Joselu

José Luis Mato Sanmartín (born 27 March 1990), known as Joselu, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Qatar Stars League club Al-Gharafa.

Joselu began his career with Celta Vigo, before being purchased by Real Madrid in the summer of 2009. He was a prolific goalscorer for their B-team, scoring 40 goals in 72 appearances, but was unable to break into the first team, and sold to Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim in August 2012. Following a loan spell at Eintracht Frankfurt, Joselu joined Hannover 96 in June 2014, and then Premier League side Stoke City a year later for a fee of £5.75 million. In 2017, he moved to Newcastle United for £5 million, where he spent two seasons, before signing for Alavés for an undisclosed fee. Joselu then played for Espanyol, before rejoining Real Madrid on loan for the 2023–24 season, where he won the UEFA Champions League.

Joselu played for Spain at multiple youth levels, and made his debut for the senior national team in 2023. He was a member of the squad that won the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League and the UEFA Euro 2024.

Early life

Joselu was born in Stuttgart, West Germany, and attended school in the country for four years, until the age of 10, before his family returned to Galicia, Spain.

Club career

Celta

Joselu played his two first professional matches for local Celta Vigo in the second division, late in the 2008–09 season. Since the age of 18, at about the same time he made his debuts with the main squad, he played with the B-team in the third level.

In late summer 2009, Joselu was purchased by Real Madrid, being immediately loaned to his former team for a further campaign. He was relatively used during the division two campaign, but only scored four goals as the team finished in 12th position.