Jesús Owono Returns to FC Andorra on Loan from Alavés

Jesús Owono is close to returning to FC Andorra on loan from Deportivo Alavés until the end of the season, with the deal now including an option to buy.

The 25-year-old Equatoguinean international, under contract with Alavés until 2029, knows the club well after featuring in 20 matches last term. He kept six clean sheets, conceded 22 goals and ended the campaign as first choice under Carles Manso. Owono has not been called up for Alavés's first two Primera División games this season, with Antonio Sivera as the clear number one ahead of Adrián Rodríguez.

Reports from Vitoria suggest the operation has shifted from an initial purchase plan to a loan with a purchase option at the end. Owono reportedly turned down opportunities in Spain's Segunda División, Italy and France to rejoin the Tricolours, where he will compete with Pau López, Nico Ratti and young Jan Lagunas for a starting place.

The potential move comes days after FC Andorra's 4-2 loss at Celta Fortuna in Balaídos, where they led 2-0 before conceding three late goals. Manso described the collapse as a failure to read the game when ahead, stressing the need for patience and better management of favourable moments. "We didn't have that patience, we didn't interpret well what the match was asking of us at that point," he said.

Despite the defeat, Manso insisted it changes nothing in the club's transfer plans. "The roadmap is the same," he confirmed, defending the team's early attacking output and praising young players like Randy Schneider, Moró Sidibé and Julian Rijkhoff. He also backed defender Bomba, calling any blame on him unfair given the collective defending required by Andorra's style.

Sitting third with three points from six and seven goals scored, Andorra prepare to face Eibar on Sunday. Owono's return would bolster a goalkeeping unit at a side showing early promise in the Segunda División.