C.D. Leganés and Club Atlético de Madrid have reached an agreement for the season-long loan of 22-year-old striker Borja Garcés Moreno. The Melilla-born forward, who played the second half of last season at C.F. Fuenlabrada, will play on loan at Butarque for the current 2021/22 season.
Garcés developed in the youth ranks of several Melilla teams such as U.D. Melilla, Gimnástico Melilla and Rusadir, arriving at the Atlético Madrid academy in 2016. In 2017 he made his debut with the Youth 'A' team in the UEFA Youth League, scoring two goals in his first two games. In 2018/19 he began to appear for the Segunda División 'B' reserve team, making first team and LaLiga Santander debut on 15 September 2018, in which he scored the equaliser for Simeone's side in stoppage time.
Great performances in the half-season on loan at C.F. Fuenlabrada and pre-season with goal at Atlético.
Injuries hampered the rest of the campaign, but the following 2019/20 season saw him feature in the play-off for LaLiga SmartBank promotion with the colchonero reserve team. He moved from the Atlético Madrid 'B' side on loan in the January window to C.F. Fuenlabrada. In his debut in the second division, Garcés gave a strong account of himself in 22 games for the Fuenlabreños, scoring seven goals in his five months at the Fernando Torres.
A striker with great instinct in the penalty area and a nose for goal, Garcés has spent the pre-season with the red and white first team, standing out especially in the match against German side Wolfsburg, in which he scored a goal and provided an assist. The forward will immediately start training under Garitano, donning number '28' and will be presented officially next week.
