Borja Sainz

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Borja Sainz
Personal information
Full name Borja Sainz Eguskiza
Date of birth (2001-02-21) 21 February 2001 (age 24)
Place of birth Leioa, Spain
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) [1]
Position(s) Left winger
Team information
Current team
Porto
Number 17
Youth career
–2012 Lagun Artea
2012–2017 Athletic Bilbao
2017–2018 Alavés
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2018–2020 Alavés B 24 (6)
2019–2022 Alavés 40 (2)
2021–2022Zaragoza (loan) 32 (3)
2022–2023 Giresunspor 32 (9)
2023–2025 Norwich City 74 (25)
2025– Porto 4 (2)
International career
2019–2020 Spain U19 5 (3)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 07:23, 30 August 2025 (UTC)

Borja Sainz Eguskiza (born 21 February 2001) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Primeira Liga club Porto.

Contents

Club career

Alavés

Born in Leioa, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain, Sainz joined Athletic Bilbao's Lezama in 2012, from lowly locals Lagun Artea. In August 2017, he signed for Alavés after refusing a contract renewal from the Lions. [2]

On 2 September 2018, Sainz made his senior debut with the reserves at the age of just 17, playing the last three minutes in a 3–0 Tercera División home win against San Pedro. He scored his first senior goal on 7 October in a 2–0 home defeat of Beasain, [3] and finished the campaign with five goals in 18 appearances.

Sainz made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 25 August 2019, coming on as a second-half substitute for Luis Rioja in a 0–0 home draw against Espanyol; [4] by doing so, he became the first player of the 21st century to appear for the senior side. [5] He scored his first goal in the category on 18 June of the following year, netting the opener in a 2–0 home defeat of Real Sociedad.

On 5 August 2021, Sainz was loaned to Segunda División side Real Zaragoza for the season. [6]

Giresunspor

On 28 July 2022, Sainz moved abroad for the first time in his career after signing for Giresunspor in Turkey. [7]

Norwich City

On 30 June 2023, Sainz signed for Championship club Norwich City on a three-year contract following his departure from Giresunspor. [8] [9] Sainz scored on his debut for Norwich in an EFL Cup tie against Fulham on 27 September 2023. [10] Sainz also scored for Norwich in an FA Cup tie against Liverpool on 28 January 2024. [11]

Following a strong start to the 2024–25 season, scoring four goals in three matches, including a hat-trick against Derby County, he was named EFL Championship Player of the Month for September 2024. [12] He won the award for a second consecutive month following a further four goals and two assists. [13] Sainz scored his second hat-trick of the season on 26 November with three goals against Plymouth Argyle at Carrow Road. [14] Following an incident in a fixture against Sunderland on 21 December 2024, Sainz was charged by the Football Association in January 2025 of "spitting at an opponent", [15] subsequently receiving a six-match ban and being fined £12,000. [16] At the EFL awards for the 202425 season, Sainz was named in the EFL team of the season. [17]

Porto

On 13 July 2025, Sainz signed for Primeira Liga side Porto, for a reported transfer fee of £14.25m. [18]

Career statistics

As of match played 30 August 2025 [19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup [a] League cup [b] OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Alavés B 2018–19 Tercera División 1854 [c] 0225
2019–20 Segunda División B 6161
Total2460040286
Alavés 2019–20 La Liga 19110201
2020–21 La Liga21130241
Total4024000442
Real Zaragoza 2021–22 Segunda División 32330353
Giresunspor 2022–23 Süper Lig 329213410
Norwich City 2023–24 Championship 33631112 [d] 0398
2024–25 Championship411800214319
Total74243132208227
Porto 2025–26 Primeira Liga 4200000042
Career total20646122326022750
  1. Includes Copa del Rey, Turkish Cup, FA Cup
  2. Includes EFL Cup
  3. Appearances in Tercera División promotion play-offs
  4. Appearances in Championship play-offs

Honours

Individual

References

  1. https://www.whoscored.com/players/381714/show/borja-sainz
  2. "El Alavés arrebata otro canterano al Athletic" [Alavés take another youth prospect from Athletic] (in Spanish). El Correo. 1 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  3. "El filial vuelve a sonreír" [The reserves smile again] (in Spanish). Noticias de Álava. 8 October 2018. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  4. "Diego López evita en el descuento la victoria del Alavés" [Diego López prevents the victory of Alavés in the stoppage time] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  5. "Borja Sainz, un juvenil en Primera" [Borja Sainz, a youngster in Primera] (in Spanish). Marca. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  6. "Borja Sainz jugará cedido en el Real Zaragoza" [Borja Sainz will play on loan at Real Zaragoza] (in Spanish). Deportivo Alavés. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  7. "Borja Sainz, primera salida del Deportivo Alavés" [Borja Sainz, first departure of Deportivo Alavés] (in Spanish). Deportivo Alavés. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  8. "Sainz signs for City". www.canaries.co.uk. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  9. "Canaries clinch signing of Spanish winger Sainz" via www.bbc.co.uk.
  10. "Fulham 2-1 Norwich". BBC. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  11. "Entertaining victory clinches Reds' place in FA Cup fifth round". BBC. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  12. 1 2 "Sky Bet Championship Manager & Player of the Month September winners". www.efl.com. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  13. 1 2 "Sky Bet Championship: Manager & Player of the Month October winners". www.efl.com. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  14. "Borja Sainz grabs his hat-trick with sensational finish against Plymouth Argyle". Sky Sports. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  15. "Norwich's Sainz to face 'spitting' charge". BBC Sport. 3 January 2025. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  16. "FA Statement | Borja Sainz". www.canaries.co.uk. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  17. Southwell, Connor (27 April 2025). "Sargent and Sainz named in Championship team of the season". pinkun.com. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  18. Butler, Rob (13 July 2025). "Sainz leaves Norwich to join Porto on five-year deal". BBC Sport.
  19. Borja Sainz at Soccerway
  20. Ashton, Ben (27 April 2025). "Burnley's Parker and Blades' Hamer win EFL awards". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  21. "Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey win PFA Player of the Year awards for 2024/25". Sky Sports. 19 August 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.