# Yerry Mina
**Yerry Fernando Mina González** (born 1994 in Guachené, Cauca) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a center-back for Cagliari in [Serie A](https://www.edgepedia.org/serie-a) and for the Colombia national team. He was the first Colombian ever to play a match for the [FC Barcelona](https://www.edgepedia.org/fc-barcelona) first team, and he is known for his aerial strength at 1.95 m tall.[1](https://players.fcbarcelona.com/en/player/2761-yerry-mina) • [2](https://fcf.com.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Guia-de-medios-Clasificados-a-la-Copa-Mundial-de-la-FIFA-2026.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / born | Yerry Fernando Mina González, 1994, Guachené, Cauca, Colombia[1](https://players.fcbarcelona.com/en/player/2761-yerry-mina) |
| Position / height | Centre-back, 1.95 m[2](https://fcf.com.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Guia-de-medios-Clasificados-a-la-Copa-Mundial-de-la-FIFA-2026.pdf) |
| Barcelona first | First Colombian to play for the FC Barcelona first team; 7 official matches, 467 minutes, 0 goals in 2018[1](https://players.fcbarcelona.com/en/player/2761-yerry-mina) |
| Transfer fees | Palmeiras to Barcelona €12.4M (Jan 2018); Barcelona to Everton €30.3M (Aug 2018); Everton to Fiorentina free (Aug 2023); Fiorentina to Cagliari €0.5M (Jan 2024)[3](https://www.footballtransfers.com/us/players/yerry-mina/transfer-history) |
| Colombia record | 55 games, 8 goals, 1 assist[4](https://theanalyst.com/players/4573/yerry-mina/national) |
| Major tournaments | World Cup 2018 and 2026; Copa América 2016, 2019, and 2021[1](https://players.fcbarcelona.com/en/player/2761-yerry-mina) • [5](https://elpais.com/america-colombia/2026-05-25/colombia-anuncia-sus-26-convocados-para-el-mundial-con-lucho-diaz-y-james-rodriguez-a-la-cabeza.html) |
| Barcelona titles | One La Liga, one Copa del Rey, one Catalan Super Cup[1](https://players.fcbarcelona.com/en/player/2761-yerry-mina) |
## Early career in Colombia and Brazil
Mina began as a goalkeeper, following his uncle and agent Jair, while his father José Eulises preferred that he play in midfield. Deportivo Cali rejected him at a trial, and he joined Deportivo Pasto instead, moving to Independiente Santa Fe in Bogotá. There, coach Gustavo Costas moved him back to center-back, a decision that transformed his career.[6](https://as.com/us/us/2018/01/11/futbol/1515682529_713445.html)
In 2016 he moved to Palmeiras for a reported 3.3 million euros and became a cornerstone of the São Paulo club's side, winning individual recognition as best defender of the 2016 Brazilian Championship and a place in the Best XI of America that year.[1](https://players.fcbarcelona.com/en/player/2761-yerry-mina) • [6](https://as.com/us/us/2018/01/11/futbol/1515682529_713445.html)
## FC Barcelona
Barcelona announced Mina's signing on 11 January 2018 for 11.8 million euros according to official club figures, on a contract of five and a half seasons to June 2023 with a 100 million euro release clause.[7](https://as.com/futbol/2018/01/11/primera/1515663857_783393.html) He wore the number 24 shirt.[6](https://as.com/us/us/2018/01/11/futbol/1515682529_713445.html)
His spell lasted half a season. Behind [Gerard Piqué](https://www.edgepedia.org/gerard-pique) and [Samuel Umtiti](https://www.edgepedia.org/samuel-umtiti) he played little, and he later said that coach [Ernesto Valverde](https://www.edgepedia.org/ernesto-valverde) spoke to him only on his first day and did not address him again for seven months. He suffered a foot injury after a tackle from Ivan Rakitić in training. He still collected a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey, and a Catalan Super Cup, finishing with 7 official matches and 467 minutes played.[1](https://players.fcbarcelona.com/en/player/2761-yerry-mina) • [8](https://as.com/futbol/yerry-mina-la-excepcion-de-valverde-n/) In an Italian interview he said Real Madrid had also been interested, "but I wanted to go to Barcelona".[8](https://as.com/futbol/yerry-mina-la-excepcion-de-valverde-n/)
## Everton and Italy
Everton signed Mina from Barcelona for 30.3 million euros on 9 August 2018, a move he attributed to coach [Marco Silva](https://www.edgepedia.org/marco-silva).[3](https://www.footballtransfers.com/us/players/yerry-mina/transfer-history) • [8](https://as.com/futbol/yerry-mina-la-excepcion-de-valverde-n/) He spent five seasons at the club, later also working under [Carlo Ancelotti](https://www.edgepedia.org/carlo-ancelotti), but recurring injuries limited his availability, and he left on a free transfer to Fiorentina in August 2023.[3](https://www.footballtransfers.com/us/players/yerry-mina/transfer-history) • [8](https://as.com/futbol/yerry-mina-la-excepcion-de-valverde-n/)
After half a season at Fiorentina he joined Cagliari on 31 January 2024 for 0.5 million euros, where he signed a contract running to June 2028 and became a regular starter.[3](https://www.footballtransfers.com/us/players/yerry-mina/transfer-history) • [9](https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe331297/yerry-mina/) Across the 2025-26 and 2026-27 league seasons, Cagliari averaged 1.39 points per match in the 28 league games he started against 0.67 in the 12 he did not play, though the site itself cautions that a side also changes with the opponents it meets.[10](https://11footy.com/players/yerry-mina)
## International career
Mina has played 55 games for Colombia, scoring 8 goals and providing 1 assist.[4](https://theanalyst.com/players/4573/yerry-mina/national) At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he wore the number 13 shirt, his goal against Senegal gave Colombia a 1-0 win and first place in Group H.[11](https://www.radioacktiva.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/hzfqyndmnqazczvc5xdb-2.pdf) • [12](https://occidente.co/wp-content/version-impresa/2018/diario-pdf-12-de-enero-de-2018.pdf) He also appeared at the [Copa América](https://www.edgepedia.org/copa-america) in 2016, 2019, and 2021.[1](https://players.fcbarcelona.com/en/player/2761-yerry-mina)
His most recent international goal came in a CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier against Venezuela in September 2025, a 6-3 win in which he played the full 90 minutes. He made four appearances for Colombia in 2025, scoring once and assisting once.[4](https://theanalyst.com/players/4573/yerry-mina/national) In May 2026 he was named in Colombia's 26-player squad for the 2026 World Cup.[5](https://elpais.com/america-colombia/2026-05-25/colombia-anuncia-sus-26-convocados-para-el-mundial-con-lucho-diaz-y-james-rodriguez-a-la-cabeza.html)
## Playing style
Mina is a physically imposing center-back whose defensive game is built on aerial play and leadership; the Colombian federation's 2026 World Cup media guide highlights his ability to stop set-piece attacks by organizing his teammates and using his 1.95 m frame.[2](https://fcf.com.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Guia-de-medios-Clasificados-a-la-Copa-Mundial-de-la-FIFA-2026.pdf) He is also a goal threat from set pieces, attacking the ball at the near post, and prefers to play the ball out from the back.[6](https://as.com/us/us/2018/01/11/futbol/1515682529_713445.html) • [13](https://as.com/us/2018/01/12/futbol/1515772459_098147.html) His career record includes 296 club appearances with 26 goals across seven clubs, an unusually high scoring return for a defender.[14](https://fieldinsider.com/scout-report/yerry-fernando-mina-gonzalez-2484)
## References
1. [Yerry Mina stats, FC Barcelona Players](https://players.fcbarcelona.com/en/player/2761-yerry-mina)
2. [Guía de medios clasificados a la Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026, Federación Colombiana de Fútbol](https://fcf.com.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Guia-de-medios-Clasificados-a-la-Copa-Mundial-de-la-FIFA-2026.pdf)
3. [Yerry Mina Transfer History, FootballTransfers](https://www.footballtransfers.com/us/players/yerry-mina/transfer-history)
4. [Yerry Mina International Career, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/4573/yerry-mina/national)
5. [Colombia anuncia sus 26 convocados para el Mundial, El País América Colombia](https://elpais.com/america-colombia/2026-05-25/colombia-anuncia-sus-26-convocados-para-el-mundial-con-lucho-diaz-y-james-rodriguez-a-la-cabeza.html)
6. [Así es Yerry Mina, primer colombiano de la historia del Barça, AS USA](https://as.com/us/us/2018/01/11/futbol/1515682529_713445.html)
7. [El Barça hace oficial el fichaje de Yerry Mina: cuesta 11,8M€, AS](https://as.com/futbol/2018/01/11/primera/1515663857_783393.html)
8. [Yerry Mina, la excepción de Valverde, AS](https://as.com/futbol/yerry-mina-la-excepcion-de-valverde-n/)
9. [Yerry Mina: Career, Stats & Clubs, worldfootball.net](https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe331297/yerry-mina/)
10. [Yerry Mina: stats, goals and career, 11footy](https://11footy.com/players/yerry-mina)
11. [2018 FIFA World Cup Russia squad list, Radio Acktiva](https://www.radioacktiva.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/hzfqyndmnqazczvc5xdb-2.pdf)
12. [Diario Occidente, 12 de enero de 2018](https://occidente.co/wp-content/version-impresa/2018/diario-pdf-12-de-enero-de-2018.pdf)
13. [Márquez, Milito y Mascherano; ejemplos para Mina en el Barça, AS](https://as.com/us/2018/01/12/futbol/1515772459_098147.html)
14. [Yerry Mina: Stats, Rating & Scouting Report, Field Insider](https://fieldinsider.com/scout-report/yerry-fernando-mina-gonzalez-2484)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of South America › Colombian men's footballers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license