Aimar Govea
{{short description|Ecuadorian footballer (born 2006)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{family name hatnote|Govea|Merlín|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Aimar Govea
| full_name = David Aimar Govea Merlín
| image =
| caption =
| height =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2006|6|8|df=y}}{{soccerway|aimar-govea/885657|accessdate=3 April 2024}}
| birth_place = Madrid, Spain{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/tonights-swansea-city-transfer-news-28839316|title=Youngster rejects Arsenal, and Newcastle United to sign Swansea City deal|first=Tom|last=Coleman|date=18 March 2024|website=Wales Online}}
| position = Winger
| currentclub = Swansea City
| clubnumber = 37
| youthyears1 = 2018–
| youthclubs1 = Swansea City
| years1 = 2024–
| clubs1 = Swansea City
| caps1 = 5
| goals1 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2022–
| nationalteam1 = Ecuador U17
| nationalcaps1 = 7
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 11:54, 13 April 2024 (UTC)
}}
David Aimar Govea Merlín (born 8 June 2006) is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a winger for {{English football updater|SwanseaC}} club Swansea City.
Career
Born in Spain, Govea moved to Swansea in 2018 when elder brother Jordi joined the club, Aimar joining the academy at under-13s level upon recommendation from his brother.{{cite web|url=https://www.swanseacity.com/news/aimar-govea-i-wouldnt-be-here-without-sacrifices-my-family-have-made|title=AIMAR GOVEA {{!}} I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THE SACRIFICES MY FAMILY HAVE MADE|website=www.swanseacity.com|date=19 March 2024|accessdate=3 April 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c7200e2l2j1o|title=Teenager Govea has 'chance to be really good'|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2 April 2024|accessdate=3 April 2024}} In July 2022, he signed an academy scholarship with the club having progressed through the youth development phase.{{cite web|url=https://www.swanseacity.com/news/swansea-city-academy-confirm-new-scholars-and-short-term-pro-deals|title=SWANSEA CITY ACADEMY CONFIRM NEW SCHOLARS AND SHORT-TERM PRO DEALS|website=www.swanseacity.com|date=1 July 2022|accessdate=3 April 2024}}
In March 2024, Govea signed a first professional contract with Swansea City.{{cite web|url=https://www.swanseacity.com/news/aimar-govea-signs-first-professional-contract-swansea-city|title=AIMAR GOVEA SIGNS FIRST PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT AT SWANSEA CITY|website=www.swanseacity.com|date=18 March 2024|accessdate=3 April 2024}} Prior to signing the contract, he had been subject to reported interest from Premier League clubs Arsenal and Newcastle United.{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/tonights-swansea-city-transfer-news-28839316|title=Tonight's Swansea City transfer news as youngster rejects Arsenal and Newcastle United to sign deal|publisher=Wales Online|last=Coleman|first=Tom|date=18 March 2024|accessdate=3 April 2024}} On 29 March 2024, he made his senior debut, replacing Jamie Paterson in a 1–1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68633434|title=Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 Swansea City|publisher=BBC Sport|date=29 March 2024|accessdate=3 April 2024}}
International career
In December 2022, having already made his debut for the Ecuador U17 side, Govea was selected for a training camp with the Spain U17 squad, whom he was eligible to represent as they were the country of his birth.{{cite web|url=https://www.swanseacity.com/news/swansea-citys-aimar-govea-called-spain-under-17s-training-squad|title=SWANSEA CITY'S AIMAR GOVEA CALLED UP TO SPAIN UNDER-17S TRAINING SQUAD|website=www.swanseacity.com|date=6 December 2022|accessdate=3 March 2024}}
In March 2023, Govea was once again selected for the Ecuador U17 squad for the upcoming 2023 South American U-17 Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.swanseacity.com/news/aimar-govea-represent-ecuador-2023-under-17-south-american-championship|title=AIMAR GOVEA TO REPRESENT ECUADOR AT 2023 UNDER-17 SOUTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP|website=www.swanseacity.com|date=2 March 2023|accessdate=3 April 2024}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 1 April 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Swansea City
|2023–24{{soccerbase season|191188|2023|accessdate=3 April 2024}} |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
Personal life
Govea is the younger brother of fellow footballer Jordi Govea who plays for Bulgarian club Beroe.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Swansea City A.F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Govea, Aimar}}
Category:Footballers from Madrid
Category:Ecuadorian men's footballers
Category:21st-century Ecuadorian sportsmen
Category:Ecuador men's youth international footballers
Category:Spanish men's footballers
Category:Spanish people of Ecuadorian descent
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:Swansea City A.F.C. players
Category:Ecuadorian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Wales
Category:Ecuadorian expatriate sportspeople in Wales