How Will Kevin Castañeda and Jordan Carrillo Fit into Gabriel Milito’s Playing Model? | OneFootball

The start of the Apertura 2026 is just around the corner, and excitement continues to build around Guadalajara. The Rebaño Sagrado will kick off its campaign on July 18 against Toluca, while the club’s two newest signings, Jordan Carrillo and Kevin Castañeda, have already generated plenty of excitement throughout the Red-and-White Nation. Both Mexican players bring profiles that promise to expand the range of tactical options available to Gabriel Milito.

Since arriving at Chivas, the Argentine coach has built a team with a clear identity and a recognizable style of play. Milito typically sets his side up with three center backs, two wingbacks, two central midfielders, and two attacking midfielders operating behind the striker—a system that demands players with outstanding game intelligence, combination play, and the ability to solve situations in tight spaces.

That is precisely where the club’s newest signings become especially intriguing.

Jordan Carrillo: A Specialist at Creating Advantages Between the Lines

During his time with Pumas, Jordan Carrillo displayed many of the qualities that fit naturally into Guadalajara’splaying style. He is a player who excels at receiving with his back to goal, handling pressure, and turning quickly to accelerate attacking sequences.

His agility, sharp changes of direction, dribbling ability, and comfort in tight spaces make him a highly valuable option between the lines—an area of the pitch where Gabriel Milito constantly looks to create numerical and positional advantages.

His profile shares similarities with the role performed by Roberto Alvarado and Efraín Álvarez, who have regularly operated as the team’s attacking midfielders, as well as Santiago Sandoval, who has also featured in that position. Carrillo’s arrival provides another option with a unique set of qualities for that role.

Kevin Castañeda: Connecting Every Area of the Pitch

Meanwhile, Kevin Castañeda arrives after establishing himself at Tijuana as a highly complete attacking midfielder.

He is capable of influencing the game from the very beginning of attacking sequences, dropping deeper to help build possession, finding pockets of space between the lines, and arriving dangerously in the final third. One of his greatest strengths comes around the edge of the penalty area, where his vision to deliver the final pass and his powerful long-range shooting often make the difference.

Although his qualities naturally suit one of the attacking midfield positions in Milito’s system, his versatility also allows him to operate from deeper areas, connecting different phases of play and offering several interesting tactical alternatives.

More Talent, More Options, and Complementary Profiles

With the additions of Jordan Carrillo and Kevin Castañeda, Chivas is adding far more than individual quality. The club is strengthening a squad that already stands out for the variety of profiles it possesses heading into the Apertura 2026.

Both players expand Gabriel Milito’s attacking options, whether by occupying the attacking midfield roles or by offering different tactical solutions depending on each match. Their arrival provides the coaching staff with even more tools to maintain the identity that has defined the team since the Argentine manager took charge.

Youth, Mexican talent, and complementary skill sets make these two signings natural fits within the Red-and-White project. All signs point to Chivas having even more resources to continue playing a proactive brand of football and take another step forward during the Apertura 2026.