Borja Sainz Eguskiza (born 21 February 2001) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Primeira Liga club Porto.
Born in Leioa, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain, Sainz joined Athletic Bilbao's Lezama in 2012, from lowly locals Lagun Artea. In August 2017, he signed for Alavés after refusing a contract renewal from the Lions.[2]
On 2 September 2018, Sainz made his senior debut with the reserves at the age of just 17, playing the last three minutes in a 3–0 Tercera División home win against San Pedro. He scored his first senior goal on 7 October in a 2–0 home defeat of Beasain,[3] and finished the campaign with five goals in 18 appearances.
Sainz made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 25 August 2019, coming on as a second-half substitute for Luis Rioja in a 0–0 home draw against Espanyol;[4] by doing so, he became the first player of the 21st century to appear for the senior side.[5] He scored his first goal in the category on 18 June of the following year, netting the opener in a 2–0 home defeat of Real Sociedad.
On 5 August 2021, Sainz was loaned to Segunda División side Real Zaragoza for the season.[6]
On 28 July 2022, Sainz moved abroad for the first time in his career after signing for Giresunspor in Turkey.[7]
On 30 June 2023, Sainz signed for Championship club Norwich City on a three-year contract following his departure from Giresunspor.[8][9] Sainz scored on his debut for Norwich in an EFL Cup tie against Fulham on 27 September 2023.[10] Sainz also scored for Norwich in an FA Cup tie against Liverpool on 28 January 2024.[11]
Following a strong start to the 2024–25 season, scoring four goals in three matches, including a hat-trick against Derby County, he was named EFL Championship Player of the Month for September 2024.[12] He won the award for a second consecutive month following a further four goals and two assists.[13] Sainz scored his second hat-trick of the season on 26 November with three goals against Plymouth Argyle at Carrow Road.[14] Following an incident in a fixture against Sunderland on 21 December 2024, Sainz was charged by the Football Association in January 2025 of "spitting at an opponent",[15] subsequently receiving a six-match ban and being fined £12,000.[16] At the EFL awards for the 2024–25 season, Sainz was named in the EFL team of the season.[17]
On 13 July 2025, Sainz signed for Primeira Liga side Porto, for a reported transfer fee of £14.25m.[18]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Alavés B | 2018–19 | Tercera División | 18 | 5 | — | — | 4[c] | 0 | 22 | 5 | ||
| 2019–20 | Segunda División B | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 24 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | 28 | 6 | |||
| Alavés | 2019–20 | La Liga | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 1 | ||
| 2020–21 | La Liga | 21 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 1 | |||
| Total | 40 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 44 | 2 | |||
| Real Zaragoza | 2021–22 | Segunda División | 32 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 3 | ||
| Giresunspor | 2022–23 | Süper Lig | 32 | 9 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 34 | 10 | ||
| Norwich City | 2023–24 | Championship | 33 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2[d] | 0 | 39 | 8 |
| 2024–25 | Championship | 41 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 43 | 19 | ||
| Total | 74 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 82 | 27 | ||
| Porto | 2025–26 | Primeira Liga | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Career total | 206 | 46 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 227 | 50 | ||
Individual
