Diego Llorente

Diego Javier Llorente Ríos (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈdjeɣo ʎoˈɾente ˈri.os]; born 16 August 1993) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Premier League club Leeds United and the Spain national team.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Llorente and the second or maternal family name is Ríos.
Diego Llorente
Llorente with Real Sociedad in 2018
Personal information
Full name Diego Javier Llorente Ríos[1]
Date of birth (1993-08-16) 16 August 1993[1]
Place of birth Madrid, Spain[1]
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Leeds United
Number 14
Youth career
2000–2001 Perez Galdós
2001–2002 Trabenco
2002–2012 Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Real Madrid C 29 (1)
2013–2015 Real Madrid B 63 (3)
2013–2017 Real Madrid 2 (0)
2015–2016 → Rayo Vallecano (loan) 33 (2)
2016–2017 → Málaga (loan) 25 (2)
2017–2020 Real Sociedad 77 (4)
2020– Leeds United 2 (0)
National team‡
2013 Spain U20 6 (0)
2016– Spain 6 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 26 January 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 October 2020

Club career

Real Madrid

Born in Madrid, Llorente joined Real Madrid's youth system in July 2002, one month shy of his ninth birthday. In the 2012–13 season he made his senior debut, appearing with the C team in a 1–1 away draw against Caudal Deportivo for the Segunda División B.[2]

On 24 March 2013, Llorente made his first appearance with Real Madrid Castilla, coming on as a substitute for injured Iván González in an eventual 4–0 home win over Córdoba CF.[3][4] On 11 May, he was an unused bench player for the main squad in a La Liga match at RCD Espanyol,[5] but finally made his debut in the competition on 1 June, replacing Álvaro Arbeloa for the dying minutes of the last game of the campaign, at home against CA Osasuna.[6]

On 14 July 2015, Llorente moved to neighbouring Rayo Vallecano in a season-long loan deal.[7] He scored his first goal in the top flight on 3 January 2016, the first in a 2–2 home draw against Real Sociedad,[8] and was an undisputed starter as his team eventually suffered relegation as third from bottom.

Llorente was loaned to Málaga CF also in the top level on 8 July 2016.[9]

Real Sociedad

On 26 June 2017, Llorente signed a five-year contract with fellow league team Real Sociedad.[10] In his league debut, on 10 September, he contributed with one goal two a 4–2 away win against Deportivo de La Coruña after replacing Iñigo Martínez midway through the second half.[11] Four days later, in his very first appearance in European competition, he started and scored twice in a 4–0 home defeat of Rosenborg BK in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League.[12]

Leeds United

Leeds United announced the signing of Llorente on a four-year deal on 24 September 2020,[13] for a reported fee of £18 million.[14] He made his Premier League debut on 5 December, coming on for the injured Robin Koch in the fifth minute of an eventual 3–1 away loss against rivals Chelsea.[15]

International career

In May 2016, Llorente was called up to the Spain national team by manager Vicente del Bosque for a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina.[16] He made his debut late in the month, replacing Cesc Fàbregas in the 3–1 win in Switzerland.[17]

Style of play

A right-footed player who possesses good positioning and is strong in the air, Llorente can operate as a central defender or defensive midfielder.[1]

Career statistics

Club
As of 26 January 2021[18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Real Madrid C 2012–13 Segunda División B 291——00291
Real Madrid B 2012–13 Segunda División 10——0010
2013–14 Segunda División 311——00311
2014–15 Segunda División B 312——00312
Total 633000000633
Real Madrid 2012–13 La Liga 1000—0010
2013–14 La Liga 1000—0010
2014–15 La Liga 0010—0010
2015–16 La Liga 0000—0000
2016–17 La Liga 0000—0000
Total 2010000030
Rayo Vallecano (loan) 2015–16 La Liga 33240—00374
Málaga (loan) 2016–17 La Liga 25220—00272
Real Sociedad 2017–18 La Liga 27311—00284
2018–19 La Liga 21020—00230
2019–20 La Liga 29110—00301
2020–21 La Liga 1000—0010
Total 784410000825
Leeds United 2020–21 Premier League 2000000020
Career total 23212111000024313

    References
    1. "Diego Javier Llorente Ríos". Real Sociedad. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
    2. "Caudal Deportivo vs Real Madrid C" (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
    3. "Jesé y Morata destrozan con sus dobletes al Córdoba" [Jesé and Morata destroy Córdoba with their doubles]. Marca (in Spanish). 24 March 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
    4. "4–0: An outstanding Castilla thrash Córdoba at the Di Stefano where they remain unbeaten in 2013". Real Madrid CF. 24 March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 June 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
    5. "Madrid draw hands title to Barca". ESPN FC. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
    6. "Mourinho bows out with win". ESPN FC. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
    7. "Diego Llorente nuevo jugador del Rayo Vallecano" [Diego Llorente new player of Rayo Vallecano] (in Spanish). Rayo Vallecano. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
    8. "Rayo Vallecano 2–2 Real Sociedad". ESPN FC. 3 January 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
    9. "Diego Llorente arrives at Málaga CF on loan from Real Madrid". Málaga CF. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
    10. "La Real Sociedad ficha a Diego Llorente" [Real Sociedad sign Diego Llorente] (in Spanish). Real Sociedad. 26 June 2017. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
    11. Melero, Delfín (10 September 2017). "Con la cabeza bien alta" [Head held high]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 September 2017.
    12. "Llorente leads Real Sociedad charge". Marca. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
    13. "Leeds United sign Diego Llorente". Leeds United F.C. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
    14. "Diego Llorente: Leeds United sign Spain defender from Real Sociedad". BBC Sport. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
    15. Johnston, Neil (5 December 2020). "Chelsea 3–1 Leeds United: Blues go top after comeback win in front of fans". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
    16. "Estamos preparados" [We are ready]. Marca (in Spanish). 27 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
    17. Campos, Tomás (29 May 2016). "Nolito endulza un duelo atípico" [Nolito sweetens an atypical duel]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2016.
    18. Diego Llorente at Soccerway. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
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