Jefferson Montero
Jefferson Antonio Montero Vite (born 1 September 1989 in Babahoyo, Ecuador) is an Ecuadorian footballer who plays as a winger for FC St Helens in the North West Counties League Premier Division. He has also played for the Ecuador national team.
Montero started his professional career with Emelec in Ecuador and made a name for himself while at Independiente José Teran. He had a loan spell with Dorados in Mexico before moving to Europe to join Villarreal in 2009. At Villarreal he spent time with the first team and was loaned to Levante and Real Betis.
In 2012 he moved to Monarcas Morelia in Mexico, where he scored several goals and had notable moments, including a Copa MX hat-trick against Dorados. In 2014 he signed for Swansea City in the Premier League, making his league debut against Manchester United.
Montero spent the 2017-18 season on loan at Getafe in Spain, then returned to Ecuador on loan with Emelec in 2018. He later had loan spells with West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City in England. After leaving Swansea in 2020, he joined Querétaro in Mexico.
His later clubs included 9 de Octubre and Aucas in Ecuador, Academia V in 2024, and, in 2025, FC St Helens in England.
Internationally, Montero earned 64 caps for Ecuador from 2007 to 2018, scoring 10 goals. He played for Ecuador at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and helped Ecuador win gold at the 2007 Pan American Games.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 15:11 (CET).