Full name Jaime Mata Arnaiz 2000–2007 Galactico Pegaso Weight 79 kg Place of birth Madrid, Spain Name Jaime Mata | Number 9 Role Footballer Current team Girona FC 1998–2000 Tres Cantos Height 1.85 m | |
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Date of birth (1988-10-24) 24 October 1988 (age 27) | ||
La inspiradora historia de Jaime Mata: de lo más bajo a la selección española
Jaime Mata Arnaiz (born 24 October 1988) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Real Valladolid as a striker.
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Club career
Born in Madrid, Mata finished his formation with local Galáctico Pegaso, making his senior debuts with the reserves in 2007. After appearing with the main squad in Tercera División, he moved to neighbouring Rayo Vallecano in December 2009, being immediately loaned to UD Socuéllamos in the same level.
Mata was subsequently loaned to fellow league team CD Móstoles in August 2010, in a season-long deal. He returned to Rayo in the 2011 summer, being assigned to the B-team in Segunda División B.
On 5 July 2012, Mata signed for Lleida Esportiu also in the third division. After scoring 32 goals in two seasons combined, he moved to Segunda División after agreeing to a two-year deal with Girona FC.
Mata played his first match as a professional on 24 August 2014, starting in a 1–0 home win against Racing de Santander. He scored his first goal in the category six days later, netting the winner in a 2–1 success at AD Alcorcón.
On 11 June 2015, in the first leg of the promotion playoffs' semi-finals, Mata scored a brace in a 3–0 away win over Real Zaragoza. On 30 June 2016, after again being knocked out in the playoffs, he signed a two-year contract with Real Valladolid also in the second level.