Jorge Cabezas Hurtado

Jorge Cabezas Hurtado
Personal information
Full name Jorge Leguín Cabezas Hurtado[1]
Date of birth (2003-09-06) 6 September 2003 (age 21)[1]
Place of birth Tumaco, Colombia
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 PAOK B
(on loan from Watford)
Youth career
0000–2021 Real Cartagena
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Real Cartagena 25 (4)
2023– Watford 1 (0)
2023 → Independiente Medellín (loan) 6 (0)
2023 → New York Red Bulls (loan) 5 (0)
2023 → New York Red Bulls II (loan) 5 (1)
2024 → Gillingham (loan) 3 (0)
2024– → PAOK B (loan) 7 (6)
International career‡
2022– Colombia U20 20 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 3 June 2023

Jorge Leguín Cabezas Hurtado (born 6 September 2003) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Super League Greece 2 club PAOK B, on loan from EFL Championship club Watford.

Club career

Cabezas Hurtado is a product of Real Cartagena's academy:[2] he made his professional debut for the club on 14 April 2021, coming on as a substitute in the second half of the Copa Colombia match against Llaneros, which ended in a 0–0 draw.[3] The striker scored his first senior goal on 27 February 2022, netting the winner in a 1–2 Categoría Primera B victory over Real Santander.[4] Then, on 20 April of the same year, he scored his first brace in a 3–1 league win over Boyacá Chicó.[5]

On 3 October 2022, it was officially announced that Cabezas Hurtado had agreed to join EFL Championship side Watford on a permanent deal, signing a contract that would begin in the summer of 2023 and last until 2029.[6][7][8] However, on 19 December of the same year, the transfer's activation was anticipated to January 2023, as the forward was officially set to join Categoría Primera A side Independiente Medellín on a six-month loan, with an option to extend the deal until the end of the 2023 season.[9]

On 8 March of the same year, Cabezas Hurtado made his Copa Libertadores debut, coming on for Miguel Monsalve at the 64th minute of a 1–1 draw against Magallanes, in the first leg of the third qualifying stage.[10] Four days later, he also made his league debut, starting in a 2–0 defeat to Boyacá Chicó.[11] Finally, on 15 March, he featured in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores tie against Magallanes, which saw DIM gain a 2–0 win and advance to the group stage of the competition.[12]

On 2 August 2023, Cabezas Hurtado joined Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls on loan through the end of the 2023 season.[13] While in New York he also featured five times for New York Red Bulls II of the MLS Next Pro, scoring the opening goal in a 5–4 victory over Chicago Fire FC II on 28 August 2023.[14][15]

On 6 January 2024, Cabezas Hurtado made his Watford debut as a substitute in a 2–1 FA Cup win over Chesterfield, providing the assist for Tom Dele-Bashiru's injury time winner.[16]

On 1 February 2024, Cabezas Hurtado joined EFL League Two side Gillingham on loan for the remainder of the 2023–24 season.[17] He made his league debut for the Kent-based side two days later, coming on as a substitute in the 63rd minute of a 1–1 home draw with Walsall.[18] In his third appearance for the club, he sustained a knee injury, which ultimately forced him to return to his parent club for treatment.[19]

On 15 August 2024, Cabezas Hurtado joined Greek side PAOK on a season-long loan, with an option to buy.[20]

International career

Cabezas Hurtado has represented Colombia at youth international level, having played for the under-20 national team.[21][22]

In May 2022, he was included in the Colombian squad that took part in the Maurice Revello Tournament in France,[21] where he scored a goal in the last group stage match against Japan,[7][23][24] as the Cafeteros eventually finished in fourth place.[25][26]

In January 2023, he was included in the Colombian squad for the South American U-20 Championship, hosted in his own country.[27] Having scored two goals in the final stage of the tournament,[2][28][29] as well as one assist,[2][30] Cabezas Hurtado helped Colombia finish in third place and qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.[29]

In May 2023, Cabezas Hurtado was included by head coach Héctor Cárdenas in Colombia's final squad for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina,[31][32] where the Cafeteros reached the quarter-finals before losing to Italy.[33]

Style of play

Hurtado's manager at Watford Valérien Ismaël has described him as a "a left-footed and strong No.9, fast and with great intensity to press" and "very clinical in front of goal".[15] Stephen Clemence, who managed him during his Gillingham loan, noted his ability to "do things that other players can’t do at times, that South American movement, snake hips".[19]

Career statistics

Club

As of 13 February 2024[34]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Real Cartagena 2021 Categoría Primera B 8 0 1[a] 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
2022 17 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 4
Total 25 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 26 4
Watford 2022–23 EFL Championship 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
→Independiente Medellín (loan) 2023 Categoría Primera A 6 0 0 0 4[b] 0 0 0 10 0
→ New York Red Bulls (loan) 2023 MLS 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
→ New York Red Bulls II (loan) 2023 MLS Next Pro 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1
→ Gillingham (loan) 2023–24 EFL League Two 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Career total 44 5 2 0 4 0 0 0 50 5
Notes
  1. ^ Appearances in the Copa Colombia
  2. ^ Appearances in the Copa Libertadores

References

  1. ^ a b c "FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ SQUAD LIST: Colombia (COL)" (PDF). FIFA. 22 May 2023. p. 3. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Campos Guerrero, Julián (4 February 2023). "¿Quién es Jorge Cabezas Hurtado, figura de la Selección Colombia Sub-20?". Gol Caracol (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Llaneros vs. Real Cartagena - 14 April 2021". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Real Santander vs. Real Cartagena - 27 February 2022". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Real Cartagena vs. Boyacá Chicó - 20 April 2022". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Official: Hornets Complete Hurtado Signing". Watford F.C. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Watford confirma fichaje de Jorge Cabezas a partir de 2023". Diario AS (in Spanish). 3 October 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Watford sign Colombian youngster on six-year deal". BBC Sport. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Jorge Cabezas Hurtado nuevo jugador Rojo". DIM Oficial (in Spanish). 20 December 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  10. ^ Prieto Pérez, Miguel Ángel (8 March 2023). "A Medellín se le escapa el triunfo: Empate con Magallanes en la ida". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  11. ^ "DIM pierde con Boyacá Chicó y ya piensa en la Libertadores". Diario AS (in Spanish). 11 March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  12. ^ Sierra, Jeimmy Paola (15 March 2023). "Medellín supera a Magallanes y avanza a grupos de Libertadores". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  13. ^ "New York Red Bulls Add Colombian Forward Jorge Cabezas Hurtado on Loan from Watford FC". New York Red Bulls. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  14. ^ "New York Red Bulls 2 V Chicago Fire Fc Ii | 28th August 2023". The Sportsman. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  15. ^ a b French, Andrew (5 January 2024). "Could the next hot South American prospect be unleashed soon?". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Watford fight back to beat non-league Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Official: Hurtado Completes Gillingham Loan". www.watfordfc.com. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  18. ^ "Gillingham 1-1 Walsall". BBC Sport. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Possible cartilage injury means forward's loan likely to be cut short". Watford Observer. 18 February 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Jorge Cabezas Hurtado: Watford forward joins PAOK on loan". BBC Sport. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Convocatoria Selección Colombia Masculina Sub-20 para torneo Maurice Revello 2022". Federación Colombiana de Fútbol (in Spanish). 18 May 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  22. ^ "Convocatoria Selección Colombia Masculina Sub-20 para amistosos ante Ecuador". Federación Colombiana de Fútbol (in Spanish). 15 November 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  23. ^ "La Colombie bat le Japon et s'envole vers les demi-finales". festival-foot-espoirs.com (in French). 6 June 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  24. ^ "Selección Colombia clasificó a las semifinales en el torneo Maurice Revello". Federación Colombiana de Fútbol (in Spanish). 6 June 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  25. ^ "Le Mexique conquérant face à une Colombie impuissante". festival-foot-espoirs.com (in French). 12 June 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  26. ^ "Selección Colombia Terminó participación en el Torneo Maurice Revello". Federación Colombiana de Fútbol (in Spanish). 12 June 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  27. ^ "Convocatoria Selección Colombia Masculina Sub-20 para el CONMEBOL Sub 20". Federación Colombiana de Fútbol (in Spanish). 4 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  28. ^ "Uruguay y Brasil se mantienen en la cima de la Fase Final". CONMEBOL (in Spanish). 3 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  29. ^ a b "Colombia, tercer clasificado a la Copa Mundial Sub20". CONMEBOL (in Spanish). 9 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  30. ^ Riaño, Juan Camilo (3 February 2023). "Jorge Cabezas responde a la falta de efectividad". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  31. ^ "Convocatoria de la Selección Colombia Sub 20 – Copa Mundial de la FIFA Argentina 2023". Federación Colombiana de Fútbol (in Spanish). 9 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  32. ^ Prieto Pérez, Miguel Ángel (9 May 2023). "Convocatoria de la Selección Colombia para el Mundial Sub 20". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  33. ^ Casallas, Sergio (3 June 2023). "Colombia pierde con Italia y se despide del Mundial Sub 20". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  34. ^ Jorge Cabezas Hurtado at Soccerway