Granada CF has officially announced the signing of Borja Bastón, marking the forward's return to Spanish football after his recent stint with Pachuca FC. The 32-year-old striker has joined the team as a free agent, following the closure of the winter transfer market.
Bastón's experience is set to bolster Granada’s offense as they aim for promotion back to La Liga. He has signed with the club until June 2025. "The club welcomes the striker and wishes him the best of luck as he begins this new chapter with us," Granada stated.
Borja Bastón, whose full name is Borja González Tomás, originally hails from Madrid and started his professional career at the Atlético de Madrid academy. Over the years, he has played for several clubs, including Real Murcia, SD Huesca, RC Deportivo, and SD Eibar. His career took him to England where he joined Swansea City, but his time in the Premier League was less than fruitful, scoring just one goal during his season there.
After returning to Spain, Bastón had spells with Málaga CF, Deportivo Alavés, and later with Aston Villa, where his performances did not meet expectations. He eventually returned to Spain with CD Leganés and then the Real Oviedo, where he revived his scoring form significantly. At Oviedo, he notched up 22 goals during his first season and had two consecutive campaigns with 10 goals each, showcasing his ability to perform consistently.
Following his time with Oviedo, Bastón transitioned to Mexico to play for Pachuca, but his experience was brief as he made only nine appearances without scoring. This prompted his return to Spain and the subsequent signing with Granada, where manager Fran Escribá is eager to integrate him effectively.
Fondly recognized not just for his goal-scoring prowess but also for his stature and presence on the field, Bastón stands at 1.86 meters tall and is regarded as a classic center-forward. Escribá has been aware of Bastón's skills since they were together at Atlético de Madrid B, where Bastón scored 16 goals. Escribá's advocacy was pivotal during this transfer as the club needed to strengthen their attack after the departure of Uzuni.
Granada's current attacking options now include Lucas Boyé, Weismann, Stoichkov, and Diao, reinforcing their strategy to ascend back to La Liga. With Bastón joining, the competition among forwards intensifies, promising exciting matches as the team strives to capitalize on their available resources.
Despite the delayed start to his return, Bastón aims to reclaim his position as one of the leading scorers, eager to help Granada excel. He has already shown adeptness as the top active scorer within La Liga Hypermotion and shares this recognition with other notable strikers.
The club's decision to bring Bastón on board reflects their ambition and determination to make significant progress as they approach the latter half of the season. Fans are optimistic about what his experience and skill set will bring to the table.
Overall, the acquisition of Borja Bastón embodies not only the necessity of enhancing the squad's capabilities but also the hopes of rekindling the team's rich competitive spirit as they head toward their aspiration of returning to top-tier football.