# Nelson Quiñónes

Nelson Giovany Quiñónes Iturre (born 20 August 2002) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Houston Dynamo.

## Career
### Once Caldas

Quiñónes came through the youth ranks of Once Caldas. On 24 July 2021, he made his first-team debut as an 18-year-old, coming off the bench in a 1–1 draw against Jaguares de Córdoba. Quiñónes scored his first goal for Once Caldas on 6 November, also picking up an assist in the match to give El Blanco a 2–1 win over Envigado. He finished the season with 11 appearances, 1 goal, and 1 assist as Once Caldas finished 17th in the Torneo Finalización table.
During the 2022 Torneo Apertura, Quiñónes made 15 appearances as Once Caldas finished 12th in the first stage standings. He also made 2 appearances in the Copa Colombia and 3 in the 2022 Torneo Finalización prior to going out on loan.

### Houston Dynamo

On 27 July 2022, Quiñónes signed with Major League Soccer side Houston Dynamo on a year long loan with an option to make the deal permanent. He made his Dynamo debut on 27 August, coming on as a sub in a 2–1 loss to Minnesota United. Quiñónes ended the season with 8 appearances for the Dynamo, coming off the bench in each of Houston's final 8 games. The Dynamo finished 13th in the Western Conference, failing to qualify for the playoffs.
On 6 June 2023 Quiñónes scored his first goal for Houston to help the Dynamo to a 4–1 victory over the Chicago Fire in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals. Four days late he scored his first career MLS goal in a 4–0 win against Los Angeles FC. On 13 July Houston exercised their option to make his stay at the club permanent. The official fee was undisclosed but was reportedly $1,250,000, with Once Caldas maintaining a 25% sell-on clause. He was named to his first ever MLS Team of the Matchday following a 2 goal and 1 assist performance in a 5–1 win over the Colorado Rapids on 7 October. Quiñónes finished the regular season with 4 goals and 2 assists in 28 regular season appearance, helping the Dynamo finish 4th in the West to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in 6 years. He had 1 assist in 5 playoff games to help Houston reach the Conference Finals, where they fell 2–0 to LAFC. The highlight of the season was winning the 2023 Open Cup, with Quiñónes drawing a foul in the box to set up the decisive penalty, which was converted by Amine Bassi, in a 2–1 win over Inter Miami in the final. Following the season he was named Dynamo Young Player of the Year.
In February 2024 Quiñónes suffered a knee injury why playing with the Colombia U23 team that forced him to miss the entire 2024 season.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 29 February 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League Cup | League Cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Once Caldas | 2021 | Primera A | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 1 |
| Once Caldas | 2022 | Primera A | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 0 |
| Once Caldas | Total | Total | 29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 1 |
| Houston Dynamo (loan) | 2022 | Major League Soccer | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| Houston Dynamo | 2023 | Major League Soccer | 28 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 41 | 5 |
| Houston Dynamo | 2024 | Major League Soccer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Houston Dynamo | Total | Total | 36 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 5 |
| Houston Dynamo 2 | 2023 | MLS Next Pro | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 66 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 81 | 6 |
* ↑ Includes Copa Colombia and U.S. Open Cup
* ↑ Includes MLS Cup Playoffs
* ↑ Made total 20 appearances and scored 2 goals while on loan with Houston during season
* ↑ Appearances in Leagues Cup

## Honors

Houston Dynamo
* U.S. Open Cup: 2023
Individual
* Dynamo Young Player of the Year: 2023