Joaquín Ardaiz

Joaquín Ardaiz
	Ardaiz with Uruguay U20 in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Joaquín Matías Ardaiz de los Santos
Date of birth	11 January 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	Salto, Uruguay
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
	Saladero Salto
2010–2015	Danubio
Senior career*
Years	Team
2016–2017	Danubio
2017–2018	El Tanque Sisley
2017	→ Danubio (loan)
2017–2018	→ Royal Antwerp (loan)
2018–2020	Chiasso
2018	→ Frosinone (loan)
2019	→ Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan)
2020–2021	Lugano
2021–2022	Schaffhausen
2022–2024	Luzern
2023	→ Winterthur (loan)
2023–2024	→ Şanlıurfaspor (loan)
International career
2012	Uruguay U15
2016–2017	Uruguay U20
Medal record
Men's football
Representing Uruguay
South American U-20 Championship
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 August 2024

Joaquín Matías Ardaiz de los Santos (born 11 January 1999) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a forward.^[1]

Club career

Danubio

Born in Salto, Ardaiz joined Danubio's youth setup in 2012, from Club Saladero.^[2] Promoted to the main squad ahead of the 2016 campaign,^[3] he appeared in friendlies against Brazilian sides Grêmio and Cruzeiro before making his official debut on 14 February, coming on as a second-half substitute for Marcelo Saracchi in a 1–0 away loss against Cerro.^[4]

On 21 February 2016, Ardaiz scored the equalizer in a 3–3 home draw against El Tanque Sisley.^[5] The following 16 January, he was sold to a group of English investors, having 70% of his federative rights acquired; he was assigned to El Tanque Sisley, and was immediately loaned back to Danubio.^[6]

Loan to Royal Antwerp

On 28 August 2017, Ardaiz moved abroad for the first time in his career after agreeing to a one-year loan deal with Royal Antwerp FC.^[7] He made his debut for the club on 22 September, replacing William Owusu late into a 3–0 home win against KV Kortrijk.

Ardaiz scored his first goal abroad on 29 October 2017, netting his team's first in a 2–2 away draw against Royal Excel Mouscron.

Loan to Frosinone

On 17 August 2018, Ardaiz joined Italian side Frosinone on a year-long loan with an option to buy.^[8] On 22 January 2019, Ardaiz return to Chiasso.^[9]

Loan to Vancouver Whitecaps FC

On 8 February 2019, Ardaiz joined Major League Soccer side Vancouver Whitecaps FC on a season-long loan.^[10]

Lugano

On 19 August 2020, Ardaiz joined Swiss Super League side Lugano.^[11]

Schaffhausen

On 28 July 2021, Ardaiz signed with Swiss Challenge League side FC Schaffhausen.^[12] He played every single league game for Schaffhausen and was the top scorer of the with a total of 20 goals in the 2021–22 season.^[13] He was thus instrumental in Schaffhausen reaching second place and qualifying to the promotion playoff, which they eventually lost to FC Luzern.

Luzern

On 24 June 2022, Ardaiz moved to another Swiss club Luzern on a three-year deal.^[14] On 10 August 2023, he was loaned to Şanlıurfaspor.^[15]

International career

Ardaiz represented Uruguay at under-15 and under-20 levels.^[16]

Personal life

Ardaiz's elder brother Matías de Los Santos is also a footballer.^[3]

Career statistics

As of 8 September 2022^[1]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Danubio	2015–16	Uruguayan Primera División	11	1	—		—		—		11	1
	2016		10	3	—		—		—		10	3
	2017		8	0	—		1^[a]	0	—		9	0
	Subtotal		29	4	0	0	1	0	—		30	4
Royal Antwerp	2017–18	Belgian First Division A	13	3	2	0	—		8^[b]	2	23	5
Frosinone	2018–19	Serie A	1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
Vancouver Whitecaps	2019	Major League Soccer	16	0	2	0	—		—		18	0
Lugano	2020–21	Swiss Super League	26	3	2	0	—		—		28	3
Schaffhausen	2021–22	Swiss Challenge League	36	20	2	0	—		2^[c]	0	40	20
Luzern	2022–23	Swiss Super League	6	0	1	1	—		—		7	1
Career total			127	30	9	1	1	0	10	2	147	33