Boca made official the arrival of Ecuadorian Enner Valencia as a new reinforcement

Enner Valencia is poised to complete his transfer to Boca Juniors, with the deal set to finalize this weekend. The Ecuadorian forward, 36 years old, will arrive in Argentina on Friday afternoon, undergo a medical examination, and officially join the club if there are no complications. The move was confirmed directly by Boca Juniors through their official communication channel. Valencia’s arrival would make him the fourth new signing for the club ahead of the upcoming season. The transfer process has accelerated following the injury of Adam Bareiro, who suffers from a lumbar condition similar to that of Edinson Cavani and is yet to return to action. This left coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena with only one centerforward in his squad, Milton Giménez, who has a history of physical issues and limited playing time so far. In response, Arruabarrena prioritized securing a goal-scorer, even over the acquisition of a central defender, which had been another key target during the transfer window. Valencia, who previously played for Pachuca in Mexico, found himself out of favor due to recurring injuries and tactical decisions. Despite this, he scored eight goals in 22 matches last season, often coming off the bench. After ending his contract with Pachuca on June 30, Valencia took some days off before beginning individual training while waiting for a proposal that met his expectations. During the FIFA World Cup, he played four matches, including a win against Argentina, but was criticized for missing clear chances and failing to deliver under pressure. His performance at the World Cup did not meet expectations, despite having ended the qualifiers in good form. Although he scored a goal against Argentina in the 100th match of his international career, he struggled in other games and faced criticism from Ecuadorian fans. His departure from Pachuca came after the club sought to free up a foreign player slot to strengthen other areas of the team. Boca Juniors aims to have Valencia ready for the upcoming match against Paraguay, known as the “Clásico” against Recollection. However, the CONMEFOL allows up to five substitutions for the round of 16, but the deadline for completing all necessary paperwork, including the medical exam and contract signing, is Friday at 6 PM local time. If everything goes smoothly, Valencia could participate in the team's training session in Ezeiza on Saturday, alongside players not called up for the match. Arruabarrena’s tactical approach favors a 4-3-3 formation, with Sebastián Villa and Leonel Flores as wingers and a traditional striker who can score goals. He has experimented with different setups throughout the season, using Miguel Merentiel as a second striker, though the latter typically plays more comfortably as a midfielder. In previous stints with Boca, Arruabarrena has consistently favored this system, whether featuring Jonathan Calleri or Daniel Osvaldo, aligning with his offensive philosophy and emphasis on wide play. With Valencia’s potential addition, the club looks to bolster its attacking options ahead of the triple competition: the Clausura tournament, the Copa Argentina, and the Copa Sudamericana. His experience, both domestically and internationally, should provide valuable depth to the squad, especially given the challenges posed by the existing players' fitness and availability. As the transfer nears completion, all eyes remain on the final steps required to make the deal official.