Jozabed Sánchez Ruiz (born 8 March 1991), known simply as Jozabed (Spanish pronunciation: [xoθaˈβeð]), is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder.
Born in Mairena del Alcor, Province of Seville, Jozabed finished his youth career with Sevilla FC, and made his senior debut in 2010–11 with the C team. He was promoted to the reserves in the summer of 2012.
On 1 February 2013, Jozabed terminated his contract with the Andalusians and joined SD Ponferradina.[2][3] He appeared in his first game as a professional eight days later, playing the last 30 minutes in a 3–0 away defeat against Villarreal CF in the Segunda División.[4]
Jozabed returned to his native region on 9 July 2013, signing with Real Jaén also in the second tier.[5] He made his official debut on 18 August, scoring in a 1–2 home loss to SD Eibar.[6]
On 20 June 2014, after Jaén's relegation, Jozabed moved to La Liga with Rayo Vallecano after agreeing to a three-year deal.[7] He made his debut in the competition on 4 October, coming on as a late substitute in a 0–2 home loss against FC Barcelona.[8]
Jozabed scored his first goal in the Spanish top flight on 4 January 2015, his team's first in a 2–1 win at RCD Espanyol.[9]
On 12 August 2016, Jozabed moved abroad for the first time in his career, on a three-year contract with Championship club Fulham for an undisclosed fee.[10] His first match took place four days later, when he replaced Floyd Ayité in a 1–1 draw away to Leeds United.[11]
On 13 January 2017, Jozabed was loaned to RC Celta de Vigo of the Spanish top division until June.[12] On 4 July, he signed a permanent four-year deal.[13]
On 26 August 2019, after being deemed surplus to requirements by Fran Escribá,[14] Jozabed was loaned to second-tier Girona FC for one year.[15] On 16 September of the following year, he renewed his contract until 2022 and was immediately loaned out to second division side Málaga CF for the season.[16]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sevilla B | 2011–12 | Segunda División B | 35 | 7 | — | — | — | 35 | 7 | |||
| 2012–13 | 21 | 5 | — | — | — | 21 | 5 | |||||
| Total | 56 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 12 | ||
| Ponferradina | 2012–13 | Segunda División | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| Jaén | 2013–14 | Segunda División | 36 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 39 | 5 | ||
| Rayo Vallecano | 2014–15 | La Liga | 23 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 25 | 2 | ||
| 2015–16 | 27 | 10 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 10 | ||||
| Total | 50 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 12 | ||
| Fulham | 2016–17 | Championship | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |
| Celta | 2016–17 | La Liga | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 8[a] | 0 | 28 | 2 | |
| 2017–18 | 24 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 0 | ||||
| 2018–19 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 63 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 76 | 2 | ||
| Girona (loan) | 2019–20 | Segunda División | 12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||
| Málaga (loan) | 2020–21 | Segunda División | 29 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 256 | 32 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 281 | 33 | ||
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