What did Boca Juniors announce?

Boca Juniors is one step away from sealing its second signing of Rodolfo Vasco Arruabarrena's era: it has agreed to sign Colombian goalkeeper Álvaro Montero. The move comes as the Xeneize tops the Liga Profesional Argentina, 1st with 29 pts (8 W‑5 D‑3 L) and a +16 goal difference (28 scored, 12 conceded). With Agustín Marchesín injured and Leandro Brey unsettled, the club aims to lock down the goal for the second half of the season.

How was the deal structured?

The transaction follows a buy‑sell‑back scheme between Vélez Sarsfield and Millonarios. Boca offered roughly USD 4 million for 100 % of the rights; Vélez will first trigger a purchase option of USD 1.5 million, after having paid USD 400 thousand for the loan from the Colombian side. The plan is for Montero to join pre‑season once his World Cup duties end and sign a four‑year contract under Arruabarrena.

Why does this signing matter?

Marchesín’s injury and Brey’s lack of consistency left the goalkeeper spot as one of the most vulnerable areas. Montero, 31, established himself as a starter at Vélez, playing 17 matches, conceding 13 goals and keeping seven clean sheets. He also sits on Colombia’s World Cup roster as a backup to Camilo Vargas, adding valuable international experience to the squad.

Which other options did Boca consider?

Before settling on Montero, the board led by Juan Román Riquelme evaluated Gerónimo Rulli (currently at the World Cup with Argentina), Uruguayan Sergio Rochet (Uruguay backup, Inter de Porto Alegre) and Nahuel Losada (Lanús). However, Boca’s offer exceeded Vélez’s expectations, which had not initially planned to let the keeper go.

What is Montero’s background?

Álvaro Montero briefly joined San Lorenzo (2015‑2017) without an official debut, then played for Deportivo Cúcuta and Deportes Tolima in Colombia. His stint at Millonarios propelled him to the top tier, and he guarded Vélez’s net in 2023‑24 before the Boca negotiation. He debuted for Colombia in 2019 and has earned 11 international caps.

How does this move affect the team?

With Montero’s arrival, Boca aims to stabilize the goal and keep its 4‑point lead over Unión Santa Fe. The club already confirmed Leandro Lozano as its first reinforcement, a Uruguayan full‑back from Argentinos Juniors, for USD 3.5 million. The pairing of Lozano and Montero should tighten the back line and improve ball distribution, key for maintaining the league lead.

What is Boca’s current situation?

Boca’s last result was a 0‑1 loss to Racing Club on 2025‑12‑07, but recent form shows 3 wins and 2 losses in the last five games (LLWWW). The season’s top scorer is M. Merentiel with 5 goals in 14 appearances. These figures highlight the need to reinforce the defense and protect the net to keep piling up points and safeguard the top spot.