🚨Another departure at Nacional: Juan José Arias off to MLS | OneFootball

Atlético Nacional continues with the relentless movement of its squad at the start of 2026. After confirming the arrival of "Chicho" Arango, the verdolaga club has now made official an important transfer to international football: center-back Juan José Arias has been transferred to Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer. The deal was closed for a figure close to 2.1 million dollars, representing a significant income for the coffers of the Antioquian institution.

A long-term contract in Utah

At 22 years old, the defender embarks on his first experience abroad with full support from the American team. Arias will sign a three-and-a-half-year contract, which guarantees his stay in MLS until June 2029, with the possibility of extending the contract depending on his performance. This sale reinforces the club’s policy of projecting and exporting young talents from its academy to markets with great potential for economic and sporting growth.

Restructuring in the verdolaga defense

Arias’s departure forces Sebastián Arango and the coaching staff to make adjustments in the central defense, an area that has already undergone several changes during this transfer window. With the exit of the young player, Nacional loses a highly promising asset, but secures the necessary cash flow to support the high-profile signings that have joined the club. The defender is expected to travel to North America in the coming hours to undergo medical examinations and join his new team’s preseason.

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

📸 JAIME SALDARRIAGA - AFP or licensors