CD Tenerife announced the death of striker Jesus de Miguel on Tuesday morning after his condition deteriorated overnight following a collision in the previous day’s match. The 30-year-old suffered head and chest injuries in the clash with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during stoppage time of the Segunda Division fixture that ended in a 2-2 draw before being abandoned. Owono was sent off for the high challenge that saw his knee connect with de Miguel near the halfway line as both contested a long ball, BBC Sport reported.
Medical staff treated the player on the field for several minutes as teammates from both sides reacted with visible emotion before he was transported to hospital by ambulance. De Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest during the journey but was resuscitated, though his condition was later downgraded from stable but serious to one of neurological decline, according to updates from the club and reports by Reuters. The forward passed away at 8 a.m. local time, prompting an immediate outpouring of tributes across Spanish football.
In a statement released by CD Tenerife, the club conveyed its profound shock at the loss. “Racked with pain, with a lump in our throats and unable to believe that this is true, from CD Tenerife we communicate the tragic passing of Jesus de Miguel Alameda,” it said. “There are no words of comfort; there is absolutely nothing that can alleviate this feeling overflowing with sadness. We stand with his grieving family, with his loved ones, with all of Tenerife who mourn this cruel loss today.”
The family of de Miguel expressed gratitude for the support received while requesting respect for their privacy in the wake of the tragedy, the statement added. Born in Madrid on September 21, 1996, the 1.90-metre tall striker began his career in the Madrid area with clubs such as Fuenlabrada and Unionistas de Salamanca before excelling at Castellon, where he scored 25 goals in 83 appearances. He transferred to Tenerife in July 2025 for a fee of 100,000 euros and went on to score 11 goals in the 2025-26 season, according to statistics compiled by Worldfootball.net and Gioscore.
De Miguel had been introduced as a substitute in the 59th minute of Monday’s game with Tenerife leading 2-0 and was involved in an attacking move when the collision occurred. Owono, having been dismissed, nonetheless showed concern by returning to the pitch to join those attending to the stricken player, CNN noted in its coverage. The incident has elicited condolences from major clubs including Real Madrid, which conveyed its sympathies to all those impacted.
Spanish football authorities and the football community have been left stunned by the sudden death, which comes despite improved medical provisions at professional matches. De Miguel’s career spanned lower divisions where he earned recognition as a top scorer in the Primera Federacion Group 2 during the 2023-24 season with 16 goals for Castellon. Further details regarding any memorial plans or league responses are expected in the coming days from CD Tenerife.
