Spanish Soccer Player Jesús de Miguel Dies After In-Game Collision

Jesús de Miguel, widely recognized across Spain, was affectionately nicknamed ‘Demi’ by his teammates. His death was confirmed Tuesday, following a critical injury sustained from a collision during a match.

Early Career and Achievements

De Miguel’s journey in professional soccer mirrors many athletes’ paths. He endeavored to build a career by moving through clubs in Spain’s lower divisions. Born in Madrid in 1996, he started with Leganés’ reserve team in 2015. Over the years, he played for multiple clubs around Madrid.

His most notable season occurred when he joined Castellón in 2023, scoring 16 goals that contributed to the club’s promotion to the second division. In 2025, he moved to Tenerife in the Canary Islands. His initial performance there was impressive, with six goals in five matches, ultimately finishing with 11 goals and aiding another promotion.

The Tragic Event

De Miguel was known for his traditional striker abilities. At 6-foot-2 and left-footed, his specialty was competing for aerial balls. On Monday, while sprinting during stoppage time, he pursued a long pass in a match against FC Andorra. He was unexpectedly collided with by Andorra’s goalkeeper, which led to his collapse. De Miguel suffered cardiac arrest on the field and passed away in the hospital the following morning.

Tributes and Investigation

A tribute from Tenerife president Felipe Miñambres highlighted De Miguel’s legacy, stating, ‘We need to give Demi the tribute he deserves.’ His body will be taken to Navahermosa in Toledo as per his family’s wishes, with teammates and club officials attending the farewell.

An investigation by Spanish police has begun to determine if there may have been negligence causing involuntary manslaughter. Judicial supervision is in place, adhering to Spanish law requiring probes into non-natural cause deaths. Chief prosecutor José Luis Sánchez-Jáuregui indicated that criminal actions appear improbable since the collision happened during active play.

De Miguel leaves behind his daughter and her mother, with condolences and memories shared by friends like former teammate Fernando Román, who noted De Miguel’s character as ‘humble, hard-working’ and ‘a good person above all.’