Jordi Amat (footballer)

Jordi Amat Maas (born 21 March 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Malaysia Super League club Johor Darul Ta'zim and the Indonesia national team.

He spent the majority of his career with Espanyol and Swansea City, also representing Rayo Vallecano (two spells) and Betis in La Liga as well as Belgian Pro League club Eupen, before joining Johor Darul Ta'zim in June 2022.

Born in Spain, Amat played for that country at youth level and Indonesia as a senior, making his debut for the latter in 2022. He was a member of the squad that appeared at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

Espanyol
Born in Canet de Mar, Barcelona, Catalonia, Amat joined Espanyol's youth system at the age of only 7. He began appearing as a senior with the B team, in the Segunda División B.

On 24 January 2010, two months shy of his 18th birthday, Amat played his first La Liga match with the club, coming on as a late substitute in a 1–1 home draw against RCD Mallorca. He finished his first full season with 26 appearances (28 in all competitions), helping the Pericos to a final eighth position.

Amat was loaned to fellow top-tier Rayo Vallecano for 2012–13, being first choice during the campaign. He scored his first goal for the Madrid outskirts side on 24 February 2013, netting from 50 metres in an eventual 1–2 home loss to Real Valladolid and also putting one in his own net in the same match.

Swansea City
On 27 June 2013, Premier League club Swansea City announced Amat had been signed for a transfer fee of £2.5 million on a four-year deal; it was subject to international clearance and a medical. He made his official debut on 1 August, playing the full 90 minutes in a 4–0 home victory over Malmö FF in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.

Amat agreed to a one-year contract extension on 11 March 2015, keeping him at the Liberty Stadium until 2018. On 7 July 2017, he was loaned to Real Betis for one season.

Return to Rayo
On 9 August 2018, Amat returned to both Rayo Vallecano and the Spanish top flight, signing for an undisclosed fee. He played his first match in his second spell ten days later, featuring the entire 1–4 home defeat against Sevilla FC.

On 1 August 2019, after Rayo's relegation, Amat joined K.A.S. Eupen of the Belgian Pro League on a one-year loan, with an obligation to buy at the end of the season.

Johor Darul Ta'zim
On 29 June 2022, Amat joined Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C. of the Malaysia Super League. He made his debut on 19 August, in a 5–0 loss to Urawa Red Diamonds in the round of 16 of the AFC Champions League.

Amat played the full 90 minutes in three of Johor's 2022 Malaysia Cup matches, a 2–0 win against Petaling Jaya City FC in the round of 16's second leg, the 5–0 victory over Kelantan F.C. in the quarter-finals as well as the decisive match, a 3–1 defeat of Sabah FC. On 2 February 2023, he captained his team for the first time, in a friendly against Russian Premier League club FC Lokomotiv Moscow. His league bow took place later that month, in a 2–0 victory over Terengganu FC where he also acted as captain.

Spain
Amat made his competitive debut for the Spanish under-17s in 2009. He also represented the nation at under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels.

Indonesia
In November 2022, Amat was called up by the Indonesia national team for a training camp in preparation for the 2022 AFF Championship. Selected for the final squad, he won his first cap on 23 December in a 2–1 win over Cambodia in the group stage; as his side operated in a 4–3–3 formation, he was their only player to be included in the tournament's All-Star XI, playing four complete matches and missing one due to yellow cards.

Amat scored his first goal for Indonesia on 28 March 2023, a last-minute effort in a friendly against Burundi to equalise 2–2.

Personal life
Amat has Indonesian ancestry through one of his grandmothers, born in Makassar and also a descendant of the 14th and 17th Kings of Kingdom of Siau in Sitaro Islands, Jacob Ponto (1850–1889) and Manalang Doelag Kansil (1895–1908), respectively. He was officially welcomed as part of the Nusantara Sultanate Royal Council on 1 July 2022, being awarded the title of Pangeran (prince).

Amat obtained Indonesian citizenship through naturalisation in November 2022.

Honours
Johor Darul Ta'zim
 * Malaysia Super League: 2023
 * Malaysia FA Cup: 2022, 2023
 * Malaysia Cup: 2022, 2023
 * Piala Sumbangsih: 2023

Spain U17
 * FIFA U-17 World Cup third place: 2009

Individual
 * AFF Championship Best XI: 2022
 * FAM Football Awards: Team of the Season 2023