Club América signs Óscar Perea, its first addition of the Apertura 2026 | OneFootball

Well, Club América supporters can finally celebrate… sort of.

Two league matches into the Apertura 2026 season and just days before Matchday 3, América has officially unveiled its first signing. The new arrival? A 20-year-old Colombian winger with fewer than 85 senior appearances, arriving on a one-year loan with an option to buy. Hardly the blockbuster reinforcement many fans had been waiting for.

If the formula sounds familiar, that’s because América has already tried it. Last season, the club brought in Brazilian duo Vinicius Lima and Raphael Veiga on loan. Lima didn’t even survive the offseason, falling out of Guillermo Almada’s plans before being registered. Now the same strategy returns, this time with Óscar Perea.

The Colombian joins from French side Strasbourg, where he made just eight appearances before spending last season on loan at Portugal’s AVS. There, he enjoyed more playing time but managed only two goals in 26 matches. At the international level, his experience is limited to Colombia’s Under-23 team.

Another bet on youth

Despite the questions surrounding the move, América’s front office believes Perea has the potential to become an important piece of Guillermo Almada’s project.

With a demanding schedule already underway, the young winger will be expected to adapt quickly once he becomes eligible to play.

Almada has built a reputation throughout his career for developing young talent during his spells at Santos Laguna and Pachuca, making Perea another player the Uruguayan coach hopes to polish into a valuable contributor.

From Medellín to Europe

Perea began his career in Atlético Nacional’s academy, where his pace and ability on the wing earned him an opportunity with the first team at a very young age.

His performances quickly attracted European interest, leading Strasbourg to invest more than €5 million to sign him in July 2024. The French club viewed him as a long-term prospect, although breaking into the senior squad proved difficult.

Unable to secure consistent minutes in Ligue 1, Strasbourg loaned him to Portuguese club AVS for the 2025-26 campaign in hopes of accelerating his development.

What did he do in Portugal?

Perea featured in 26 official matches for AVS during the 2025-26 season, scoring twice and providing one assist.

Across his professional career in Colombia, France and Portugal, the Colombian has accumulated 82 official appearances, producing 10 goals and six assists.

Those numbers explain why Club América views the transfer as more of a long-term investment than an immediate game-changing signing.

A versatile attacking option

Although naturally a winger, Perea is comfortable on either flank and has also been used centrally in attacking positions when needed.

His versatility was one of the qualities that attracted América, which hopes Almada’s tactical system can maximize the youngster’s strengths.

The agreement is a one-year loan with an option to purchase, allowing the Mexican club to evaluate his progress before making a permanent commitment.

His arrival also occupies one of América’s Non-Homegrown Foreign Player (NFM) roster spots.

Still waiting for his debut

Perea will not be available this weekend against Santos Laguna, as he is still awaiting his work visa before being cleared to play in Mexico.

Meanwhile, América’s transfer business appears far from over.

Club officials are expected to pursue as many as three additional reinforcements before the transfer window closes. The squad still contains players such as José Raúl Zúñiga and Víctor Dávila, both of whom were expected to leave months ago. However, the lack of incoming transfers has complicated those departures, forcing Club América to keep players who have yet to establish themselves as consistent contributors.

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