Julio Enciso (footballer, born 2004)

Julio Enciso (footballer, born 2004)
Julio César Enciso Espínola (born 23 January 2004) is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Brighton & Hove Albion and the Paraguay national team.
Club career
Early career
Enciso started playing football at his local club, at Caaguazú, Paraguay. At twelve years old he was recruited by Club Libertad. Enciso made his senior debut for Club Libertad on 17 March 2019, aged 15, in a 4–0 home victory against Deportivo Santaní. He became the youngest player to debut with Libertad.
Brighton & Hove Albion
On 17 June 2022, Enciso transferred to Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion for a transfer fee of £9.5 million plus future add-on fees, signing an initial four-year contract. He made his Brighton debut on 24 August, playing 80 minutes of the 3–0 away win over League One side Forest Green Rovers in the EFL Cup second round, where he claimed assist to Steven Alzate's long range goal.
Enciso made his Premier League debut on 29 October, coming on as a 65th minute substitute for Adam Lallana in Brighton’s 4–1 home win over Chelsea. He scored his first goal for the club on 4 April 2023, in a 2–0 away win at Bournemouth. Nearly two weeks later, he scored in a 1–2 away win over Chelsea, helping the Albion secure a victory at Stamford Bridge for the first time in their history.
Enciso started in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on 23 April, playing 67 minutes as Brighton eventually lost on penalties to Manchester United.
Three days later, the 19–year–old made his first Premier League start for the Albion, in the 3–1 away loss at Nottingham Forest. Three days after that on 29 April, he made two assists in Brighton's 6–0 home thrashing over Wolves, Brighton's biggest Premier League victory.
On 14 May, Enciso opened the scoreline with a header from a Pervis Estupiñán cross in an eventual 3–0 away win at Arsenal. He scored his first goal at Falmer Stadium on 24 May, scoring a stunning 25-yard equaliser against Manchester City, with Brighton sealing a place in the 2023–24 UEFA Europa League. The goal was chosen as BBC Goal of the Season for 2022–23 and later chosen as Premier League Goal of the Season, beating out the likes of Brentford's Ivan Toney and Newcastle's Miguel Almirón in a vote decided by a panel of experts as well as the public's opinion. Enciso also went on win the Goal of the Season at Brighton's end of season awards.
On 19 August 2023, Enciso notably set up both of Solly March's goals in a 4–1 away win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Brighton's second match of the 2023–24 season. However, the following week, the striker suffered a knee issue and was subsequently ruled out for "a long period", according to manager Roberto De Zerbi.
International career
Enciso is a Paraguayan youth international, having played with the Paraguay U15 side at the 2019 South American U-15 Championship. He first represented the senior Paraguay national team in a 3–1 2021 Copa América win over Bolivia on 14 June 2021.
Career statistics
Club
International
Honours
Club Libertad
División Profesional: 2021 Apertura, 2022 Apertura
Copa Paraguay: 2019
Individual
BBC Goal of the Season: 2022–23
Premier League Goal of the Season: 2022–23
Brighton & Hove Albion Goal of the Season: 2022–23
References
External links
2004 births
Living people
People from Caaguazú Department
Paraguayan men's footballers
Men's association football forwards
Club Libertad footballers
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players
Paraguayan Primera División players
Premier League players
Paraguay men's youth international footballers
Paraguay men's international footballers
Paraguayan expatriate men's footballers
Paraguayan expatriate sportspeople in England
Expatriate men's footballers in England