Damià Abella

Damià

Personal information
Full name	Damià Abella Pérez
Date of birth	(1982-04-15) 15 April 1982
Place of birth	Olot, Spain
Height
Position(s)	Full back / Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Middlesbrough
Number	2
Youth career
1998–2000	Ferran Martorell
2000–2001	Caprabo
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2001–2002	Peralada
2002–2003	Valencia C
2003–2004	Figueres	19	(3)
2004–2005	Barcelona B	22	(0)
2004–2006	Barcelona	9	(0)
2006	→ Racing Santander (loan)	18	(3)
2006–2010	Betis	79	(2)
2010–2014	Osasuna	120	(0)
2014–	Middlesbrough	6	(0)
International career
2004–	Catalonia	4	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 November 2014

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Abella and the second or maternal family name is Pérez.

Damià Abella Pérez (born 15 April 1982), known simply as Damià, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for English club Middlesbrough mainly as a full back.

After starting out at Barcelona he went on to amass La Liga totals of 198 games and five goals over the course of nine seasons, also representing in the competition Racing de Santander, Betis and Osasuna.

Club career

Born in Olot, Girona, Catalonia, Damià's first professional club was local UE Figueres, for whom he played during the 2003–04 season, in Segunda División B. He was subsequently acquired by national giants FC Barcelona, being incorporated to its B-side.

Due to many injuries to the main squad, Damià made his La Liga debut for Barça's first team against Athletic Bilbao on 30 October 2004, playing 90 minutes in a 1–1 away draw as right back. However, he could never break into the main squad, finishing the campaign with nine top flight appearances while continuing to appear for the reserves.

In January 2006, Damià joined Racing de Santander on a one 1/2-year loan deal. He mainly operated at the position he knew from Barcelona B, right midfielder, and scored his first top level goal on 12 February in a 2–0 success at RCD Espanyol, eventually helping the Cantabrians narrowly avoid top level relegation (15 starts, 1,371 minutes of play).

During the summer of 2006, Real Betis signed Damià on a five-year contract for €1 million. Although Racing had agreed with Barcelona that the player would stay with them for the duration of the loan arrangement, the Cantabria side decided not to block the move. However, a serious hip injury, contracted while still with Racing, meant that he would be unregistered for the entire length of 2006–07; he made his Betis debut on 30 September 2007, playing as right defender in a 3–0 win over RCD Mallorca after having successfully undergone surgery in the United States.

Damià netted his first goals for the Andalusians in the 2008–09 season, in consecutive matches early into the campaign (1–2 loss at Villarreal CF, 3–0 home win against Mallorca), but Betis suffered relegation after nine years. In late July 2010, after the club's unsuccessful attempt in regaining its top division status, the player signed with CA Osasuna, going on to compete in several seasons in the main category exclusively as a defender.

On 16 August 2014, Damià joined Middlesbrough of the Football League Championship on a free transfer, signed by countryman Aitor Karanka. He received international clearance just hours before his debut against Leeds United at Elland Road, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–1 defeat.

Honours

Barcelona

• La Liga: 2004–05

External links

• Damià Abella profile at BDFutbol
• Damià Abella at Soccerway