A Landmark Deal for Argentine Football
River Plate has made history by confirming the signing of Thiago Almada, a 25-year-old attacking midfielder, in a deal worth $20 million – the most expensive transfer ever in Argentine football. The club, based in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Núñez, paid the full release clause to Atlético Madrid, surpassing their own previous record set just weeks earlier with the acquisition of Ángel Correa for $15 million.
Almada, who lifted the World Cup with Argentina in Qatar 2022, arrives at a critical moment. River Plate is enduring a rough patch under coach Eduardo Coudet: they have lost three consecutive matches in the Torneo Clausura without scoring a single goal, and were recently eliminated from the Copa Argentina by lower-tier side Aldosivi. The club's fans are desperate for a spark, and Almada is seen as the key to reigniting the team's attacking flair.
From Velez to the World Stage
Almada's journey is a global one. He started at Vélez Sarsfield, then moved to Atlanta United in MLS, then to Botafogo in Brazil – where he won the Copa Libertadores – before stints at Olympique Lyon in France and Atlético Madrid in Spain. At Atlético, he played 40 matches, scored 4 goals, and provided 2 assists, but limited playing time under Diego Simeone led him to seek a move. His last official match was with Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, where he played against Switzerland.
Can He Debut in the Copa Sudamericana?
River Plate has until 6 PM on Friday, August 8 to register Almada in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana squad list. The club intends to use one of the five permitted changes for the round of 16 tie against Independiente Santa Fe of Colombia. He is expected to arrive in Buenos Aires via private charter this weekend, be presented on Monday, and join training on Tuesday. Given the tight schedule, he likely won't play the first leg in Bogotá, but all signs point to him being the star for the second leg at the Monumental Stadium on Wednesday, August 19.
Top 10 Most Expensive Transfers in Argentine Football
Almada's move now tops the all-time list. Here's the full ranking:
| # | Player | Club | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thiago Almada | River Plate | USD 20 million |
| 2 | Ángel Correa | River Plate | USD 15 million |
| 3 | Cristian Medina | Estudiantes | USD 14.4 million |
| 4 | Juan R. Riquelme | Boca Juniors | USD 12 million |
| 5 | Lucas Pratto | River Plate | USD 11.5 million |
| 6 | Esequiel Barco | River Plate | USD 10.5 million |
| 7 | Alan Velasco | Boca Juniors | USD 9.7 million |
| 8 | Sebastián Driussi | River Plate | USD 9.7 million |
| 9 | Iván Marcone | Boca Juniors | USD 7.5 million |
| 10 | Rodrigo Villagra | River Plate | USD 7.4 million |
A Dream Team in the Making
Almada is the ninth signing in an ambitious market for River. He joins fellow World Cup winners Ángel Correa and Nicolás Otamendi (the latter on a free transfer), along with returning players Rafael Santos Borré and Lucas Beltrán, and new arrivals Tobías Andrada and Francisco Ortega. This star-studded squad, however, needs time to gel – something that current results and fan impatience don't easily allow.
Sources: Infobae, TyC Sports, ESPN, El Eco.