Quick Facts
Biography
Nicolás Marcelo "Chicho" Stefanelli (Spanish pronunciation: [nikoˈlas maɾˈθelo ˈtʃitʃo stefaˈneli]; born 22 November 1994 in Quilmes, Buenos Aires Province) is an Argentine footballer who plays for AIK in the Swedish first tier, Allsvenskan.
Club career
Defensa y Justicia
In 2014, Defensa y Justicia were promoted for the first time ever to the Argentine Primera División. During the following pre-season, in July 2014, Stefanelli was moved up to the A squad from the U19 squad. It was, however, decided that he would benefit from being loaned out, so he would have to wait another 18 months for his debut in the first tier.
Villa Dálmine
On 15 August 2014 Stefanelli started a loan spell at Villa Dálmine, contributing to their promotion from Primera B Metropolitana, the third tier av Argentine football, to Primera B Nacional, the second tier.
Defensa y Justicia
On 1 January 2016 Stefanelli returned to Defensa and the Argentine Primera Division. During 18 months he scored a total of 11 goals in 35 appearances. The club finished fourth in Zone 2 of the 2016 Argentine Primera División, which qualified them for the 2017 Copa Sudamericana. Defensa y Justicia finished tenth in the 2016–17 season and were therefore qualified for the 2018 Copa Sudamericana.
AIK
On 1 July 2017 AIK, of the Swedish first tier Allsvenskan, announced that they had signed Stefanelli on a three-and-a-half-year contract, from 15 July 2017 to 31 December 2020. He made his Allsvenskan debut on 16 July 2017, a 1–0 home win against IFK Norrköping. Stefanelli was praised by both pundits and AIK fans afterwards, even though he didn't manage to score.
Personal life
Stefanelli is a dual national; he holds an Italian EU passport as well an Argentine passport. He grow up in Quilmes, Argentina, and went to school there.