Nicolás Stefanelli


Nicolás Marcelo Stefanelli is an Argentine footballer who plays for Unión La Calera.

Club career

Defensa y Justicia

In 2014, Defensa y Justicia were promoted for the first time ever to the Argentine Primera División. During the following pre-season, in July 2014, Stefanelli was moved up to the A squad from the U19 squad. It was, however, decided that he would benefit from being loaned out, so he would have to wait another 18 months for his debut in the first tier.

Villa Dálmine

On 15 August 2014 Stefanelli started a loan spell at Villa Dálmine, contributing to their promotion from Primera B Metropolitana, the third tier of Argentine football, to Primera B Nacional, the second tier. His league debut came on 1 September 2014 in a 1-0 win over Club Atlético Atlanta. He came on as a substitute in the 75th minute, replacing Gabriel Sanabria. He scored his first goal for Dálmine three weeks later in a 1-1 draw with Chacarita Juniors. The goal came in the 75th minute, six minutes after he had been brought on off the bench.

Return to Defensa y Justicia

On 1 January 2016 Stefanelli returned to Defensa and the Argentine Primera Division. During 18 months he scored a total of 11 goals in 35 appearances. The club finished fourth in Zone 2 of the 2016 Argentine Primera División, which qualified them for the 2017 Copa Sudamericana. Defensa y Justicia finished tenth in the 2016–17 season and were therefore qualified for the 2018 Copa Sudamericana.

AIK

On 1 July 2017 AIK, of the Swedish first tier Allsvenskan, announced that they had signed Stefanelli on a three-and-a-half-year contract, from 15 July 2017 to 31 December 2020. He made his Allsvenskan debut on 16 July 2017, a 1–0 home win against IFK Norrköping. Stefanelli was praised by both pundits and AIK fans afterwards, even though he didn't manage to score. On 1 October 2017 he scored a hattrick when AIK won 5–2 win against Elfsborg.

Anorthosis Famagusta

On 18 January 2019 it was announced that Stefanelli had signed a loan deal with Anorthosis Famagusta in the Cypriot First Division.

Career statistics

Personal life

Stefanelli is a dual national; he holds an Italian EU passport as well as an Argentine passport. He grew up and went to school in Quilmes, Argentina. Stefanelli is nicknamed "Chicho" in Argentina and "Nico" by his Swedish teammates.

Honours

AIK