Javi Serrano
Javier "Javi" Serrano Martínez is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Atlético Madrid.
Club career
Javi Serrano arrived in the Atlético Madrid academy as a 7 year old in 2010. There, he signed a five-year contract on the summer 2020.During the 2020–21 [Atlético Madrid season|2020–21 season], Serrano was part of the Juvenil de Fútbol|Juvenil] Atlético squad that came top of their 2020–21 [División de Honor Juvenil de Fútbol#Group 5|group] against Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid, before being defeated by the latter in the Copa de Campeones.
Serrano made his debut for Atlético B in March 2021, later becoming a regular starter with their reserve during the 2020–21 [Segunda División B#Second phase|second phase] of the 2020–21 Segunda División B. At the end of the season he extended his contract with Atlético until 2026, while also being scouted by several other big European clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain.
During the 2021–22 pre-season, Serrano was selected by Diego Simeone to train with the first team, starting games such as their 2–1 win against VfL Wolfsburg. He and Giuliano Simeone were the only two players outside of the first team regulars to play all five games of the five friendlies before the start of the season.
After already making the professional squad for the early La Liga games, Serrano made his professional debut for Atlético Madrid on the 3 November 2021, replacing Ángel Correa in the 74th minute of a 2–0 away loss against Liverpool, during the UEFA Champions League group stage|group stage] of the UEFA Champions League. Serrano made his debut in the starting lineup on 20 April 2022, in a home La Liga fixture against Granada.
On 26 August 2022, Serrano was loaned to Segunda División side CD Mirandés for the season. The following 31 January, after featuring sparingly, he moved to fellow league team UD Ibiza also in a temporary deal.
On 30 June 2023, Serrano moved abroad for the first time in his career, after agreeing to a one-year loan deal with SK Sturm Graz of the Austrian Football Bundesliga.