6’4” 13st.1lb.
b. Godoy Cruz,Mendozo Province,Argentina 7 April 1989
 

Debut  15 August 2009 (20y 130d) Final Game 24 April 2010 (21y 17d)
First goal 18 October 2009
CAREER: Escuela Efago de Ariel Gómez;Andes Talleres;Godoy Cruz;Tiro Suizo de Rosario;Audax Italiano (Chile);Chelsea Jan’08 (£3,400,000)[0+8];Blackburn Rovers Aug’09 (loan);Wigan Athletic Aug’10-Jun’13 (£1,000,000)[57+35-13];Werder Bremen (Germany) Aug’13(free);FC Schalke (Germany) Jul’15 (€6,000,000);Rayo Vallecano (Spain) Jan'19 (free).
INTERNATIONALS  Argentina 0 + 3 apps
’13 v SAr(s),Swe(s),Bol(s).
HONOURS FAC winner ’13 (Wigan Athletic) nps
SQUAD NUMBER 26 Aug’09
 

PL        15 + 7 apps    1 gl       - 13 wdn                               18 ns
FAC      1 app
FLC        0 + 1 app                                                                    2 ns
Total  16 + 8 apps     1 gl       - 13 wdn  +111m – 328 m   20 ns
Strike rate 1,223 mins
 

Born in rural Argentina to Piemontese immigrants, Di Santo progressed with local clubs. His entry into top flight football came not in his home country, but in Chile, due to local Italian ties with Audax Italiano. The strong, young striker quickly made a name for himself, with 35 goals in 86 games, sufficient to attract the attentions of Chelsea and since he had an Italian passport, his work permit was guaranteed. Although he struggled to obtain much first team football in the expensively acquired Chelsea team he was made a member of the first team squad. His loan movement to Ewood in August 2009 was of mutual interest since it was hoped that he would experience more Premiership football, and fill the void left by the departure of Roque Santa Cruz. Despite his lack of years he had displayed welcome signs of maturity and responsibility when he first came to England, arranging with the Chelsea club a donation to the Escuela del Paraje La Bajada de Lavalle, a school in remote Argentina where the pupils had to endure considerable hardships just to attend. Much admired for his effort and endeavour and a handful to contain, he had little presence in the crucial scoring areas of the field and in the second half of the season saw little action.