Aarón Ñíguez Esclápez (born 26 April 1989) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger.
A Valencia youth graduate, he was capped by Spain at various youth levels, and competed mainly in the Segunda División during his career, also having brief abroad spells in Greece, Scotland, Portugal and Malaysia.
Club career Early career Born in Elche, Alicante, Valencian Community, Ñíguez was a product of Valencia CF's youth system. He made his first-team debut on 25 October 2006 aged 17, as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 away win over Racing Club Portuense in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey, and was also featured in the second leg. On 5 December, against AS Roma in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, he started and played 27 minutes of the 1–0 away loss; he spent the vast majority of his first senior year with the reserves in the Segunda División B, featuring regularly but suffering relegation.
Having started the 2007–08 season on loan with Segunda División side Xerez CD, Ñíguez switched in the January transfer window to Iraklis F.C. from Greece. He scored his first goal on 16 March 2008, through a penalty kick in a 1–0 win over Panionios F.C. after his bicycle kick was blocked by an opponent's hand.
Rangers Ñíguez signed a two-year loan contract with Scottish Premier League club Rangers on 13 August 2008, with an option to buy. He made his official debut in the 7–1 defeat of Hamilton Academical on 6 December, coming off the bench and immediately creating a goal for compatriot Nacho Novo. He scored his first competitive goal for his new team in a Scottish Cup tie against Third Division's Forfar Athletic, and was booked for removing his shirt in celebration. His second also came in the domestic cup, against Hamilton from the penalty spot, in what was his first start.
On 7 June 2009, it was announced that the two-year loan would be terminated.
Return to Spain On 30 August 2009, Ñíguez joined RC Celta de Vigo, playing less than one third of the matches during the campaign due to a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury. For 2010–11, also on loan, he moved to another side in the second tier, Recreativo de Huelva.
In July 2011, Ñíguez cut ties with Valencia and agreed to a five-year deal with another club in the division, UD Almería. On 7 January 2013, shortly after being released by the Andalusians, he joined Elche CF in the same league until June 2017. He appeared in 16 games for the latter, who were promoted to La Liga for the first time since 1989.
Ñíguez made his debut in the Spanish top flight on 19 August 2013, starting and being booked in the 3–0 away loss against Rayo Vallecano. On 31 October, he scored his only goal in the competition, in a 2–2 draw at Athletic Bilbao.
On 12 August 2015, Ñíguez left Elche.
Braga Ñíguez moved to a third foreign league in late August 2015, signing for S.C. Braga of the Portuguese Primeira Liga. He made 15 appearances in all competitions during his spell.
Tenerife and Oviedo On 30 August 2016, Ñíguez joined CD Tenerife on a one-year contract, thus returning to Spain. The following 3 July, he signed to a two-year deal with fellow second-tier Real Oviedo.
A regular starter with the latter, Ñíguez lost his starting spot after the arrival of Yoel Bárcenas, and severed his ties on 18 November 2018.
Johor Darul Ta'zim On 19 November 2018, Ñíguez joined Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C. on a five-year contract. In February 2019, however, he was released and replaced by Leandro Velázquez.
Málaga and Elche return Ñíguez went back to the Spanish second division on 4 March 2020, signing with Málaga CF until 30 June. On 1 September, after Elche achieved promotion to the top flight, he rejoined the club after activating a clause in his previous contract.
International career Ñíguez played in the 2006 UEFA European Championship for the Spain under-17 team, finishing as fourth top scorer in the tournament with three goals. He was also a key member of the under-19 side that won the following year's European Championship, beating Greece in the final.
On 18 November 2008, Ñíguez made his debut for the under-21s, in a 4–1 friendly loss to Portugal.
Personal life Ñíguez came from a football family: his father, José Antonio, played several years with Elche – including the 1984–85 season in La Liga – as a striker.
His older brother Jonathan (another midfielder) was also developed at Valencia, spending the vast majority of his senior career in the lower leagues. The youngest, Saúl, was brought up at Atlético Madrid.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsValencia B2006–07Segunda División B294———10304Valencia2006–07La Liga0020—10—30Xerez (loan)2007–08Segunda División8030———110Iraklis (loan)2007–08Super League Greece12300———123Rangers (loan)2008–09Premier League3022———52Celta (loan)2009–10Segunda División11020———130Recreativo (loan)2010–11Segunda División28500———285Almería2011–12Segunda División30330———3332012–1317131———202Total47461000000535Elche2012–13Segunda División16000———1602013–14La Liga22110———2312014–1521020———220Total59130000000621Braga2015–16Primeira Liga1202010——150Tenerife2016–17Segunda División36410——30404Oviedo2017–18Segunda División35500———3552018–199010———100Total44510000000455Johor Darul Ta'zim2019Malaysia Super League3000———30Málaga2019–20Segunda División0000———00La Nucía2020–21Segunda División B0010———10Career total2922623310104032129
Honours Braga Taça de Portugal: 2015–16
Johor Darul Takzim Malaysia Charity Shield: 2019
Spain U19 UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2007
Spain U20 Mediterranean Games: 2009
References
External links
CiberChe biography and stats