Mario Hermoso: Who is Bayer Leverkusen's new Spanish centre-back?
Mario Hermoso has joined Bayer Leverkusen on loan from Roma until the end of the 2024/25 season, as Xabi Alonso seeks to strengthen the depth of his title-chasing squad.
Data correct as of 31 January 2025
Mario Hermoso
Age: 29 (born 18 June 1995)
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Position: Centre-back
Country: Spain (five caps)
Key stats
Born in Madrid, Hermoso began his footballing development at EF Concepción before making the switch to Spanish giants Real Madrid's youth setup, aged just 10. He remained there for nine years, rising through the ranks of the youth squads and reserve teams, although he never made an appearance for the senior team. Instead, his professional debut came during a season-long loan at Real Valladolid, before he made a permanent switch to Espanyol the following season.
The switch from the capital to Catalonia kickstarted Hermoso's career. Though his senior debut came in a 5-0 derby loss to Barcelona in September 2017, he played 59 first-team games across two seasons and won all but one of his five Spain caps during that time before moving back to Madrid to join Atlético in 2019. After a first campaign during which he made his UEFA Champions League debut with Diego Simeone's side, he then made 31 appearances in the La Liga-winning campaign of 2020/21. He played the same number of league games in his final season at the Metropolitano, leaving the club when his contract expired to join Roma after 174 competitive games and 10 goals in the red-and-white shirt.
Plays a bit like: David Alaba
The Austria international played with equal quality at left-back and centre-back for Bayern Munich, and Hermoso shares that rare versatility, even if he may be less attack-minded. "Defend well," said Hermoso when he asked what he hoped to do at international level when first called up by then-Spain boss Luis Enrique in November 2018. "I'm a defender and that's the most important thing: to keep the ball well, be aggressive." He also - like Alaba - speaks excellent English, saying, "I have been learning since I was little. I'm quite fluent and it's always good when players from other countries come in and I can help them." Now it will serve him well as he settles in at Leverkusen.
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Did you know?
Hermoso's surname translates into English as "beautiful". Given Leverkusen signed Emiliano Buendía, whose surname translates into English as "Good day", just a few days earlier, the club's social media team had a great opportunity they did not miss (see below).
What they're saying
"Sergio Ramos is very similar to what I try to do: good on the ball, playing with personality, taking risks, defending aggressively in a high line, quick to tackle…" - Mario Hermoso
"Mario Hermoso is an experienced player on the international stage and, in addition to playing as a central defender, he is a very capable and organised left back. Mario will also bring additional versatility to our defence and will compensate very well for the absence of Jeanuël Belocian." - Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes
"He carries out what we ask of him very well, and can play in various positions. He gives us a lot, I hope he can stay with us." - Atlético coach Diego Simeone urging the club in May 2024 to give Hermoso a new contract
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