Sergi Samper
{{short description|Spanish footballer (born 1995)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{family name hatnote|Samper|Montaña|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Sergi Samper
| image = 2012 2013 - Sergi Samper - Flickr - Castroquini-FCB (cropped).jpg
| caption = Samper with Barcelona Juvenil in 2012
| full_name = Sergi Samper Montaña{{cite web|url=http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpActa1?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=28155|title=Acta del partido celebrado el 29 de agosto de 2015, en Sabadell|trans-title=Minutes of the match held on 29 August 2015, in Sabadell|publisher=Royal Spanish Football Federation|language=es|date=29 August 2015|access-date=13 June 2019}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|1|20|df=y}}{{cite news|url=https://en.as.com/resultados/ficha/deportista/sergi_samper/22281/|title=Sergi Samper|newspaper=Diario AS|access-date=19 February 2022}}
| birth_place = Barcelona, Spain
| position = Defensive midfielder
| currentclub = Motor Lublin
| clubnumber = 6
| youthyears1 = 2001–2013 | youthclubs1 = Barcelona
| years1 = 2013–2016 | clubs1 = Barcelona B | caps1 = 103 | goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2014–2019 | clubs2 = Barcelona | caps2 = 1 | goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2016–2017 | clubs3 = → Granada (loan) | caps3 = 22 | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2017–2018 | clubs4 = → Las Palmas (loan) | caps4 = 2 | goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2019–2023 | clubs5 = Vissel Kobe | caps5 = 88 | goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2023–2024 | clubs6 = Andorra | caps6 = 19 | goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2024– | clubs7 = Motor Lublin | caps7 = 25 | goals7 = 0
| totalcaps = | totalgoals =
| nationalyears1 = 2011 | nationalteam1 = Spain U16 | nationalcaps1 = 6 | nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2011–2012 | nationalteam2 = Spain U17 | nationalcaps2 = 8 | nationalgoals2 = 2
| nationalyears3 = 2013 | nationalteam3 = Spain U18 | nationalcaps3 = 2 | nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2013–2014 | nationalteam4 = Spain U19 | nationalcaps4 = 4 | nationalgoals4 = 1
| nationalyears5 = 2014–2016 | nationalteam5 = Spain U21 | nationalcaps5 = 3 | nationalgoals5 = 0
| nationalyears6 = 2015–2018 | nationalteam6 = Catalonia | nationalcaps6 = 2 | nationalgoals6 = 0
| club-update = 11:44, 27 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Sergi Samper Montaña (born 20 January 1995) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Ekstraklasa club Motor Lublin.
Formed at Barcelona from the age of six, he featured mainly for the reserve team and made 13 first-team appearances, of which only one in La Liga, where he played 22 further games for Granada and Las Palmas while on loan. In 2019, he moved to Japanese club Vissel Kobe, totalling 107 matches and winning the Emperor's Cup in his first year. He also played for Andorra in the Segunda División, and Motor Lublin in the Polish Ekstraklasa.
Club career
=Barcelona=
Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Samper joined FC Barcelona's youth setup in 2001 at age 6, after a successful trial.{{cite news|url=http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20111201/fc-barcelona/samper-el-pirlo-de-la-cantera_54238716855.html|title=Samper: el Pirlo de la cantera|trans-title=Samper: the youth system's Pirlo|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Oriol|last=Domènech|language=es|date=9 May 2013|access-date=19 August 2013}} On 9 May 2013, he signed a four-year professional contract.{{cite news|url=http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20130509/mundo-barsa/sergi-samper-fc-barcelona-cuatro-temporadas_54373944401.html|title=El Barça apuesta por Sergi Samper, que renueva por cuatro temporadas|trans-title=Barça bet on Sergi Samper, who renews for four seasons|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Oriol|last=Domènech|language=es|date=9 May 2013|access-date=19 August 2013}}
On 10 June 2013, Samper was promoted to the reserves who competed in the Segunda División.{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.es/futbol/barca-b/detalle/noticia/siete-juveniles-suben-al-barca-b-para-la-temporada-2013-14|title=Siete juveniles suben al Barça B para la temporada 2013/14|trans-title=Seven youth players promoted to Barça B for the 2013/14 season|publisher=FC Barcelona|language=es|date=10 June 2013|access-date=19 August 2013}} He made his professional debut on 17 August in a 2–1 away defeat against CD Mirandés,{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2013/08/17/futbol/equipos/mirandes/1376767969.html|title=Prieto sostiene al Mirandés|trans-title=Prieto sustains Mirandés|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=17 August 2013|access-date=19 August 2013}} appearing in a further 39 matches during the season to help to a third-place finish.{{cite news|url=https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/sergi-samper-llega-100-partidos-barca-tres-temporadas-5002222|title=Sergi Samper llega a los 100 partidos con el Barça B en solo tres temporadas|trans-title=Sergi Samper reaches 100 games with Barça B in only three seasons|newspaper=Sport|language=es|date=24 March 2016|access-date=10 September 2024}}
Samper made his first-team debut on 17 September 2014, starting in a 1–0 home victory over APOEL FC in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League;{{cite web|url=http://www.insidespanishfootball.com/125495/samper-making-my-debut-in-this-competition-is-priceless/|title=Samper: Making my debut in this competition is priceless|publisher=Inside Spanish Football|first=Jamie|last=Kemp|date=17 September 2014|access-date=17 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921082603/http://www.insidespanishfootball.com/125495/samper-making-my-debut-in-this-competition-is-priceless/|archive-date=21 September 2014}} this made him the first player to rise through all of the ranks from the age of six.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11833/10506874/munir-el-haddadi-and-sergi-samper-sign-new-three-year-deals-at-barcelona|title=Munir El Haddadi and Sergi Samper sign new three-year deals at Barcelona|publisher=Sky Sports|date=20 July 2016|access-date=1 June 2022}} His first match in La Liga took place the following 12 March, when he came on as a 59th-minute substitute for Andrés Iniesta in the 6–0 home rout of Getafe CF.{{cite news|url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/sergi-samper-debuta-liga-con-barcelona-4971048|title=Sergi Samper debuta en Liga con el Barcelona|trans-title=Sergi Samper makes League debut with Barcelona|newspaper=Sport|first=Josep|last=Capdevila|language=es|date=12 March 2016|access-date=12 March 2016}}
In July 2016, Samper extended his contract until 2019 with a one-year further option and a buyout clause of €50 million, and in the following month he joined Granada CF on a season-long loan.{{cite web|url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/news/2016-2017/agreement-with-granada-for-the-loan-of-sergi-samper|title=Agreement with Granada for loan of Sergi Samper|publisher=FC Barcelona|date=26 August 2016|access-date=26 August 2016}} After the Andalusians relegation, he was not issued a squad number in August 2017 by Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde{{cite web|url=https://www.lasexta.com/noticias/deportes/futbol/el-barcelona-deja-sin-dorsal-a-sergi-samper_201708145991faf90cf2e2ea354c299d.html|title=El Barcelona deja sin dorsal a Sergi Samper, canterano que llevaba en el club desde los seis años|trans-title=Barcelona leave Sergi Samper, academy player at the club since the age of six, without a squad number|publisher=LaSexta|language=es|date=14 August 2017|access-date=1 June 2022}} and was sent to UD Las Palmas on another temporary deal.{{cite web|url=http://www.udlaspalmas.es/noticias/noticia/las-palmas-y-barcelona-acuerdan-la-cesion-del-centrocampista-samper|title=Las Palmas y Barcelona acuerdan la cesión del centrocampista Samper|trans-title=Las Palmas and Barcelona agree on loan of midfielder Samper|publisher=UD Las Palmas|language=es|date=24 August 2017|access-date=24 August 2017}} The spell was cut short in January 2019 after a fibula fracture and left-ankle internal ligament break.{{cite web|url=https://www.udlaspalmas.es/noticias/noticia/la-ud-las-palmas-el-fc-barcelona-y-sergi-samper-acuerdan-la-finalizacion-de-la-cesion|title=La UD Las Palmas, el FC Barcelona y Sergi Samper acuerdan la finalización de la cesión|trans-title=UD Las Palmas, FC Barcelona and Sergi Samper agree to end loan|publisher=UD Las Palmas|language=es|date=31 January 2018|access-date=1 February 2018}}
=Vissel Kobe=
On 4 March 2019, Samper terminated his contract with Barcelona and left the Camp Nou after 18 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/1086803/agreement-for-the-cancellation-of-sergi-sampers-contract|title=Agreement for the cancellation of Sergi Samper's contract|publisher=FC Barcelona|date=4 March 2019|access-date=4 March 2019}} Three days later, he joined J1 League club Vissel Kobe on a four-year deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.vissel-kobe.co.jp/news/article/15898.html|title=FCバルセロナ(スペイン)よりMFセルジ サンペール選手 完全移籍加入のお知らせ|trans-title=FC Barcelona (Spain) announce transfer completion of midfielder Sergi Samper|publisher=Vissel Kobe|language=ja|date=7 March 2019|access-date=8 March 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/barcelona/2019/03/02/5c7ae0e022601da25a8b45dc.html|title=Sergi Samper leaves Barcelona for Vissel Kobe|newspaper=Marca|date=2 March 2019|access-date=1 June 2022}}
Playing alongside former Barcelona players Iniesta and David Villa, Samper won the Emperor's Cup in his first year in Japan, but was absent from the final win over Kashima Antlers.{{cite web|url=https://www.notimerica.com/deportes/noticia-villa-termina-carrera-copa-emperador-vissel-kobe-20200101134316.html|title=Villa termina su carrera con la Copa Emperador del Vissel Kobe|trans-title=Villa ends his career with the Emperor's Cup for Vissel Kobe|publisher=Notimérica|language=es|date=1 January 2020|access-date=1 June 2022}} The following 8 February he started in the Super Cup, a penalty shootout defeat of Yokohama F. Marinos after a 3–3 draw.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/japanese-j1-league/story/4049174/andres-iniesta-lifts-japan-super-cup-after-nine-straight-pen-misses|title=Andres Iniesta lifts Japan Super Cup after nine straight pen misses|publisher=ESPN|first=John|last=Duerden|date=8 February 2020|access-date=8 February 2020}}
=Andorra=
Samper returned to the Spanish second division on 28 July 2023, after agreeing to a two-year contract with FC Andorra.{{cite web|url=https://www.fcandorra.com/noticies/sergi-samper-incorporacio-de-luxe-pel-centre-del-camp|title=Sergi Samper, incorporació de luxe pel centre del camp|trans-title=Sergi Samper, luxury signing for midfield|publisher=FC Andorra|language=ca|date=28 July 2023|access-date=28 July 2023}} As the campaign ended in relegation,{{cite web|url=https://cadenaser.com/galicia/2024/06/02/el-descendido-andorra-amarga-la-despedida-del-racing-radio-ferrol/|title=El descendido Andorra amarga la despedida del Racing|trans-title=Relegated Andorra bitter Racing farewell|publisher=Cadena SER|language=es|date=2 June 2024|access-date=10 September 2024}} he scored his only goal on 3 December to help the hosts beat SD Huesca 1–0 through a close-range header in the 90th minute.{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/segunda-division/cronica/2023/12/03/656c7f2e268e3e4b358b458e.html|title=Balón de oxígeno para un Andorra que remata al Huesca al final|trans-title=Oxygen balloon for an Andorra who finish Huesca in the end|newspaper=Marca|first=Gregorio|last=García|language=es|date=3 December 2023|access-date=10 September 2024}}
=Motor Lublin=
On 1 August 2024, Samper joined Polish Ekstraklasa club Motor Lublin on a one-year deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.motorlublin.eu/aktualnosci/samper2025|title=Sergi Samper nowym piłkarzem Motoru Lublin|trans-title=Sergi Samper is the new player of Motor Lublin|publisher=Motor Lublin|language=pl|date=1 August 2024|access-date=1 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://sport.tvp.pl/79594795/sergi-samper-pilkarzem-motoru-lublin-kiedys-gral-w-fc-barcelona|title=Oficjalnie: Sergi Samper piłkarzem Motoru Lublin|trans-title=Official: Sergi Samper is a Motor Lublin player|publisher=TVP Sport|language=pl|date=1 August 2024|access-date=2 September 2024}} He made his debut one month later, featuring 45 minutes of the 5–2 away loss against Legia Warsaw after replacing Mathieu Scalet.{{cite web|url=https://sport.tvp.pl/82074069/pewna-wygrana-legii-warszawa-z-motorem-lublin-bartosz-kapustka-z-dubletem-debiutancki-gol-nsame-wideo|title=Festiwal bramek w meczu Legii z Motorem. Kapustka z dubletem, debiutancki gol Nsame [WIDEO]|trans-title=Goal festival in match between Legia and Motor. Kapustka with brace, Nsame's debut goal [VIDEO]|publisher=TVP Sport|language=pl|date=1 September 2024|access-date=2 January 2025}}
International career
Samper won his first cap for the Spain under-21 team on 12 November 2014 at the age of 19, playing the entire 1–4 friendly home loss to Belgium.{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/deportes/2014/11/12/actualidad/1415832681_405514.html|title=Tsunami belga a la nueva ola española|trans-title=Belgian tsunami to the new Spanish wave|newspaper=El País|first=Juan Luis|last=Cudeiro|language=es|date=12 November 2014|access-date=13 July 2018}}
Personal life
Samper's older brother Jordi is a professional tennis player.{{cite news|url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/futbol-base/sergi-samper-guardiola-adaptado-los-tiempos-modernos-3331175|title=Sergi Samper: Un Guardiola adaptado a los tiempos modernos|trans-title=Sergi Samper: A Guardiola adapted to modern times|newspaper=Sport|first=David|last=Rubio|language=es|date=26 June 2014|access-date=26 June 2014}} He played the game himself, until choosing football at six.{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/en/2014/09/19/en/football/barcelona/1411113643.html|title=Ex-tennis hopeful makes a racket at Camp Nou|newspaper=Marca|first=Cristina|last=Navarro|date=19 September 2014|access-date=1 June 2022}}
Samper has type 1 diabetes, and befriended Borja Mayoral, who shares his condition, in the Spanish youth teams.{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/levante/2020/04/21/5e9eb82846163fae3d8b45e9.html|title=Borja Mayoral y Samper, sobre la diabetes: "En los primeros meses tuve miedo"|trans-title=Borja Mayoral and Samper, on diabetes: "In the first months I was scared"|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=21 April 2020|access-date=1 June 2022}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 24 May 2025}}{{Soccerway|sergi-samper-montana/214364}}{{ESPN FC|185223}}
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"|National cup{{efn|Includes Copa del Rey, Emperor's Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes J.League Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division
!Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals | |||||||||||
rowspan="4"|Barcelona B
|40 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 40 | 0 | ||||
2014–15
|Segunda División | 34 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 0 | |||
2015–16 | 29 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 0 | |||
colspan="2"|Total
!103 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 103 | 0 | ||||
rowspan="5"|Barcelona
|0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 0 | ||
2015–16
|La Liga |1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in FIFA Club World Cup}} | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
2016–17
|La Liga |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in Supercopa de España}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
2018–19
|La Liga |0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
colspan="2"|Total
!1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
Granada (loan)
|La Liga |22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 23 | 0 | |||
Las Palmas (loan)
|La Liga |2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 0 | |||
rowspan="6"|Vissel Kobe
|2019 |24 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 1 | ||
2020
|J1 League |26 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in Japanese Super Cup}} | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
2021
|J1 League |32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 37 | 0 | ||
2022
|J1 League |6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in AFC Champions League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 0 | |
2023
|J1 League |0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 0 | ||
colspan="2"|Total
!88 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 107 | 1 |
Andorra
|Segunda División |19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | ||
Motor Lublin
|25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 0 | |||
colspan="3"|Career total
!260 | 1 | 19 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 295 | 2 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Barcelona
- La Liga: 2015–16
- Copa del Rey: 2014–15, 2015–16
- Supercopa de España: 2016
- UEFA Champions League: 2014–15
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2015
Vissel Kobe
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/players/4970/sergi-samper FC Barcelona official profile]
- {{BDFutbol}}
- {{UEFA player}}
- {{J.League player}}
{{Motor Lublin squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Samper, Sergi}}
Category:21st-century Spanish sportsmen
Category:Spanish men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Barcelona
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Segunda División players
Category:Segunda División B players
Category:FC Barcelona Atlètic players
Category:Granada CF footballers
Category:UD Las Palmas players
Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players
Category:Spain men's youth international footballers
Category:Spain men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Catalonia men's international footballers
Category:Spanish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Japan
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Andorra
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Poland
Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Japan
Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Andorra