson Díaz, formerly of Real Cartagena, is the new player of Valledupar FC] (in Spanish). Primer Tiempo. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "Jéferson Díaz, el fichaje del Cali que empezó como delantero y ahora es zaguero" [Jéferson Díaz, the signing of Cali who started out as a forward and now is a stopper] (in Spanish). Futbolete. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "Minnesota United Signs Defender Jefferson Diaz | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC.
- ^ Jefferson Díaz at Soccerway. Retrieved 14 July 2024.