Jokin Gabilondo joined the club in the summer of 2023, arriving from Real Sociedad ‘B’. In the third tier of Spanish football, the right-back made 37 appearances, scoring once, and also featured once in the Copa del Rey and four times in the promotion playoffs. The 2023/24 season proved memorable, as Málaga secured promotion to the Second Division in Tarragona.

The Basque defender went on to play 21 matches in LALIGA HYPERMOTION during the 2024/25 campaign, 14 of them as a starter. He added a further 11 appearances in the 2025/26 season (nine in the league and two in the Copa del Rey), bringing his overall tally to 74 official matches for Málaga across three seasons.

The victory in Almería that secured promotion to the First Division brings an end to a beautiful chapter in which Jokin contributed both on and off the pitch, playing his part in helping the club return to the top tier of Spanish football.

The Malaguista family wishes him all the best for his future, both professionally and personally, with the certainty that he will always be remembered as part of a historic period for Málaga, one marked by two promotions in three years that will remain etched in the club’s history.

Málaga CF expresses its gratitude to Jokin Gabilondo for his professionalism, commitment, and dedication throughout these three seasons. Thank you for everything, Jokin!