# Nico González (footballer, born 2002)

Nicolás González Iglesias (born 3 January 2002), sometimes known mononymously as Nico, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Manchester City.

## Club career
### Barcelona

Nico was born in A Coruña, Galicia, and started his career with local side Montañeros at the age of seven. In December 2012, he agreed to a move to Barcelona, effective as of the following July.
On 19 May 2019, aged just 17, Nico made his senior debut for the reserves, coming on as a late substitute for Kike Saverio in a 2–1 Segunda División B away loss against Castellón. In the 2020–21 season, he was initially a member of the Juvenil A before starting to feature regularly for the B-team from November 2020 onwards.
On 12 May 2021, Nico renewed his contract until 2024, with a €500 million buyout clause. After featuring in the main squad during the pre-season, he made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 15 August, replacing Sergio Busquets in the opening game of the 2021–22 La Liga season, a 4–2 win over Real Sociedad.
Nico scored his first professional goal on 12 December 2021, netting the opener in a 2–2 away draw against Osasuna.

#### Loan to Valencia

On 13 August 2022, Nico renewed his contract until 2026, and later signed with Valencia on a season-long loan.

### Porto

On 29 July 2023, Nico signed a five-year contract with Primeira Liga club Porto, for a reported fee of €8.5 million, with Barcelona having a buy-back clause.
He made his debut for the Portuguese side on 14 August, coming off the bench to replace Romário Baró in the 70th minute of a 2–1 win away at Moreirense in the Primeira Liga. One week later, Nico made his first start for Porto, in a 2–1 home win over Farense.

### Manchester City

On 3 February 2025, in the final hour of the winter transfer window, Premier League club Manchester City announced the signing of Nico on a four-and-a-half-year deal for a reported fee of £50m.
On 8 February 2025, he made his City debut in a 2–1 away victory over League One side Leyton Orient in the fourth round of the FA Cup, before being substituted with an injury 22 minutes into the first-half. On 19 February, Nico scored his first goal for the club and in the UEFA Champions League, getting on the scoresheet in a 1–3 loss to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, as City got knocked out of the tournament.

## Personal life

He is the son of former Spanish footballer and Deportivo La Coruña legend Fran González and the nephew of José Ramón.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 15 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Europe | Europe | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Barcelona B | 2018–19 | Segunda División B | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Barcelona B | 2019–20 | Segunda División B | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Barcelona B | 2020–21 | Segunda División B | 23 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Barcelona B | 2021–22 | Primera División RFEF | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Barcelona B | Total | Total | 26 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Barcelona | 2021–22 | La Liga | 27 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 2 |
| Valencia (loan) | 2022–23 | La Liga | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 26 | 1 |
| Porto | 2023–24 | Primeira Liga | 25 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 2 |
| Porto | 2024–25 | Primeira Liga | 17 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 7 |
| Porto | Total | Total | 42 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 68 | 9 |
| Manchester City | 2024–25 | Premier League | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 126 | 10 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 166 | 13 |
* ↑ Includes Copa del Rey, Taça de Portugal, FA Cup
* ↑ Includes Taça da Liga
* ↑ Appearance in Segunda División B play-offs
* ↑ Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, three appearances in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Appearance in Supercopa de España
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira

## Honours

Porto
* Taça de Portugal: 2023–24
* Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2024