Full name Damia Abella Perez 1998–2000 Ferran Martorell Weight 79 kg Number 2 Height 1.88 m | Role Footballer Place of birth Olot, Spain Name Damia Abella Career start 2003 | |
 | ||
Date of birth (1982-04-15) 15 April 1982 (age 33) Current team Middlesbrough F.C. (#2 / Defender) | ||
Playing position | ||
Damià Abella Pérez (born 15 April 1982), known simply as Damià, is a Spanish retired professional footballer who played as a full back.
Contents
- Polemica expulsion de damia abella
- Early career
- 200406 Barcelona and breakthrough
- 200607 Signing and early days
- 200810 Final years and departure
- Osasuna
- 201416 Signing with Boro and promotion
- 2016 Lack of matches departure and retirement
- Honours
- References
After starting out at Barcelona, he went on to amass La Liga totals of 198 games and five goals over the course of nine seasons, also representing in the competition Racing de Santander, Betis and Osasuna.
Polemica expulsion de damia abella
Early career
Born in Olot, Girona, Catalonia, Damià's first professional club was local UE Figueres, for whom he played during the 2003–04 season, in Segunda División B. He was subsequently acquired by national giants FC Barcelona, being incorporated to its B-side.
2004–06: Barcelona and breakthrough
Due to many injuries to the main squad, Damià made his La Liga debut for Barça's first team against Athletic Bilbao on 30 October 2004, playing 90 minutes in a 1–1 away draw as right back. However, he could never break into the main squad, finishing the campaign with nine top flight appearances while continuing to appear for the reserves.
In January 2006, Damià joined Racing de Santander on a one 1/2-year loan deal. He mainly operated at the position he knew from Barcelona B, right midfielder, and scored his first top level goal on 12 February in a 2–0 success at RCD Espanyol, eventually helping the Cantabrians narrowly avoid top level relegation (15 starts, 1,371 minutes of play).
2006–07: Signing and early days
During the summer of 2006, Real Betis signed Damià on a five-year contract for €1 million. Although Racing had agreed with Barcelona that the player would stay with them for the duration of the loan arrangement, they decided not to block the move. However, a serious hip injury, contracted while still with Racing, meant that he would be unregistered for the entire length of 2006–07; he made his competitive debut on 30 September 2007, playing as right back in a 3–0 win over RCD Mallorca after having successfully undergone surgery in the United States.
2008–10: Final years and departure
Damià netted his first goals for the Andalusians in 2008–09, in consecutive matches early into the campaign (1–2 loss at Villarreal CF, 3–0 home win against Mallorca), but Betis suffered relegation after nine years.
Osasuna
In late July 2010, after the club's unsuccessful attempt in regaining its top division status, the player signed with CA Osasuna, going on to compete in several seasons in that tier exclusively as a defender.
2014–16: Signing with Boro and promotion
On 16 August 2014, Damià joined Middlesbrough of the Football League Championship on a free transfer, signed by countryman Aitor Karanka. He received international clearance just hours before his debut against Leeds United at Elland Road, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–1 defeat.
2016: Lack of matches, departure and retirement
Damià left the Riverside Stadium in May 2016, upon the expiration of his contract. He appeared in only seven competitive games during his spell, and decided to retire at 34 soon afterwards.