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Jesús de Miguel, Tenerife striker, dies aged 30

Team-mates called him Demi. His goals won promotion at four clubs, the last of them Tenerife, where he wore the number 9.

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Tribute card for Jesús de Miguel: his name, the years 1996–2026 and a large outlined number 9 on black.

Jesús de Miguel, the CD Tenerife striker, died at 08:00 on Tuesday 3 November 2026, the club announced. He was 30.

He had been in hospital since he was injured late in Monday's second-division match against FC Andorra, ESPN reported. "Broken with grief, with a lump in our throats and unable to believe this is true," Tenerife wrote (translated from Spanish).

Jesús de Miguel: a career built on goals

Born in Madrid in September 1996, he came through the youth sides of Lugo Fuenlabrada and Leganés. For most of a decade he played in Spain's lower divisions, and promotion kept following him.

He helped Internacional de Madrid up to Segunda B in 2017–18. His 11 goals took Navalcarnero up in 2019–20. At Castellón, his 16 goals in 2023–24 made him his group's top scorer and won the club promotion to the second division, where he made his professional debut at 27.

Tribute card with the word Demi., his nickname, above the name Jesús de Miguel and the years 1996–2026.

Six goals in his first five games at Tenerife

He signed a three-year contract with Tenerife in July 2025. Six goals in his first five official matches made him the most prolific debutant in the club's 103-year history. His 11 goals that season helped take Tenerife back to the second division.

Reports from every club he played for describe the same player: left-footed, 1.90 metres tall, the focal point of the attack, and a striker who worked for the team.

Tributes from across Spanish football

LaLiga president Javier Tebas said he was "deeply saddened". FC Andorra, Barcelona and his former club Castellón sent their condolences. "You will always be one of us, Demi. Rest in peace," Castellón wrote.

The Spanish federation postponed Tuesday's Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina matches "as a mark of respect and solidarity". It also cancelled the presentation of Spain's under-21 match against Japan.

Tenerife will pay tribute to him at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López on Saturday 7 November at 18:00 (local time).

At Tenerife he wore the number 9, and the club's supporters took to him from his first weeks on the island.

JDM - Eterno 9