Can Boca sign a keeper after Marchesín injury? CONMEBOL rules | OneFootball

The former Lanús player faces several months of recovery, and the transfer window still hasn’t opened. Can they register a replacement?

Agustín Marchesín’s injury is a real headache for Boca, who lost their starting goalkeeper at a key point in the semester and probably for all of 2026. The tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee leaves Leandro Brey as the starter (with Javier García on the bench) and raises a question: can Juan Román Riquelme go out and look for a replacement now?

By regulation, Xeneize can sign an emergency goalkeeper and even register him to play immediately in the Copa Libertadores. However, there are two limitations: the closed TMS (Transfer Matching System) and the foreign-player quota narrow the range of options.

If the club from La Ribera decides to look for a goalkeeper now, he must come from Argentine domestic football and hold Argentine nationality. If those requirements are met, a request must be submitted to the AFA, which will give the club 10 days to negotiate. If an agreement is reached, the chosen player will be able to put on the gloves and play this very semester.

The situation changes if Boca chooses to use Brey until the break for the 2026 World Cup and then go after a goalkeeper once the transfer window is open. That would give them the chance to sign a player from any league. In addition, they could part ways with a foreign player if they wanted to bring in a goalkeeper of another nationality.

What the CONMEBOL regulations say

The Copa Libertadores rules allow a club to sign a goalkeeper outside the transfer window if the club can prove that the player suffered a serious injury. The injury must be certified by CONMEBOL’s Medical Commission.

It should be noted that, if this special authorization is requested, the substitution will be permanent. This means Marchesín cannot be registered again for the 2026 Copa Libertadores. If the goalkeeper were to make a record recovery, he could play in the domestic tournament, but not in the international competition.

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