[REVISION HISTORY]

Boca Juniors squad updates and Zeballos transfer saga

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-02 14:59 UTC → 2026-09-05 18:17 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In mid‑July 2026, Boca Juniors completed the acquisitions of Colombian forward Sebastián Villa and goalkeeper Álvaro Montero. Villa, 30, arrived on a US$6.5 million four‑year deal, while Montero, 31, joined on a contract worth approximately US$4 million. Both joined the first‑team training under coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena. The club has faced significant uncertainty regarding midfielder Exequiel Zeballos. While a move to Napoli previously appeared likely, it stalled due to Financial Fair Play restrictions. In August, Celta de Vigo emerged as a concrete destination, with the player reportedly undergoing medical examinations. However, economic negotiations remained a hurdle, as Celta de Vigo’s €5 million (US$6 million) offer was met by a Boca Juniors demand for roughly US$8 million. As the transfer window progressed, the situation fluctuated. Reports suggested Zeballos might enter contract renewal talks if a sale failed to materialize this week, though he has expressed a desire to move to Europe. By late August, Napoli reportedly shifted its focus to evaluating a transfer for the winger in January 2027. Zeballos’s representative, Diego Merino, denied rumors of a free transfer, stating negotiations are occurring “club to club” to ensure a fee is paid. By late August, negotiations between Napoli and Boca Juniors intensified. Meetings held at Castel Volturno between Napoli’s sporting director Giovanni Manna and Zeballos’s representatives, including agent Diego Merino and intermediary Massimo La Porta, aimed to assess deal feasibility. While Napoli and the player have reportedly reached an agreement on a five-year contract, the clubs have yet to reach a consensus on financial terms. Zeballos, whose contract expires in December, has reportedly rejected a renewal. In early September 2026, Boca Juniors officially confirmed the ~~closing stages~~ sale of the ~~transfer window, Zeballos completed a transfer~~ 24-year-old forward to Italian Serie A club Monza. ~~The deal was finalized after Monza outmaneuvered interest from other clubs, including Napoli and Parma.~~

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