Colombian footballers attract transfer interest as World Cup 2026 narrows

After Colombia’s elimination by Switzerland in the round of 16, Palmeiras forward Flaco López became the last player from Brazil’s Serie A still active in the 2026 World Cup. The tournament featured 32 Serie A athletes, with Palmeiras having seven representatives. With the Copa do Brasil over, López and his teammates have returned to training to prepare for the second half of the 2026 season.

Colombian midfielder Gustavo Puerta, who impressed at the World Cup, is now the focus of a growing transfer race. FC Porto have opened negotiations, but clubs from Italy (Roma, Lazio, Atalanta, Bologna), Spain (Betis, Villarreal) and others have also entered the chase. Porto’s target was originally Caleb Yirenkyi, but the high price of his transfer redirected attention to Puerta, whose release clause is around €17.5 million. Bayer Leverkusen will receive half of any fee due to its 50 % ownership of the player’s rights. Porto’s upcoming presentation match against Aston Villa and a closed‑door training game against Hibernian are also scheduled.