Lierse SK complete Cristian Makate move after Union SG spell

Equatorial Guinea and Spain forward Cristian Makate has joined Lierse SK from Union SG, giving the Challenger Pro League club a new centre-forward for the 2026-27 campaign.

Makate, 23, switches to Lierse after spending the previous season between Union SG and La Louviere. The 1.78m striker joined La Louviere on loan from Union SG on 28 January 2026 before returning to the Brussels club at the end of June.

He then completed his move to Lierse on 12 August 2026. The transfer follows Makate’s involvement in Union SG’s Belgian Cup-winning campaign, with the club securing the trophy in 2026.

The forward began his senior career in Spain before moving into Belgian football. He came through the youth system at San Francisco and Mallorca, joining Platges Calvia in 2021 after leaving Mallorca’s under-19 side.

Makate moved from Platges Calvia to Ambrosiana in December 2021, before joining Union SG U23 on a free transfer in August 2022. His progression continued with a move into the Union SG first-team setup in July 2025.

He spent part of that 2025-26 season away from Union SG at La Louviere, gaining experience in Belgian football before returning to the club in the summer. His latest move keeps him in the Belgian game, with Lierse competing in the country’s second tier.

Makate is a right-footed centre-forward and holds Equatorial Guinean and Spanish nationality. He joins Lierse with a market value of €200,000 and becomes part of a squad competing in the Challenger Pro League.

The move also marks the latest step in a career that has taken Makate from youth football in Spain to senior football in Belgium. After progressing through several Spanish clubs, he established a route into the Belgian professional game through Union SG’s development structure.

Lierse have now secured Makate’s arrival from Union SG, completing the transfer on 12 August 2026.