Boca Juniors Signs Colombians Sebastián Villa and Álvaro Montero Amid Fan Criticism

Club Atlético Boca Juniors has officially announced the signing of two Colombian players, forward Sebastián Villa and goalkeeper Álvaro Montero. Both players have finalized their contracts and are set to join the first team this Saturday, July 19, 2026.

Villa, 30, begins his second period with Boca Juniors, having previously played for the club from 2018 to 2023. His prior contract was rescinded following a conviction for threats and serious injuries in a domestic violence context against his former partner in April 2020, for which he received a two-year suspended prison sentence. After a season in Bulgarian football, Villa returned to Argentina in June 2024, joining Independiente Rivadavia, where he performed well and won the 2025 Copa Argentina.

Villa's return to Boca has sparked criticism among some fans directed at the club's management, led by Juan Román Riquelme. Local media reports indicate that Boca paid $6.5 million for Villa's transfer rights. This signing comes alongside that of goalkeeper Montero, 31, who was part of Colombia's squad for the 2026 World Cup but did not play. Montero joins from Vélez Sarsfield, where he was a key player and won the 2025 Supercopa Argentina. His transfer is reportedly valued at $4 million.

Montero is expected to fill the void left by the injured Agustín Marchesín and is positioned to be the starting goalkeeper for the second half of the year. During this period, Boca will compete in the Torneo Clausura, the Copa Argentina, and the Copa Sudamericana. Boca Juniors recently defeated Sarmiento de Junín 2-0 in the Copa Argentina, marking the start of coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena's new tenure. The team is scheduled to host O'Higgins of Chile next Thursday in the Copa Sudamericana, a match that could see the debut of the newly signed players.