Jefferson Díaz

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Díaz and the second or maternal family name is Beleño.
Jefferson Díaz
Personal information
Full name Jefferson Abel Díaz Beleño
Date of birth (2000-12-05) 5 December 2000 (age 24)
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)

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.

Career

Real Cartagena

Born 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

On 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

In 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

On 29 July 2024, Díaz joined Major League Soccer side Minnesota United on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[6]

Career statistics

As of 14 July 2024[7]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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
  1. ^ Includes Copa Colombia

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "«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.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "Minnesota United Signs Defender Jefferson Diaz | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC.
  7. ^ Jefferson Díaz at Soccerway. Retrieved 14 July 2024.