Jona (footballer)

(Redirected from Jonathan Mejía)

Jonathan Mejía Ruiz (born 7 January 1989), commonly known as Jona, is a Honduran professional footballer who plays as a striker.

Jona
Personal information
Full nameJonathan Mejía Ruiz
Date of birth (1989-01-07) 7 January 1989 (age 35)
Place of birthMálaga, Spain
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)Striker
Youth career
Málaga
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2008–2009Lorca Deportiva22(2)
2009–2010Melilla9(0)
2010–2011Deportivo B28(5)
2011–2012Zamora36(12)
2012–2013Ourense18(11)
2013–2015Granada0(0)
2013Vitória Guimarães B (loan)2(0)
2013Vitória Guimarães (loan)3(0)
2013–2014Jaén (loan)39(16)
2014–2015Cádiz (loan)32(18)
2015–2017Albacete29(5)
2016–2017UCAM Murcia (loan)37(15)
2017–2019Córdoba18(3)
2018Cádiz (loan)14(0)
2018–2019Lugo (loan)8(0)
2019–2020Hércules34(4)
2020–2022Alcoyano34(7)
2022–2023Torre del Mar10(1)
International career
2013–2015Honduras6(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 08:58, 20 July 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Born in Málaga, Andalusia, Jona only played lower league football in his beginnings, always in the Segunda División B. He represented in quick succession Lorca Deportiva CF, UD Melilla, Deportivo Fabril, Zamora CF[1] and CD Ourense.

In mid-January 2013, after excelling in the first half of the season with Ourense,[2] Jona was acquired by La Liga club Granada CF, being immediately loaned to Vitória S.C. of Portugal.[3] He made his Primeira Liga debut with the latter on 4 March, playing two minutes in a 2–0 home win against Académica de Coimbra.[4]

In the following years, Jona all but competed in the Spanish Segunda División, representing Real Jaén,[5] Cádiz CF (two spells),[6][7] Albacete Balompié,[8] UCAM Murcia CF,[9] Córdoba CF[10] and CD Lugo.[11] He was relegated from that level three times.[12]

Jona terminated his contract with Córdoba on 15 January 2019,[13] and signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with third division side Hércules CF the following day.[14]

International career

Jona's father, Leonidas Mejía, was a Honduran from Tegucigalpa, and his mother was Spanish. In April 2013, he expressed interest in representing the Honduras national team.[15]

Jona made his debut on 2 June 2013, in a friendly with Israel.[16] He represented the nation at the 2014 Copa Centroamericana.[17]

Personal life

Jona's older half brother, Antonio Moreno, was also a footballer and a forward. He played once with Sevilla FC's first team, and also represented Cádiz.[18]

References

  • Jona at BDFutbol
  • Jona at Futbolme (in Spanish)
  • Jona at National-Football-Teams.com
  • Jona at Soccerway