Born in Motilla del Palancar, Cuenca, Kike joined Real Murcia's youth categories aged 18, after a brief spell with local CD Quintanar del Rey. He made his senior debut with the former's reserves in the 2007–08 season, in Tercera División. On 23 May 2009, Kike played his first match as a professional, coming on as a substitute for Enrique de Lucas in a 2–2 away draw against RC Celta de Vigo for the Segunda División championship. He scored his first goal roughly a month later, the first in a 2–1 home victory over UD Salamanca; in November he signed a new three-year contract, being definitely promoted to the main squad. Kike suffered an injury in his fibula in September 2011 and, despite being initially sidelined for a month, he was out of action for the entire campaign. In October of the following year he signed a new deal with Murcia, running until 2016. In his final year with the Pimentoneros, 2013–14, Kike was the joint second top scorer in the league with 23 goals and helped his team to the La Liga promotion play-offs. He was also May's Player of the Month.
Middlesbrough
On 11 July 2014, Kike joined English Football League Championship side Middlesbrough, in a €3.5 million deal. He was signed by compatriot Aitor Karanka, who had worked with him at international youth level, and made his competitive debut on 9 August by starting at home to Birmingham City on the opening day of the season, scoring his team's second goal in the 66th minute for a 2–0 home win; he found the net again in his second appearance three days later, replacing Adam Reach early into the second half of a Football League Cup tie at Oldham Athletic and scoring the last goal in a 3–0 victory. Kike came on for Jelle Vossen in the 86th minute of Middlesbrough's FA Cup fourth round match at reigning Premier League champions Manchester City on 24 January 2015, and scored the second goal of a 2–0 win. On 10 February, he netted an 88th-minute winner in a 2–1 away defeat of Blackpool, a result which moved his team above Bournemouth into first place. Kike scored in Middlesbrough's 3–0 win over Brentford on 15 May 2015, which advanced the hosts to the play-off final 5–1 on aggregate. He was a substitute in the decisive match, a 0–2 loss to Norwich City at Wembley Stadium. On 15 August 2015, Kike scored his first two-goal haul for Middlesbrough, a first-half double in a 3–0 home win over Bolton Wanderers. He scored and assisted Christian Stuani on 19 December in a 3–0 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion, which ended the hosts' unbeaten season and put the opposition on top of the league table.
Eibar
The signings of strikers David Nugent and Jordan Rhodes at Middlesbrough led to speculation about Kike's future at the club, creating extra pressure for him to be included in the starting line-up. After interest from fellow league teams Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, he left and on 2 February 2016 signed for SD Eibar in La Liga, but a late registration meant that he would be ineligible to play until the following season. Kike finally made his debut for the Basques on 19 August 2016, starting in a 1–2 away loss against Deportivo de La Coruña. He scored seven goals in his debut campaign – nine across all competitions – helping to a tenth-place finish.
