Ex-Santos player offered to Vasco, board weighing up the possibility | OneFootball

The Ecuadorian forward Billy Arce, 27 years old, was offered to Vasco in recent days. Free on the market after not renewing his contract with Atlético Nacional of Colombia, the player's contract ended on December 31, 2025.

According to RTI Esporte's investigation, Arce was negotiating a contract extension with the Colombian club, but talks did not progress due to disagreements over the contract length. The player requested a renewal for three more seasons, while Atlético Nacional offered only one year, leading to the end of the agreement.

With his release, intermediaries with connections in the backstage of São Januário suggested the forward's name to Vasco's sporting director, Admar Lopes. Before any progress, the director passed the possibility to coach Fernando Diniz, who will evaluate the athlete's profile before opening talks with the player's staff.

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Billy Arce, player of Independiente del Valle, celebrates his goal during a match against América-MG — Photo: Fernando Moreno/AGIF

Billy Arce has also received inquiries from other South American clubs, such as América de Cali, Colo-Colo, LDU, and Peñarol. Despite this, the Ecuadorian views staying in Brazilian football favorably and would be willing to join Vasco, provided the club presents an attractive sports project.

The Vasco board is expected to discuss internally in the coming days whether to proceed or dismiss the negotiation. A potential signing is seen as an alternative to strengthen the offensive sector, especially on the flanks.

Currently, the squad led by Fernando Diniz has Portuguese player Nuno Moreira as the main option to play on the left side of the attack. Matheus França, who played in this area at the start of his career, has yet to establish himself in the position.

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Billy Arce poses with the Brighton jersey – a team that competes in the English football elite — Photo: Reproduction/Brighton

Revealed by Independiente del Valle in 2016, Billy Arce has played for clubs such as Brighton in England, Extremadura in Spain, and Peñarol in Uruguay. In Brazil, he had a brief stint with Santos in 2024. Since 2023, he has been playing in Colombian football, where he defended Deportivo Pasto, Once Caldas, and Atlético Nacional. In the last season, he played 37 matches, scored three goals, and provided one assist.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.