Aarón Ochoa
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Aarón Ochoa Moloney | ||
| Date of birth | 18 April 2007 | ||
| Place of birth | Marbella, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Málaga | ||
| Number | 35 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2014–2016 | Groove Street United | ||
| 2016–2021 | Málaga | ||
| 2021–2022 | San Félix | ||
| 2022–2023 | Málaga | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2024 | Málaga B | 16 | (1) |
| 2023– | Málaga | 43 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023 | Republic of Ireland U16 | 5 | (1) |
| 2023–2024 | Republic of Ireland U17 | 8 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | Republic of Ireland U19 | 12 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:52, 2 February 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 14:16, 19 March 2026 (UTC) | |||
Aarón Ochoa Moloney (born 18 April 2007) is a footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Spanish club Málaga CF. Born in Spain, he is a Republic of Ireland youth international.
Club career
Born in Marbella, Málaga, Andalusia to an Irish mother and a Spanish father from La Rioja,[1] Ochoa joined Málaga CF's youth setup at the age of nine, from CD Peña Los Compadres.[2] He made his senior debut with the reserves on 22 October 2023, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 Tercera Federación home loss to Juventud de Torremolinos CF.
Ochoa made his made his first team debut on 6 December 2023, replacing injured Juan Hernández in the first half of a 1–0 home win over CD Eldense, for the season's Copa del Rey; aged 16 years, seven months and 18 days, he became the second-youngest player to debut for the club, only behind Fabrice Olinga.[3] He scored his first senior goal the following 25 February, netting the B's opener in a 5–0 home routing of CD Torreperogil,[4] and renewed his contract until 2027 on 17 April 2024.[5]
Ochoa featured in nine matches with the main squad overall during the campaign, as the Blanquiazules achieved promotion to Segunda División. He made his professional debut on 17 August 2024, starting in a 2–2 away draw against Racing de Ferrol.[6]
International career
Having been capped by the Republic of Ireland at under-16, under-17 and under-19 level, Ochoa Moloney received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad in March 2026.[7]
Style of play
Ochoa mainly operates as a midfielder and is known for his dribbling ability.[8]
Career Statistics
- As of match played on 2 February 2026[9]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Málaga B | 2023–24 | Tercera Federación | 16 | 1 | — | 2[b] | 0 | 18 | 1 | |
| Málaga | 2023–24 | Primera Federación | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 2024–25 | Segunda División | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 27 | 0 | ||
| 2025–26 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 13 | 2 | |||
| Total | 43 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 61 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 68 | 3 | ||
- ^ Includes Copa del Rey
- ^ Appearances in the 2024 Tercera Federación play-offs
- ^ Appearance in the 2024 Primera Federación play-offs
References
- ^ "Aarón Ochoa - El 'menudo' talento precoz con sangre irlandesa" [Aarón Ochoa - The 'tiny' precocious talent with Irish blood] (in Spanish). Merchán en Directo. 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Así es Aarón Ochoa, un diamante por pulir de la cantera del Málaga" [This is Aarón Ochoa, a rough diamond of Málaga's youth setup] (in Spanish). Diario Sur. 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Ochoa, segundo debutante más joven de la historia en el Málaga" [Ochoa, second-youngest debutant of history at Málaga] (in Spanish). Diario Sur. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ "Festín del Atlético Malagueño ante el Torreperogil" [Party of Atlético Malagueño over Torreperogil] (in Spanish). Málaga Hoy. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ "El Málaga blinda a Aarón Ochoa hasta 2027" [Málaga tie up Aarón Ochoa until 2027] (in Spanish). Diario Sur. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ "El Málaga sobrevive al 'huracán' Jauregi" [Málaga survive the 'hurricane' Jauregi] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 17 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ "Under-21s squad names for March EURO qualifiers". www.fai.ie.
- ^ "Aarón Ochoa, el salvador del Málaga CF para volver a Segunda" [Aarón Ochoa, the savior of Málaga CF to return to Segunda] (in Spanish). El Gol Digital. 9 December 2023.
- ^ Aarón Ochoa at Soccerway
External links
- Aarón Ochoa at BDFutbol
- Aarón Ochoa at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)
- Aarón Ochoa at Soccerway