Jaime Mata Arnaiz (born 24 October 1988) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a striker or a winger.
Club career Early years Born in Madrid, Mata finished his youth career with local Galáctico Pegaso, making his senior debut with the reserves in 2007. After appearing with the main squad in the Tercera División, he moved to neighbouring Rayo Vallecano in December 2009, being immediately loaned to UD Socuéllamos in the same level.
Mata was subsequently loaned to CD Móstoles of the same league in August 2010, in a season-long deal. He returned to Rayo in summer 2011, being assigned to the B team in the Segunda División B.
On 5 July 2012, Mata signed for fellow third-division Lleida Esportiu.
Girona After scoring 32 goals over two seasons, Mata moved to Segunda División after agreeing to a two-year deal with Girona FC on 18 June 2014. He played his first match as a professional on 24 August 2014, starting in a 1–0 home win against Racing de Santander. He scored his first goal six days later, the winner in a 2–1 away victory over AD Alcorcón.
On 11 June 2015, in the first leg of the promotion playoffs' semi-finals, Mata scored a brace in a 3–0 away defeat of Real Zaragoza.
Valladolid On 30 June 2016, after again being knocked out in the playoffs, Mata signed a two-year contract with Real Valladolid also of the second tier. He scored a career-best 35 goals in his second season at the Estadio José Zorrilla, notably netting a hat-trick in a 5–1 away rout of Lorca FC on 19 May 2018.
Getafe On 2 July 2018, Mata signed a three-year contract with La Liga club Getafe CF as a free agent, making his debut in the competition on 24 August at the age of 29 years and ten months in a 2–0 home win against SD Eibar where he played 79 minutes. He scored his first top-flight goal on 1 October 2018, the equaliser in a 1–1 away draw with RC Celta de Vigo.
In the following year, Mata scored braces against Deportivo Alavés, Celta and SD Huesca, being also named the competition's best player for the month of February. On 17 October 2020, he scored a penalty in a 1–0 victory over FC Barcelona, the club's first against that opponent since 2011. He totalled 14 league goals in his first season and 11 in the second, but featured more often than not as a winger in his later years; after manager José Bordalás' departure in May 2021 and until his return in April 2023, he struggled to get playing time.
Later career On 27 June 2024, the 35-year-old Mata signed a one-year contract with UD Las Palmas also in the top tier. He scored his only goals of the season on 31 October, managing four in a 7–0 away demolition of amateurs Ontiñena CF in the first round of the Copa del Rey.
Mata severed his ties in December 2025, in spite of having a one-year extension activated in June that year. On 9 February 2026, he joined Racing de Santander on a short-term deal.
International career On 15 March 2019, Mata was called up by Spain national team manager Luis Enrique for two UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying matches against Norway and Malta. He won his first cap against the former, after coming on as an 89th-minute substitute for Álvaro Morata in the 2–1 win in Valencia.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCopa del ReyContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsRayo Vallecano B2011–12Segunda División B379———379Lleida Esportiu2012–13Segunda División B341400—4338172013–14Segunda División B361542—404417Total702942—838231Girona2014–15Segunda División381010—2241122015–16Segunda División38900—30419Total761910—528221Valladolid2016–17Segunda División28531——3162017–18Segunda División393320—424535Total673851—427641Getafe2018–19La Liga341442——38162019–20La Liga34110073—41142020–21La Liga33520——3552021–22La Liga22123——2442022–23La Liga18120——2012023–24La Liga35531——386Total1763713673—19646Las Palmas2024–25La Liga30034——3342025–26Segunda División3010——40Total33044——374Racing Santander2025–26Segunda División8100——81Career total467133271373177518156
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSpain201910Total10
Honours Racing Santander Segunda División: 2025–26
Individual La Liga Player of the Month: February 2019 Segunda División top scorer: 2017–18 Segunda División Player of the Month: September 2017
References
External links