# Israel Puerto

Israel Puerto Pineda (born 15 June 1993) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Liga I club Gloria Buzău.

## Club career

Born in El Viso del Alcor, Province of Seville, Andalusia, Puerto joined Sevilla FC's youth system at the age of 12. Four years later, he almost quit football due to a cardiovascular disease from which he eventually recovered fully.
Puerto spent his first seasons as a senior with the reserve team, competing in the Segunda División B. On 10 March 2013, he scored a brace against Arroyo CP in a 3–0 home win, and, on 28 April, he made his official debut with the main squad, coming on as an 87th-minute substitute for José Antonio Reyes in the 1–1 La Liga draw at Real Valladolid.
On 2 July 2014, Puerto moved to another reserve side, Villarreal CF B also of the third division. He made his debut with the first team on 4 December, starting a 2–1 away victory over Cádiz CF in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey.
On 4 March 2015, Puerto was transferred to Segunda División club CD Lugo, signing a 1+1⁄2-year deal as a replacement for injured Jon García. In his debut, three days later, he scored his first professional goal, netting his team's first in the 3–2 home win over FC Barcelona B.
Puerto then returned to the Spanish third tier, representing in quick succession Racing de Santander, CD Mirandés and Recreativo de Huelva. The 26-year-old moved abroad for the first time in June 2019, signing with Śląsk Wrocław of the Polish Ekstraklasa. He scored his first top-flight goal on 28 June 2020, equalising an eventual 2–2 home draw with Lech Poznań.
Puerto continued competing abroad the following seasons, with Jagiellonia Białystok (Polish top division), Al-Jabalain FC (Saudi First Division League) and FC Gloria Buzău (Romanian Liga I).

## International career

Puerto won his only cap for the Spain under-21 team on 9 September 2014, playing 54 minutes in the 1–1 home draw against Austria for the 2015 UEFA European Championship qualifiers held in Puertollano.

## Career statistics

    As of 17 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Sevilla B | 2010–11 | Segunda División B | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| Sevilla B | 2011–12 | Segunda División B | 22 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 22 | 0 |
| Sevilla B | 2012–13 | Segunda División B | 33 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 3 |
| Sevilla B | 2013–14 | Segunda División B | 32 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 32 | 0 |
| Sevilla B | Total | Total | 93 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 93 | 3 |
| Sevilla | 2012–13 | La Liga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Sevilla | 2013–14 | La Liga | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Sevilla | Total | Total | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Villarreal B | 2014–15 | Segunda División B | 25 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 3 |
| Villarreal | 2014–15 | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Lugo | 2014–15 | Segunda División | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 1 |
| Lugo | 2015–16 | Segunda División | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 0 |
| Lugo | Total | Total | 31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 1 |
| Racing Santander | 2016–17 | Segunda División B | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
| Mirandés | 2017–18 | Segunda División B | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Recreativo | 2018–19 | Segunda División B | 36 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 39 | 4 |
| Śląsk Wrocław | 2019–20 | Ekstraklasa | 32 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 2 |
| Śląsk Wrocław | 2020–21 | Ekstraklasa | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 1 |
| Śląsk Wrocław | Total | Total | 49 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 49 | 3 |
| Śląsk Wrocław II | 2019–20 | III liga | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Jagiellonia | 2021–22 | Ekstraklasa | 19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 3 |
| Jagiellonia | 2022–23 | Ekstraklasa | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 0 |
| Jagiellonia | Total | Total | 45 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 48 | 3 |
| Al-Jabalain | 2023–24 | Saudi First Division League | 26 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 5 |
| Gloria Buzău | 2024–25 | Liga I | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 359 | 23 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 377 | 23 |
* ↑ Includes Copa del Rey, Polish Cup, King's Cup
* ↑ Appearance in UEFA Europa League
* 1 2 3 Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs

## Honours

Sevilla
* UEFA Europa League: 2013–14
Śląsk Wrocław II
* III liga (Group III): 2019–20
Spain U17
* UEFA European Under-17 Championship runner-up: 2010