An extra chapter has been added to Christian Stuani’s fairytale at Girona. The 38-year-old club legend is extending his stay in Catalonia for another year.
In an age where loyalty in football is increasingly rare, Christian Stuani’s story with Girona stands out as something truly special.
This week, the Catalan club announced that the Uruguayan striker has renewed his contract for one more season, extending a remarkable journey that began in 2017 and has evolved into a historic bond between player, club and city.
Stuani, now 38, arrived at Girona at a pivotal moment. The club had just been promoted to La Liga for the first time in its history, and the challenge ahead was enormous. Yet from the very beginning, Stuani embraced the project with full commitment. In his very first season, he scored 21 goals in the Spanish top flight, instantly becoming a key figure not only in the team’s survival but also in the way the club began to shape its identity at the highest level. Over the years, he became far more than just a goalscorer he became the reference point of a growing club, a leader, and the emotional backbone of Girona's ascent in Spanish football.
Since his arrival, Stuani has played 289 official matches and scored 140 goals, making him the all-time leading scorer in Girona’s history. These are not just impressive numbers; they represent his central role in nearly every significant chapter the club has written over the past seven years. His goals helped Girona stay in La Liga, then fight back after relegation, and eventually rise again to reach unprecedented heights. Perhaps most astonishingly, Stuani remained loyal even when the club dropped to the Segunda División. Offers came reportedly from top-flight Spanish and foreign clubs but he chose to stay, determined to help Girona return to where he believed it belonged.
And return they did. In 2022, Girona earned promotion back to La Liga, with Stuani playing a decisive role in the playoff campaign. His experience, leadership and goals proved crucial, and he did not shy away from the pressure. What followed was yet another extraordinary milestone: in the 2023/24 season, Girona secured qualification for the UEFA Champions League the greatest sporting achievement in the club’s history.
For Stuani, now in the twilight of his career, it was a deserved reward. Though no longer a regular starter due to his age, he continued to contribute in key moments throughout the season. More importantly, he brought calm, perspective, and character to a youthful and ambitious dressing room. In the Champions League group stage, he came off the bench in matches against Feyenoord and PSV. Girona failed to collect points from those encounters, but the mere sight of Stuani taking the field in the Champions League, wearing the badge he had defended in the second division, was deeply symbolic. For many Girona fans, it felt like a moment of justice the culmination of everything he had given to the club.
Despite the growing physical demands of top-level football and the increasing competition for places, Stuani’s role remains indispensable. His presence is not measured only in minutes played or goals scored, but in the quiet influence he exerts within the squad. His leadership is widely recognised by coaches, teammates and supporters. His understanding of the club’s values, his connection with the fans, and his continued commitment to the badge have made him more than just a player he is a living legend in Montilivi.
Girona’s official statement on his renewal reflected that sentiment. The club described him as “a role model in terms of leadership, commitment to the club, and love for the fans,” and underlined that he remains “a key figure both on the pitch and in the dressing room.” It was a clear message: Stuani’s value goes beyond goals. He embodies the spirit of Girona, and his continued presence is a symbol of identity and continuity in a rapidly changing football landscape.
Over the years, Stuani has rejected lucrative transfers and easier paths in order to stay loyal to a project he truly believes in. That decision has earned him enormous respect not just from Girona fans, but from football supporters across Spain. Very few foreign players have embedded themselves so deeply into the culture of a club outside the traditional powerhouses. His name is now inseparable from the club’s modern story.
As he prepares for the 2024/25 season, there’s a sense that this may be the final chapter in his career. But if it is, he is determined to make it count. He’ll continue to serve the club with the same humility, professionalism and love that have defined his journey so far. Whether he’s scoring goals, helping teammates, or simply leading by example, Christian Stuani will once again be there in red and white, under the Montilivi lights, defending the colours he chose to call home.
For Girona, keeping Stuani is more than just a renewal it is a reaffirmation of their values. In a world of short-term decisions and fleeting allegiances, this story remains a powerful reminder that loyalty, respect, and shared purpose still matter in football.
