Jeremy de León

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is de León and the second or maternal family name is Rodríguez.

Jeremy de León
Personal information
Full name Jeremy André de León Rodríguez[1]
Date of birth (2004-03-18) 18 March 2004 (age 20)[1]
Place of birth Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, United States
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Real Madrid B
Number 21
Youth career
Puerto Rico Surf
2022 Castellón
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2024 Castellón 43 (2)
2024– Real Madrid B 11 (1)
International career‡
2021–2022 Puerto Rico U20 3 (2)
2024– Puerto Rico 2 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 October 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 June 2024

Jeremy André de León Rodríguez (born 18 March 2004) is a Puerto Rican footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club Real Madrid Castilla and the team Puerto Rico national team.

Club career

Castellón

As a youth de León played for local side Hispania FA. At age 9 he was invited to trial with Sevilla.[2] At the age of ten in April 2014, he was invited to Spain to participate in a trial and youth tournament for Málaga and a second training period with Sevilla.[3] While playing for GPS Puerto Rico in the Sheffield Cup in 2019, he was spotted by the International Development Academy based in Valencia and he and his family moved to Spain to join the club in summer 2020.[2]

In winter 2021/22 he joined the youth team of CD Castellón.[4] After being the team's top scorer with twenty three goals in thirteen matches in the U19 league, the player attracted interest from La Liga clubs Barcelona, Almería, and Sevilla in spring 2022. Shortly thereafter he was linked with moves to Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, and Real Betis.[5] Despite the interest, de León signed his first professional contract with Castellón in May 2022, a two-year deal which would see him remain at the club until 2024.[4] He made his debut for the club the same month against Villarreal B.[2] The following month Valencia was exploring loan options for the player.[6]

Real Madrid Castilla

On 24 January 2024, Castellón officially announced the transfer of de León to La Liga club Real Madrid.[7] His debut appearance for Real Madrid Castilla was on 28 January against Linares.[8] On 18 May, de León scored his first goal for Real Madrid's B-team against Intercity.[9]

International career

At the youth level de León represented Puerto Rico in 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship qualifying. He scored two goals against Bermuda in the final Group Stage match, an eventual victory which saw Puerto Rico qualify for the final tournament.[10][11] The same year he was named to Puerto Rico's squad for the 2022 UNCAF U-19 Tournament in Belize.[12] He went on to score two goals in a 3–3 draw with Panama.[13][14]

De León received his first call-up to the senior national team in summer 2022 for 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League C matches.[15]

De León made his debut for the senior national team on 6 June 2024 in a World Cup qualifier against El Salvador at the Estadio Cuscatlán. He started the game and played 81 minutes as the match ended in a scoreless draw.[16] In his next game 5 days later against Anguilla, de León scored twice and assisted a goal as Puerto Rico won 8–0.[17]

Personal life

De León is the second cousin of Chilean international footballer Arturo Vidal via his mother.[citation needed] Pundits have often tipped him as the "Puerto Rican Messi" due to his ability to run with the ball for long distances and finish goals with a high accuracy rate.[citation needed]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 27 October 2024[18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Castellón 2021–22 Primera División RFEF 2 0 — — 2 0
2022–23 Primera Federación 30 2 — — 30 2
2023–24 Primera Federación 11 0 3 0 — 14 0
Total 43 2 3 0 — 46 2
Real Madrid Castilla 2023–24 Primera Federación 8 1 — — 8 1
2024–25 Primera Federación 3 0 — — 3 0
Total 11 1 — — 11 1
Career total 54 3 3 0 0 0 57 3

International

As of match played 11 June 2024.
National team Year Apps Goals
Puerto Rico 2024 2 2
Total 2 2
List of international goals scored by Jeremy De León
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 11 June 2024 Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, Bayamón, Puerto Rico 2  Anguilla 1–0 8–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification [19]
2 4–0

References

  1. ^ a b c "Jeremy de León". Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Chova, Edu. "Jeremy de León encuentra su sitio en Castalia" (in Spanish). El Mundo. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  3. ^ Justino, Edwin. "Rumbo a España jóvenes valores de Hispania FA" (in Spanish). Futbol Boricua. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b "El Castellón renueva por dos años a la perla de su cantera, Jeremy de León" (in Spanish). Castellon Plaza. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  5. ^ "El jugador del Juvenil A del Castellón, Jeremy André, renovará con el Castellón y tendrá ficha profesional" (in Spanish). SER. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  6. ^ Gomis, Salva. "El Valencia CF estudia la fórmula para fichar a Jeremy de León" (in Spanish). Esportbase Media. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Comunicado Oficial | Jeremy De León traspasado al Real Madrid CF". CD Castellón. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Real Madrid Castilla 0 - 0 Linares: resumen y resultado". Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 28 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Castilla beat Intercity" (in Spanish). Real Madrid CF. 18 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Puerto Rico, Nicaragua punch ticket to 2022 CMU20". CONCACAF. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  11. ^ "IDA Player Spotlight: Jeremy De Leon". International Development Academy (IDA). Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  12. ^ Justino, Edwin. "Lista para su debut en la Copa Centroamericana de Fútbol U20 la Selección" (in Spanish). Futbol Boricua. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  13. ^ "DOBLETE DE JEREMY DE LEÓN EN EMPATE CON PANAMÁ". Futbol Boricua. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  14. ^ "DOBLETE DE JEREMY DE LEÓN EN EMPATE CON PANAMÁ" (in Spanish). Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Lista la convocatoria para la Liga de Naciones" (in Spanish). Futbol Boricua. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  16. ^ "El Salvador v Puerto Rico game report". ESPN. 6 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Puerto Rico v Anguilla game report". ESPN. 11 June 2024.
  18. ^ Jeremy de León at Soccerway
  19. ^ "PUERTO RICO VS. ANGUILLA 8 - 0". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 11 June 2024.