Kike Saverio Explained

Javier Enrique "Kike" Delgado Saverio (born 19 June 1999) is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Greek Super League club Aris.

Club career

Barcelona

Born in Genoa to Ecuadorian parents,^[1] Saverio moved to Balzar, Ecuador as an infant, before moving to Barcelona at the age of five.^[2] He joined FC Barcelona's La Masia in 2015, from UE Cornellà.^[3]

On 12 July 2018, Saverio renewed his contract until 2020, with a release clause of €50 million,^[4] being subsequently promoted to the reserves in Segunda División B.^[2] He made his senior debut on 26 August of that year, coming on as a second-half substitute for goalscorer Ballou Tabla in a 1–3 loss at CD Alcoyano.^[5]

Saverio scored his first senior goal on 29 September 2018, netting the opener in a 2–1 home success over UE Olot.^[6] In October, however, he suffered an injury in his left leg, being sidelined for four months.^[7]

On 30 June 2020, Saverio left Barça as his contract expired.^[8]

Osasuna

On 16 September 2020, Saverio signed a three-year contract with CA Osasuna, being initially assigned to the B-team in the third division.^[9] He made his debut on 25 October, starting in a 0–2 loss at CD Tudelano.^[10]

Saverio made his first team debut on 15 December 2020, starting and scoring his team's fourth in a 6–0 away routing of UD Tomares, for the season's Copa del Rey.^{[11] [12]}

Loan to Andorra

On 1 February 2021, Saverio joined third tier side FC Andorra on loan until the end of the season.^[13]

Loan to Ponferradina

On 28 July 2021, Saverio moved to Segunda División side SD Ponferradina on a one-year loan deal.^[14] He made his professional debut on 22 August, replacing goalscorer José Naranjo in a 1–0 away win over SD Eibar.^[15]

On 7 May 2022, after scoring Ponfes third goal in a 3–1 home win over Burgos CF (which was his first professional goal), Saverio suffered an Achilles tendon injury, being sidelined for the remainder of the season.^[16]

Deportivo La Coruña

On 21 January 2023, Saverio signed to Primera Federación side Deportivo La Coruña on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

Aris

On 2 July 2023, Saverio joined Aris on a two-year deal with an option for another season.^[17]

International career

Eligible to represent Italy, Ecuador and Spain, Saverio made his debut for the latter's under-19s on 14 November 2017, in a 1–2 loss at Portugal. In 2019, he was called up to the Ecuador under-20 squad for trainings ahead of the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup,^[18] but did not make the final squad.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Barcelona B	2018–19	Segunda División B	15	1	—		—		—		15	1
	2019–20		22	5	—		—		—		22	5
	Total		37	6	—		—		—		37	6
Osasuna B	2020–21	Segunda División B	1	0	—		—		—		1	0
Osasuna	2020–21	La Liga	0	0	2	1	—		—		2	1
Andorra (loan)	2020–21	Segunda División B	12	1	—		—		—		12	1
Ponferradina (loan)	2021–22	Segunda División	29	1	3	0	—		—		32	1
Deportivo La Coruña	2022–23	Segunda División B	15	2	0	0	—		—		15	2
Career total			93	10	5	1	0	0	0	0	99	11

Honours

Barcelona

• UEFA Youth League

2017–18^[19]

Notes and References

1. Web site: ¿Kike Saverio hace un guiño a la Selección de Ecuador?. Kike Saverio gives a wink to the Ecuador national team?. El Comercio. es. 10 February 2020.
2. Web site: Promesas de La Masía: Kike Saverio, acordes de bailarín. Prospects of La Masía: Kike Saverio, chords of a dancer. Vavel. es. 25 September 2019. 6 October 2020.
3. Web site: Kike Saverio, el héroe silencioso del Barça B. Kike Saverio, the silent hero of Barça B. Sport. es. 14 October 2019. 6 October 2020.
4. News: Kike Saverio renueva hasta el 2020. Kike Saverio renews until 2020. FC Barcelona. es. 12 July 2018. 6 October 2020.
5. Web site: CD Alcoyano 3-1 FC Barcelona B: Losing start to Division 2B. FC Barcelona. 26 August 2018. 24 December 2020.
6. Web site: Barça B 2-1 UE Olot: First win in the Miniestadi. 29 September 2018. FC Barcelona. 24 December 2020.
7. Web site: Kike Saverio pasará por el quirófano y estará cuatro meses de baja. Kike Saverio will go through surgery and will be four months out. Sport. es. 16 October 2018. 6 October 2020.
8. Web site: Chumi, Kike Saverio, Sergi Puig y Guillem no continúan en el Barça B. Chumi, Kike Saverio, Sergi Puig and Guillem will not continue at Barça B. FC Barcelona. es. 30 June 2020. 10 September 2020.
9. Web site: Osasuna Promesas refuerza su plantilla con las incorporaciones de Kike Saverio, Joel Rodríguez, José Carlos Aliaga y Dani Santafé. Osasuna Promesas bolster their squad with the signings of Kike Saverio, Joel Rodríguez, José Carlos Aliaga and Dani Santafé. CA Osasuna. es. 16 September 2020. 6 October 2020.
10. Web site: Osasuna Promesas cede ante el Tudelano (0–2). Osasuna Promesas fall against Tudelano (0–2). CA Osasuna. es. 25 October 2020. 24 December 2020.
11. Web site: Osasuna vence en su estreno copero (0–6). Osasuna win in their Cup debut (0–6). CA Osasuna. es. 15 December 2020. 24 December 2020.
12. Web site: Osasuna despacha el trámite de La Cartuja. Osasuna dispatch the procedure of La Cartuja. Diario AS. es. 15 December 2020. 6 January 2021.
13. Web site: El ecuatoriano Kike Saverio se marcha al Andorra, de la tercera categoría del fútbol de España. The Ecuadorian Kike Saverio goes to Andorra, in the third category of Spanish football. El Universo. es. 1 February 2021. 4 February 2021.
14. Web site: El extremo Kike Saverio se incorpora a la SD Ponferradina. Winger Kike Saverio joins SD Ponferradina. SD Ponferradina. es. 28 July 2021. 2 August 2021.
15. Web site: La Ponferradina asalta Ipurua. Ponferradina take over Ipurua. Marca. es. 22 August 2021. 30 August 2021.
16. Web site: Gol y grave lesión para Kike Saverio, cedido por Osasuna en la Ponferradina. Goal and serious injury for Kike Saverio, on loan from Osasuna at Ponferradina. Diario de Navarra. es. 9 May 2022. 11 November 2022.
17. Web site: Άρης μεταγραφές: Επίσημα τους κίτρινους ο Κίκε Σαβέριο για 2+1 χρόνια . www.sport24.gr . 2 July 2023.
18. Web site: Kike Saverio llegó del Barça a la Selección Sub 20. Kike Saverio arrives from Barça to the under-20 national team. Bendito Fútbol. es. 24 March 2019. 6 October 2020.
19. Web site: Chelsea 0–3 Barcelona. UEFA.com. 13 July 2020.