Miguel Borja


Miguel Ángel Borja Hernández is a Colombian footballer who plays as a forward for Colombian club Junior on loan from Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras and the Colombian national team.

Club career

Colombia

Borja began his career with Deportivo Cali, making his professional debut in 2011. That same year, he was transferred to Cucuta Deportivo, club in which he had few chances to play. He would soon be transferred again, this time to play for Categoría Primera B side, Cortuluá. Borja would make a name for himself in the second division of Colombia, often being referred to as a 'fast' and 'complete goalscorer', as well as boasting impressive strength on the ball. His impressive performances with Cortuluá eventually led him to becoming an alternative striker for Colombia's national under-20 team in 2013. On 17 January 2013, it was reported that Independiente Medellin had been interested in acquiring Borja's services. However, nothing was finalized and Borja was eventually sold to first division side, La Equidad. In his 2 disputable games, Borja scored 4 goals before being transferred to Serie A side Livorno.

Livorno

During the summer of 2013, it was confirmed that Borja would join Italian club Livorno on loan. The loan consisted of a fee of €150,000 with an option to buy for €1.5 million.
His debut for Le Triglie came on 20 October, coming off the bench in a 1-2 loss to Sampdoria.
Borja made seven season appearances for the club but failed to score a goal. Livorno was eventually regulated to the Serie B after placing last for the season.

Return to Colombia

Borja was loaned to Independiente Santa Fe for the second half of 2015. That season, Borja scored ten goals in thirty-three matches. He won the 2015 Copa Sudamericana with the team.
For the 2016 season, he was sold to Cortuluá who was 17th in the league the previous season. In the Apertura tournament of the season, Borja scored a record of nineteen goals in twenty-one matches, breaking the record of most goals scored by a player in a league tournament. The previous record was held by Jackson Martínez, with eighteen goals in the 2009 Finalización. His team Cortuluá reached the Semifinals, which they lost to Independiente Medellín.
He was transferred again in 8 June, this time to Atlético Nacional. In 6 July, during his first match for his new team, while playing against São Paulo in the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores, he scored twice, a feat he repeated in the second leg a week after. Then, on 27 July 2016, he went on to score the definitive goal in the final series against Ecuadorian team Independiente del Valle, which Atlético Nacional ended up winning 2-1 on the aggregate.

Palmeiras

On 9 February, it was announced that Borja had agreed to transfer to Brazilian side Palmeiras. He signed a five-year deal for a fee believed to be around US$10.5 million. Borja became the fourth most expensive transfer of Brazilian football.

Junior

On 28 December 28, 2019 Borja signed a one year loan deal with Atlético Junior.

International career

Borja was included in Colombia’s 23 man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, making one substitute appearance in the group stage match against Senegal.

Career statistics

Club

International

International goals

NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.14 November 2017Chongqing Olympic Sports Center, Chongqing, China3–04–0Friendly
2.14 November 2017Chongqing Olympic Sports Center, Chongqing, China4–04–0Friendly
3.11 October 2018Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, United States4–24–2Friendly

Honours

Independiente Santa Fe
Atlético Nacional
Palmeiras
Colombia U20
Individual