David de Gea facts for kids
De Gea with Spain in 2017
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | David de Gea Quintana | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 7 November 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Madrid, Spain | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Current team
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Fiorentina | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 43 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2008 | Atlético Madrid | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Atlético Madrid B | 35 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | Atlético Madrid | 57 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2023 | Manchester United | 415 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Fiorentina | 35 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Spain U15 | 12 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Spain U17 | 15 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2009 | Spain U19 | 15 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Spain U20 | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2013 | Spain U21 | 27 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Spain U23 | 5 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2021 | Spain | 45 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:49, 8 April 2023 (UTC) |
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David de Gea Quintana (born 7 November 1990) is a Spanish professional footballer. He plays as a goalkeeper for the Italian club Fiorentina. Many people consider him one of the best goalkeepers of his time. He is famous for his quick reflexes and amazing saves.
De Gea was born in Madrid, Spain. He started his football journey at Atlético Madrid's youth academy. He made his first team debut in 2009 when he was 18. As Atlético's main goalkeeper, he helped them win the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup in 2010. His great performances caught the eye of Manchester United. He joined them in 2011 for a record fee for a goalkeeper in Britain at that time.
At Manchester United, De Gea played over 500 games. He won a Premier League title, an FA Cup, two League Cups, and two Europa League titles. He was voted Manchester United's best player three times in a row from 2013–14 to 2015–16. He won the award four times in total. He was also chosen for the PFA Team of the Year five times. In 2018, he was named in the FIFA FIFPro World11, which is like a dream team of the best players in the world. De Gea left United in 2023. After a year away from football, he joined Fiorentina in 2024.
Many people thought De Gea would become Spain's main goalkeeper after Iker Casillas. He was the captain of the Spain under-21 team that won the European Championship in 2011 and 2013. He also played in the 2012 Summer Olympics. He first played for the senior team in 2014. He was chosen for the World Cup that year. De Gea was Spain's starting goalkeeper for UEFA Euro 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He later lost his regular spot to Unai Simón for Euro 2020.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Starting at Atlético Madrid
Youth and Early Days
David de Gea was born in Madrid and grew up in Illescas. He joined Atlético Madrid when he was 13 years old. A scout named Diego Díaz quickly signed him. David moved up through the youth teams. He signed his first professional contract in 2008 at age 17. He spent his second season playing for Atlético Madrid B, the club's reserve team.
In the summer of 2009, other teams wanted to sign De Gea on loan. But he decided to stay at Atlético. The manager, Abel Resino, invited him to train with the first team. He became the third-choice goalkeeper.
First Team Debut and Success
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De Gea made his first team debut for Atlético at 18. This happened on 30 September 2009 in a Champions League match. He came on as a substitute after the main goalkeeper got injured. Three days later, he played his first La Liga game. He saved a penalty kick in that match, helping his team win 2–1. He said starting at the Vicente Calderón Stadium was a "dream since childhood."
In January 2010, De Gea signed a new contract with Atlético. He became the team's main goalkeeper. He helped the team win the UEFA Europa League. He played in the 2–1 final win against Fulham. His teammate Diego Forlán said David was good enough for the top level at 19.
Winning the UEFA Super Cup
De Gea started the 2010–11 season with a big win. He kept a clean sheet in a 2–0 victory over Inter Milan in the 2010 UEFA Super Cup. He even saved a penalty kick in the last minute.
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In September, there were rumors that Manchester United wanted him. Their manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, even watched him play. De Gea remained Atlético's main goalkeeper for the rest of the season. He played in every La Liga match.
Moving to Manchester United
The Big Transfer
For a long time, people wondered who would replace Manchester United's retiring goalkeeper, Edwin van der Sar. De Gea was their top choice. After some talks, De Gea was seen in Manchester for a medical check-up on 27 June 2011. The transfer was confirmed on 29 June. He joined Manchester United for about £18.9 million. This was a record fee for a goalkeeper in Britain at the time.
De Gea had always looked up to former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel. People often compared him to Van der Sar.
First Season Challenges
De Gea played his first game for Manchester United in a friendly match on 23 July 2011. His first official game was against Manchester City in the FA Community Shield on 7 August. United won 3–2. He made his league debut a week later. He faced some criticism early on.
De Gea got his first clean sheet for United in his first game at Old Trafford. This was a 3–0 win against Tottenham Hotspur. In the next match, he saved a penalty from Arsenal captain Robin van Persie. His teammate Wayne Rooney supported him, calling him a "strong character."
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On 18 September, United beat Chelsea 3–1. De Gea made many important saves. His good form continued in later games. He made his first UEFA Champions League start on 27 September 2011.
After a tough first season, De Gea said he always believed in himself. He knew the pressure at a big club like United was huge. He wanted to become a great United goalkeeper.
Winning the Premier League
De Gea missed Manchester United's pre-season tour in 2012. But he returned for the first game of the season. He made some "outstanding" saves, even though United lost 1–0.
On 9 December, De Gea made two quick saves against Manchester City. This helped United win the Manchester Derby 3–2. He also made an important double-save against Sunderland.
On 13 February 2013, De Gea made several key saves against Real Madrid in the Champions League. His manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, praised his "excellent" performance. This game was seen as a turning point for him.
De Gea's great form led to him being chosen for the PFA Premier League Team of the Year. He ended the season by winning his first Premier League title with United. He played 28 games and kept 11 clean sheets.
Continued Excellence and Awards
De Gea started the 2013–14 season with a clean sheet. This was in a 2–0 win over Wigan in the Community Shield. On 5 October 2013, he made an incredible save against Sunderland. Former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel called it one of the best saves ever in the Premier League.
On 1 December, De Gea played his 100th game for Manchester United. His performances earned him the club's Players' Player of the Year and Fans' Player of the Year awards.
Saving Grace for United
De Gea helped United win back-to-back games under new manager Louis van Gaal in October 2014. He made three important saves against Everton, including a penalty. He was voted man of the match. He became the first goalkeeper to stop a penalty from Leighton Baines.
On 14 December, De Gea was named man of the match for his "outstanding" performance against Liverpool. He made eight saves in a 3–0 victory. Van Gaal called him "unbelievable." De Gea said he was "proud" to play for United.
At the end of the season, De Gea was nominated for top player awards. He was named in the PFA Team of the Year. He also won the Fans' Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year awards for the second year in a row. His save against Everton was voted Premier League Save of the Season.
Transfer Saga and New Contract
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At the start of the 2015–16 season, there was a lot of talk about De Gea possibly moving to Real Madrid. Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal decided not to play him at first. On 31 August, a deal was almost made for him to join Real Madrid. But the transfer did not happen because paperwork was not sent in time.
On 11 September, De Gea signed a new four-year contract with Manchester United. In April 2016, he was the only Manchester United player named in the PFA Team of the Year. He also saved a penalty in the FA Cup semi-finals.
In May 2016, De Gea became the first player to win Manchester United's Player of the Year award for a third season in a row. He also won BBC Match of the Day Save of the Season for the third year in a row.
Winning More Trophies
Under new manager José Mourinho, De Gea played in the 2016 FA Community Shield which United won 2–1. He kept two clean sheets in his first three league games. On 26 February 2017, he won his first EFL Cup title. United beat Southampton 3–2 in the final.
On 20 April 2017, De Gea was chosen for the PFA Team of the Year for the fourth time. On 24 May, he won his third trophy of the season. Manchester United beat Ajax 2–0 in the Europa League final.
Record-Breaking Saves
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On 17 September 2017, De Gea made his fourth clean sheet of the season. This was his 100th clean sheet overall for Manchester United.
On 2 December 2017, in a 3–1 win over Arsenal, De Gea made 14 saves. This equaled the Premier League record for most saves in a single game. He also won the Man of the Match award.
On 18 April 2018, De Gea was selected for the PFA Team of the Year for the fifth time. On 11 May 2018, he earned his 18th clean sheet of the season. This secured his first Premier League Golden Glove award.
Later Seasons at United
The 2018–19 season started with fewer clean sheets for De Gea. But in January 2019, he made 11 saves against Tottenham Hotspur. This was the second most saves by a goalkeeper in a Premier League match. His 100th Premier League clean sheet for United came against Liverpool on 24 February. He was the seventh goalkeeper to reach this milestone for one club.
In March and April, De Gea had a difficult period with some mistakes. He ended the season with 7 clean sheets in 38 Premier League games. This was his lowest total at United.
For the 2019–20 season, De Gea signed a new four-year contract. He kept his first clean sheet of the season in a 4–0 win against Chelsea. He continued to play for United, reaching 400 appearances for the club. On 16 July 2020, he kept his 112th Premier League clean sheet. This equaled Peter Schmeichel's club record. On the last day of the Premier League, he surpassed Schmeichel's record with his 113th clean sheet.
Competition and Departure
The 2020–21 season brought competition for De Gea. Dean Henderson returned from a loan spell. De Gea started most games. On 2 February 2021, he kept a clean sheet in United's 9–0 win against Southampton.
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De Gea played in the Europa League knockout phase. On 26 May, in the 2021 UEFA Europa League final, he missed his team's last penalty in a shootout. This meant Villarreal won the title.
In the 2021–22 season, De Gea saved his first penalty for Manchester United since 2016. This happened in a game against West Ham United.
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On 16 October 2022, he played his 500th match for Manchester United. On 12 February 2023, he played his 400th Premier League match. No non-British player has played more for one club. On 26 February, he broke Peter Schmeichel's record for most clean sheets in Manchester United's history. He reached 181 clean sheets after a 2–0 win over Newcastle United in the 2023 EFL Cup final. On 20 May, he won the Premier League Golden Glove again. His last game for Manchester United was on 3 June 2023.
De Gea's contract with Manchester United ended on 1 July 2023. He left the club as a free agent. He had played 545 games for the club, making him their seventh all-time appearance maker. He was the last player from the Sir Alex Ferguson era to leave Manchester United at that time.
Joining Fiorentina
After not playing for a year, David de Gea signed with the Italian club Fiorentina on 9 August 2024. He made his debut for the club on 22 August in a 3–3 draw. On 6 October, he saved two penalty kicks in a game, helping Fiorentina win 2–1 against AC Milan. On 31 May 2025, De Gea signed a new contract with Fiorentina until 2028.
International Career
Youth Teams
De Gea helped Spain's under-17 team win the 2007 European Championship. They also finished second at the 2007 World Cup. In 2011, he was part of the Spain under-21 team that won the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He was named in UEFA's Squad of the Tournament.
In 2012, De Gea was chosen to play at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He played all three matches. He was also part of the Spain under-21 team that won their European title again in 2013.
Senior National Team
On 13 May 2014, De Gea was chosen for Spain's team for the 2014 World Cup. He made his first senior international appearance in a friendly game on 8 June. He was the third-choice goalkeeper and did not play in the World Cup.
On 4 September 2014, he made his first start for Spain in a friendly match against France. He played his first official international game on 12 October. He kept a clean sheet in a 4–0 win against Luxembourg.
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On 31 May 2016, he was named in Spain's team for UEFA Euro 2016. He started their first game and kept a clean sheet. He also kept another clean sheet against Turkey. Spain was knocked out in the round of 16 by Italy.
On 21 May 2018, De Gea was called up for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. In Spain's first game, he made a mistake that led to a goal. He struggled in the group stage, making only one save. On 1 July, De Gea failed to make a save in Spain's penalty shootout loss to Russia. He ended the tournament having conceded six goals from seven shots on target.
On 24 May 2021, De Gea was included in Spain's team for UEFA Euro 2020. He was a backup to Unai Simón. He was later not chosen for the Spain team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
How David de Gea Plays
David de Gea was seen as a very promising player when he was young. He grew into one of the best goalkeepers in the world. He played futsal as a child until he was 14. This helped him with his footwork. He often uses his feet to make saves, which is a unique and effective style. Some say his way of saving with his feet changed how goalkeepers play.
De Gea is known for his quick reflexes, agility, and amazing shot-stopping. He can make acrobatic dives and spectacular saves. Former goalkeeper Shay Given called him the best shot-stopper in the world in 2018. He is also known for being consistent, calm, and a good leader.
When he was younger, De Gea sometimes struggled with high balls because he was slender. He often punched balls away instead of catching them. But he improved a lot as he got older and gained more experience. He became better at handling balls and commanding his area.
De Gea is also very fast when rushing out to face attackers one-on-one. This allows him to act as a sweeper-keeper. However, in recent years, some experts have noted that he tends to stay closer to his goal line.
He is also good at controlling the ball and passing with both feet. This helps him start attacks from the back. While his passing was sometimes criticized, he has worked on this part of his game. However, his ability to stop penalties has been questioned in recent years. He did not save a single penalty between April 2016 and September 2021. He conceded 40 penalties during that time, including all eleven in the 2021 Europa League final shootout.
Personal Life
In January 2012, it was confirmed that De Gea is farsighted. This means he sees distant objects more clearly than close ones. However, this has not affected his football performance. De Gea is a fan of heavy metal music. Avenged Sevenfold is one of his favorite bands.
He has been in a relationship with Spanish singer Edurne since 2010. They got married in Menorca on 1 July 2023. On 4 March 2021, they had their first child, a daughter named Yanay. David de Gea also started his own esports team called Rebels Gaming in 2021.
Career Statistics
Club Appearances
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Atlético Madrid B | 2008–09 | Segunda División B | 35 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 0 | ||||
| Atlético Madrid | 2009–10 | La Liga | 19 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | — | 35 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11 | La Liga | 38 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 0 | ||
| Total | 57 | 0 | 12 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 84 | 0 | |||
| Manchester United | 2011–12 | Premier League | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 0 |
| 2012–13 | Premier League | 28 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | 41 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | Premier League | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 0 | |
| 2014–15 | Premier League | 37 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 43 | 0 | |||
| 2015–16 | Premier League | 34 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | 49 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17 | Premier League | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 0 | |
| 2017–18 | Premier League | 37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 0 | |
| 2018–19 | Premier League | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — | 47 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20 | Premier League | 38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 43 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | Premier League | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | — | 36 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | Premier League | 38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | 46 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | Premier League | 38 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | — | 58 | 0 | ||
| Total | 415 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 82 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 545 | 0 | ||
| Fiorentina | 2024–25 | Serie A | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | — | 42 | 0 | ||
| 2025–26 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 542 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 103 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 706 | 0 | ||
International Appearances
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2014 | 3 | 0 |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 13 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 45 | 0 | |
Honours and Awards
Atlético Madrid
- UEFA Europa League: 2009–10
- UEFA Super Cup: 2010
Manchester United
- Premier League: 2012–13
- FA Cup: 2015–16
- EFL Cup: 2016–17, 2022–23
- FA Community Shield: 2011, 2013, 2016
- UEFA Europa League: 2016–17
Spain U17
- UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2007
- FIFA U-17 World Cup runner-up: 2007
Spain U21
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2011, 2013
Spain
- UEFA Nations League runner-up: 2020–21
Individual Awards
- Premier League Golden Glove: 2017–18, 2022–23
- Premier League Player of the Month: January 2022
- Premier League Save of the Month: February 2023
- PFA Team of the Year: 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
- PFA Fans' Premier League Player of the Month: November 2014
- Match of the Day Save of the Season: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18
- UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2015–16
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2011, 2013
- FIFA FIFPro World11: 2018
- Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18
- Manchester United Players' Player of the Year: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2021–22
- Sports Illustrated Premier League Team of the Decade: 2010–2019
- Serie A Team of the Season: 2024–25
Images for kids
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De Gea with Spain in 2017
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De Gea playing for Atlético Madrid in 2010
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De Gea during the Madrid Derby in November 2010
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De Gea playing for Manchester United in 2016
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De Gea (in black) playing for Manchester United in 2017
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De Gea with Spain at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
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De Gea making a save with his feet against Morocco at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
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De Gea passing the ball whilst playing for Spain in 2019
See also
In Spanish: David de Gea para niños
