Enner Valencia nearing Boca Juniors move to solve goal-scoring woes

Ecuadorian striker Enner Valencia is reportedly on the verge of joining the iconic Argentine club Boca Juniors, with an agreement for an 18-month contract said to be in place. Valencia is expected in Buenos Aires in the coming days to finalize his move and join the squad.

The transfer is seen as a crucial move for Boca Juniors, who have been struggling with goal-scoring problems. These issues have been compounded by the injury of Paraguayan forward Adam Bareiro and the departure of Edinson Cavani during the 2026 World Cup. Valencia's arrival is intended to bolster the team's attacking capabilities.

According to reports, Valencia, aged 36, will sign a contract until December 2027. He joins Boca Juniors as a free agent after his departure from Mexican club Pachuca. The transfer was reportedly expedited by the sale of Uruguayan left-back Marcelo Saracchi to MLS club Houston Dynamo for $1.2 million, which freed up a foreign player slot.

Boca Juniors' coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena has approved the signing, and the club is also reportedly pursuing Ezequiel Ávila as another potential reinforcement. Jorge Célico, who knows Valencia from his time with the Ecuador national team, expressed optimism about the player's adaptation to Argentine football, noting Valencia's mental strength.

Valencia's career statistics show a prolific record, including 116 goals and 17 assists in 116 appearances for Fenerbahçe, and 34 goals and 14 assists in 118 games for Tigres UANL. For the Ecuador national team, he has scored 15 goals in 42 World Cup qualifying matches and a total of 49 goals in 109 appearances.