Jhon Cifuente


Jhon Jairo Cifuente Vergara is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who last played for El Nacional as a forward.

Club career

Early career

Cifuente was born in Esmeraldas, and represented Olmedo and Deportivo Quito as a youth. In 2011 he joined Segunda Categoría side CD Juventud Minera, where he appeared and scored regularly.

Macará

On 18 February 2015, Cifuente signed for Macará in Serie B. He scored his first goal as a professional on 22 March in a 3–3 home draw against Técnico Universitario, and finished the season with 11 goals in 34 appearances.

Universidad Católica

On 19 July 2016, Cifuente was transferred to Serie A side Universidad Católica, with his former side retaining half of his federative rights. He made his debut in the category on 6 August, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 home win over Emelec.
Cifuente scored his first goals in the main category of Ecuadorian football on 15 October 2016, netting four times in a 6–1 home routing of Mushuc Runa. The following 30 May, he scored a hat-trick in a 3–0 Copa Sudamericana home defeat of Petrolero.
Cifuente ended the 2018 campaign as the topscorer with 37 goals, eight ahead of Brayan Angulo.

Pyramids

On 20 December 2018, Cifuente moved abroad for the first time in his career after agreeing to a contract with Egyptian Premier League side Pyramids FC.

International career

Cifuente made his full international debut for Ecuador on 8 June 2017, replacing Enner Valencia late into a 1–1 friendly draw against Venezuela at the FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida. He scored his first international goal five days later, netting the opener in a 3–0 home success over El Salvador.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.14 June 2017Red Bull Arena, Harrison, United States1–03–0Friendly
2.20 November 2018Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama1–02–1Friendly

Honours

Individual