Spanish forward Jesus de Miguel dies after collision in Tenerife match

Jesus de Miguel, a 30-year-old striker known to teammates as Demi, died Wednesday after his heart stopped during a match in Tenerife, Spain. The incident occurred Tuesday in the final minutes of a 2-2 draw against FC Andorra. De Miguel had been advancing down the center of the pitch to claim a ball cleared by a teammate. The Andorra goalkeeper rushed out of his box and collided with the forward, causing De Miguel to fall to the ground.

Medical staff administered resuscitation efforts on the field, but De Miguel suffered cardiac arrest. He was transported to a hospital where he passed away the following morning. At the time of the collision, the game was in added time. De Miguel was a left-footed forward who stood 6 feet 2 inches tall and played as a traditional target man.

Born in Madrid in 1996, De Miguel began his professional career in 2015 with the reserve team of Leganés. He moved between several clubs in the lower divisions around the Spanish capital before joining Castellón in 2023. That season marked his most productive period as a goal scorer. He netted 16 goals, a total that helped the club secure promotion to the second division.

Following a difficult year in the second tier, De Miguel left the mainland in the summer of 2025 to join a team in the Canary Islands. He returned to the third division with Tenerife. His performance there was immediate. He scored six goals in his first five matches. He finished the campaign with 11 total goals, contributing to the club's promotion.

Former teammate Fernando Roman shared his grief on social media. He described De Miguel as humble and hardworking. Roman recalled vacations taken together and time spent with their children in an escape room. He wrote, I did not consider you a friend. I considered you one more of my family. The Tenerife club announced that De Miguel's body would be moved to Navahermosa in the province of Toledo at the request of his family.

Club president Felipe Minambres stated that the team would come together in mourning. He said the club would pay the tribute De Miguel deserves and carry him in their hearts. De Miguel left behind a daughter born last year and the child's mother. Teammates and club officials are scheduled to attend a final farewell in Navahermosa.