| Nico González | |
| Full Name: | Nicolás González Iglesias |
| Birth Date: | 3 January 2002 |
| Birth Place: | A Coruña, Spain |
| Height: | 1.88 m[1] |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Porto |
| Clubnumber: | 16 |
| Youthyears1: | 2009–2013 |
| Youthclubs1: | Montañeros |
| Youthyears2: | 2013–2020 |
| Youthclubs2: | Barcelona |
| Years1: | 2019–2022 |
| Clubs1: | Barcelona B |
| Caps1: | 26 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2021–2023 |
| Clubs2: | Barcelona |
| Caps2: | 27 |
| Goals2: | 2 |
| Years3: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs3: | → Valencia (loan) |
| Caps3: | 26 |
| Goals3: | 1 |
| Years4: | 2023– |
| Clubs4: | Porto |
| Caps4: | 34 |
| Goals4: | 5 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2018–2019 |
| Nationalteam1: | Spain U17 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 8 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2021– |
| Nationalteam2: | Spain U21 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 11 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 22:53, 24 August 2024 (UTC) |
| Ntupdate: | 03:59, 16 October 2024 (UTC) |
Nicolás González Iglesias (born 3 January 2002), sometimes known as just Nico, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Primeira Liga club Porto.
Nico was born in A Coruña, Galicia, and started his career with local side Montañeros at the age of seven. In December 2012, he agreed to a move to Barcelona, effective as of the following July.[2]
On 19 May 2019, aged just 17, Nico made his senior debut for the reserves, coming on as a late substitute for Kike Saverio in a 2–1 Segunda División B away loss against Castellón.[3] In the 2020–21 season, he was initially a member of the Juvenil A before starting to feature regularly for the B-team from November 2020 onwards.
On 12 May 2021, Nico renewed his contract until 2024, with a €500 million buyout clause.[4] After featuring in the main squad during the pre-season, he made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 15 August, replacing Sergio Busquets in the opening game of the 2021–22 La Liga season, a 4–2 win over Real Sociedad.[5] [6]
Nico scored his first professional goal on 12 December 2021, netting the opener in a 2–2 away draw against Osasuna.[7]
On 13 August 2022, Nico renewed his contract until 2026, and later signed with Valencia on a season-long loan.[8]
On 29 July 2023, Nico signed a five-year contract with Primeira Liga club FC Porto, for a reported fee of €8.5 million, with Barcelona having a buy-back clause.[9] [10]
He made his debut for the Portuguese side on 14 August, coming off the bench to replace Romário Baró in the 70th minute of a 2–1 win away at Moreirense, in the Primeira Liga.[11] One week later, Nico made his first start for Porto, in a 2–1 home win over Farense.[12]
He is the son of former Spanish footballer and Deportivo La Coruña legend Fran González and the nephew of José Ramón.[13]
| Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Barcelona B | 2018–19 | Segunda División B | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 2019–20 | Segunda División B | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 2020–21 | Segunda División B | 23 | 0 | — | — | — | 1[14] | 0 | 24 | 0 | |||||
| 2021–22 | Primera División RFEF | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 26 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 | ||||||
| Barcelona | 2021–22 | La Liga | 27 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 7[15] | 0 | 1[16] | 0 | 37 | 2 | ||
| Valencia (loan) | 2022–23 | La Liga | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 26 | 1 | |||
| Porto | 2023–24 | Primeira Liga | 25 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6[17] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 2 | |
| 2024–25 | Primeira Liga | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[18] | 0 | 1[19] | 1 | 14 | 4 | ||
| Total | 34 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 53 | 6 | |||
| Career total | 114 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 143 | 9 | |||
Porto