Jefferson Díaz

Jefferson Díaz
Personal information
Full name	Jefferson Abel Díaz Beleño
Date of birth	5 December 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	San Andrés, Colombia
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Minnesota United
Number	28
Youth career
	Élite Capital
2017–2019	Real Cartagena
Senior career*
Years	Team
2017–2021	Real Cartagena
2022	Valledupar
2023–2024	Deportivo Cali
2024–	Minnesota United
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:51, 20 October 2024 (UTC)

Jefferson Abel Díaz Beleño (born 5 December 2000) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Major League Soccer side Minnesota United.

Career

Real Cartagena

Born in San Andrés, Díaz began his career with Real Cartagena, as a forward.^[1] He made his first team debut on 3 July 2017, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 0–0 Categoría Primera B home draw against Unión Magdalena.^[2]

Mainly a backup option, Díaz scored his first senior goal on 4 March 2020, netting the equalizer a 1–1 home draw against Dépor in the Copa Colombia. He only started to feature regularly in the 2021 season, after manager Nilton Bernal converted him into a centre-back,^[3] but was released at the end of the year.

Valledupar

On 8 February 2022, Díaz moved to fellow second division side Valledupar.^[4] He immediately became a first-choice, and scored twice in 29 appearances overall during the year.

Deportivo Cali

In January 2023, Díaz signed for Categoría Primera A side Deportivo Cali, after a week on trial at the club.^[5] He made his debut in the category on 12 February, replacing Gustavo Ramírez late into a 1–1 away draw against Atlético Nacional.

Díaz scored his first goal in the top tier on 15 April 2023, netting his side's second in a 2–1 home win over Unión Magdalena.^[1]

Minnesota United

On 29 July 2024, Díaz joined Major League Soccer side Minnesota United on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.^[6]

Career statistics

As of 14 July 2024^[7]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National cup^[a]		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Real Cartagena	2017	Categoría Primera B	5	0	0	0	—		—		5	0
	2018		0	0	1	0	—		—		1	0
	2019		1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
	2020		13	1	4	1	—		—		17	2
	2021		24	2	2	0	—		—		26	2
	Total		43	3	7	1	—		—		50	4
Valledupar	2022	Categoría Primera B	25	2	4	0	—		—		29	2
Deportivo Cali	2023	Categoría Primera A	30	2	7	1	—		—		37	3
	2024	Categoría Primera A	13	2	0	0	—		—		13	2
	Total		43	4	7	1	—		—		50	5
Career total			111	9	18	2	0	0	0	0	129	11

^ Includes Copa Colombia

References

^ ^a ^b "Jefferson Díaz, el sanandresano que le dio el triunfo al Deportivo Cali sobre el Unión Magdalena" [Jefferson Díaz, the sanandresano who gave the win to Deportivo Cali against Unión Magdalena] (in Spanish). El País. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
^ ""Pude venir a este gran equipo": Jefferson Díaz" ["I could come to this great team": Jefferson Díaz] (in Spanish). Primer Tiempo. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
^ "Real Cartagena anota, pero es el segundo equipo que más goles recibe" [Real Cartagena score, but is the second team which receives more goals] (in Spanish). El Universal. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
^ "Jefferson Díaz, ex Real Cartagena, es nuevo jugador de Valledupar FC" [Jefferson Díaz, formerly of Real Cartagena, is the new player of Valledupar FC] (in Spanish). Primer Tiempo. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
^ "Jéferson Díaz, el fichaje del Cali que empezó como delantero y ahora es zaguero" [Jéferson Díaz, the signing of Cali who started out as a forward and now is a stopper] (in Spanish). Futbolete. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
^ "Minnesota United Signs Defender Jefferson Diaz | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC.
^ Jefferson Díaz at Soccerway. Retrieved 14 July 2024.

[8] Includes Copa Colombia

[EP-1] "Jefferson Díaz, el sanandresano que le dio el triunfo al Deportivo Cali sobre el Unión Magdalena" [Jefferson Díaz, the sanandresano who gave the win to Deportivo Cali against Unión Magdalena] (in Spanish). El País. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2024.

[2] ""Pude venir a este gran equipo": Jefferson Díaz" ["I could come to this great team": Jefferson Díaz] (in Spanish). Primer Tiempo. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2024.

[3] "Real Cartagena anota, pero es el segundo equipo que más goles recibe" [Real Cartagena score, but is the second team which receives more goals] (in Spanish). El Universal. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2024.

[4] "Jefferson Díaz, ex Real Cartagena, es nuevo jugador de Valledupar FC" [Jefferson Díaz, formerly of Real Cartagena, is the new player of Valledupar FC] (in Spanish). Primer Tiempo. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2024.

[5] "Jéferson Díaz, el fichaje del Cali que empezó como delantero y ahora es zaguero" [Jéferson Díaz, the signing of Cali who started out as a forward and now is a stopper] (in Spanish). Futbolete. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2024.

[6] "Minnesota United Signs Defender Jefferson Diaz | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC.

[SW-7] Jefferson Díaz at Soccerway. Retrieved 14 July 2024.

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