Sporting Kansas City has signed 28-year-old Spanish center back Joaquin Fernandez, the club announced today. Joaquin has signed an MLS contract until 2025 and will take up an international spot on Sporting’s squad.
Joaquin is a 6’3″ centre-back who can also play as a defensive midfielder. He has made over 300 professional appearances in his 12-year career, including 85 games in Spain’s La Liga with Real Valladolid. He joins Sporting after spending the 2023/24 season with Trabzonspor in the Turkish Super Lig.
Joaquin joined UD Almeria’s youth academy in his hometown and made his first-team debut for Almeria B in the Spanish third division in December 2012 as a 16-year-old. He enjoyed a trial with English giants Liverpool FC the following year and was promoted to Almeria’s first team in the Spanish Segunda in 2015. Joaquin was a regular for Almeria in the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons, making 35 appearances in each season while attracting interest from clubs in Spain’s prestigious La Liga.
In August 2018, Joaquin joined newly promoted Real Valladolid, making the jump to the Spanish top flight. He made his La Liga debut in November 2018 at Seville and opened the scoring for Valladolid in a 2-2 draw with Alaves the following April. Joaquin took another step forward in the 2019/20 season, scoring two goals in 20 La Liga games as Valladolid moved from 16th to 13th in the league table.
Joaquin started 25 matches in the 2020–21 season, and although Valladolid were relegated to the second division the following season, the team returned to the top flight by finishing second in the 2021–22 Spanish Segunda. Joaquin started 24 of 26 appearances this year as Valladolid finished level on points with Almeria at the top of the table but lost the league title on goal difference.
Joaquin made 27 La Liga appearances in the 2022/23 season, more than ever before in his career – scoring a goal in a 4-1 win over Celta Vigo on October 19, 2022 – and played his last game for Valladolid in a 3-1 win over European giants and La Liga champions FC Barcelona on May 23, 2023.
In June 2023, Joaquin moved abroad for the first time in his career, joining Turkish club Trabzonspor. He made 17 appearances for the club last season, helping Trabzonspor to third place in the Turkish Super League and qualify for the UEFA Europa League.
At international level, Joaquin represented Spain at U-16, U-17 and U-18 level from 2012 to 2014. Shortly before his friendly with Liverpool, he took part in the 2013 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifiers.
Joaquin joins Sporting during Major League Soccer’s second transfer window, which begins on July 18 and closes on Wednesday. A full list of Sporting’s roster moves can be found here.
Joaquin Fernandez (wah-KEEN)
Number: 12
Position: Defender
Born: 31.05.1996 (28 years old)
Size: 6-3
Weight: 180 lbs.
Hometown: Huercal de Almeria, Spain
Place of birth: Huercal de Almeria, Spain
Nationality: Spain
Previous club: Trabzonspor (Turkish Super Lig)
Instagram: @joaquinfdez_
