Who Was Jesús de Miguel? The Career of the Footballer Who Died at 30
The Tenerife striker spent years working his way through Spanish football, building a career defined by perseverance and a remarkable journey to the professional ranks.
The death of Jesús de Miguel Alameda, a striker for CD Tenerife, has left Spanish football in mourning. The forward, who died on November 3, 2026, at the age of 30, leaves behind a career defined by determination. After spending years playing in Spain's lower divisions, he eventually reached professional football and contributed to four promotions.
Born in Madrid on September 21, 1996, De Miguel, also known as Demi, began his development with CDE Lugo Fuenlabrada and the youth teams of CD Leganés. During the 2015-16 season, he moved into senior football with Leganés B, beginning a journey that would take him through several clubs in the Madrid region.
His first major achievement came with Internacional de Madrid, where he scored nine goals in 33 appearances during the 2017-18 season, helping the club earn promotion to Segunda División B. He later played for CF Fuenlabrada and Unión Adarve before finding another opportunity to establish himself.
His First Promotions in Spanish Football
In 2019, De Miguel joined CDA Navalcarnero, where he rediscovered his scoring touch and became an important figure in the team's attack. During the 2019-20 campaign, he scored 12 goals in 29 matches, including a crucial goal during the promotion playoffs that helped Navalcarnero reach Segunda División B.
His next destination was Unionistas de Salamanca, which he joined in 2021. There, he enjoyed one of his most productive individual seasons, recording 12 goals and four assists in 36 Primera Federación appearances during the 2021-22 campaign.
Those performances attracted the attention of CD Castellón, which announced his signing in February 2023. De Miguel was joining a club determined to return to Spain's second division, a level he had yet to experience as a player.
His Breakthrough at Castellón
The 2023-24 season marked a turning point in De Miguel's career. He became one of Castellón's key players, finishing the campaign with 16 goals and five assists as the club won its Primera Federación group and secured direct promotion to the Segunda División.
It was the realization of a long-standing ambition. At 27, De Miguel finally earned the opportunity to play professional football in Spain's second tier, having spent years working his way through the lower divisions.
He made his Segunda División debut on August 17, 2024, against Eibar, before scoring his first goals in the competition with a brace against Almería the following month.
Across his three seasons with Castellón, De Miguel made 88 appearances and scored 25 goals, according to the club's records. His performances and commitment made him a popular figure among supporters, who also mourned his death on Tuesday.
Tenerife and the Final Promotion of His Career
On July 8, 2025, Jesús de Miguel signed for CD Tenerife, which had just been relegated to Primera Federación. His mission was straightforward: help the Canary Islands club return to Spain's second division as quickly as possible.
He made an immediate impact. During the first six rounds of the 2025-26 season, the striker recorded seven goals and three assists, developing an effective attacking partnership with Enric Gallego.
De Miguel finished the campaign with 11 goals, making an important contribution as Tenerife won its Primera Federación group and secured promotion back to the Segunda División.
It was the fourth promotion of his career, following those achieved with Internacional de Madrid, Navalcarnero and Castellón. It also allowed him to continue playing at the professional level he had worked so hard to reach.
His time at Tenerife was tragically cut short on November 3, 2026, when he died following a serious collision during a match against FC Andorra.
Jesús de Miguel's career was not defined by famous clubs or major international trophies. His legacy lies in the promotions he helped achieve, the goals he scored and the determination that carried him from Spain's lower divisions to professional football.
Jesús de Miguel's Career: Key Facts
- Senior debut: Began his senior career with Leganés B during the 2015-16 season.
- Four promotions: Helped Internacional de Madrid, Navalcarnero, Castellón and Tenerife move up a division.
- Final club: Joined CD Tenerife in July 2025 and scored 11 goals during its promotion-winning 2025-26 campaign.
