Thiago Almada to River: the most expensive purchases in the history of Argentine football

- The world champion's transfer once again breaks local market records. - River will invest 20 million euros for the world champion's transfer. - The most millionaire signings: from Riquelme and Pratto, to Borja and Correa.

Thiago Almada to River: the most expensive purchases in the history of Argentine football Thiago arrives at River with few minutes in the World Cup. Photo: AP Photo / Colin Hubbard.

Clarín Staff

Trinity Player

Listen now

Listen to this article now

3 min listen

Powered by Trinity Audio

00:00

02:37

EnglishDeutschFrançaisEspañol中文Italiano

1.0x

0.50.60.70.80.91.01.11.21.31.41.51.61.71.81.92.0

1.0x

Listen

Summary
Share
Follow
7 Comment

06/08/2026 09:37/ Updated 06/08/2026 10:07

View summaryReading time: 18s

Artificial Intelligence

Experimental: Automatic summary and analysis performed with Artificial Intelligence

Aug 6, 2026

Thiago Almada to River: the most expensive purchases in the history of Argentine football

SUMMARY 18s (Full read 120s)

‹›

Thiago arrives at River with few minutes in the World Cup. Photo: AP Photo / Colin Hubbard.
Eduardo Coudet welcomes Ángel Correa at the Monumental.
Riquelme's return to Boca, in 2007. Photo: AFP.

Thanks!

Other analyses (Experimental)

BULLETED LIST Information ordered chronologically or logically

Juan Román Riquelme to Boca (December 2007): his return from Europe was on loan for the first semester, which cost 2 million dollars, and at the end of the year his transfer was finalized for an additional 12 million.

Original Text: "Juan Román Riquelme to Boca (December 2007): his return from Europe was on loan for the first semester, which cost 2 million dollars, and at the end of the year his transfer was finalized for an additional 12 million."

Lucas Pratto to River (January 2018): "El Oso" secured his departure from San Pablo after arduous negotiations that required 14 million dollars. A few months later, he justified every cent invested.

Original Text: "Lucas Pratto to River (January 2018): el Oso secured his departure from San Pablo after arduous negotiations that required 14 million dollars. A few months later, he justified every cent invested."

Esequiel Barco to River (November 2023): the attacking midfielder from Independiente was one of the big signings for the team managed by Martín Demichelis. He arrived from Atlanta United of the MLS after River paid 11 million dollars for his transfer.

Original Text: "Esequiel Barco to River (November 2023): the attacking midfielder from Independiente was one of the big signings for the team managed by Martín Demichelis. He arrived from Atlanta United of the MLS after River paid 11 million dollars for his transfer."

Kevin Castaño to River (May 2025): the Colombian midfielder arrived from Russian football for 16 million dollars. They are currently looking for a club for him.

Original Text: "Kevin Castaño to River (May 2025): the Colombian midfielder arrived from Russian football for 16 million dollars. They are currently looking for a club for him."

Ángel Correa to River (July 2026): he left Tigres de México for a figure around 15 million dollars.

Original Text: "Ángel Correa to River (July 2026): he left Tigres de México for a figure around 15 million dollars."

Thiago Almada to River (August 2026): a deal close to 23 million dollars plus taxes, according to figures released during the negotiation.

Original Text: "Thiago Almada to River (August 2026): a deal close to 23 million dollars plus taxes, according to figures released during the negotiation."

Thanks!

See original text

HIGHLIGHTS Quotes, testimonies, and statements

Original text: Thiago Almada to River (August 2026): a deal close to 23 million dollars plus taxes, according to figures released during the negotiation.

Original text: Kevin Castaño to River (May 2025): the Colombian midfielder arrived from Russian football for 16 million dollars. They are currently looking for a club for him.

Original text: Ángel Correa to River (July 2026): he left Tigres de México for a figure around 15 million dollars.

Original text: Lucas Pratto to River (January 2018): "El Oso" secured his departure from San Pablo after arduous negotiations that required 14 million dollars. A few months later, he justified every cent invested.

Original text: Juan Román Riquelme to Boca (December 2007): his return from Europe was on loan for the first semester, which cost 2 million dollars, and at the end of the year his transfer was finalized for an additional 12 million.

Original text: Esequiel Barco to River (November 2023): the attacking midfielder from Independiente was one of the big signings for the team managed by Martín Demichelis. He arrived from Atlanta United of the MLS after River paid 11 million dollars for his transfer.

Thanks!

See original text

DATA Table with figures extracted from the original

The most expensive purchases in the history of Argentine football


Description	Value
Million dollars paid by River Plate for the transfer of Thiago Almada from Atlético de Madrid in August 2026.	23
Million dollars paid by River Plate for the transfer of Kevin Castaño from Russian football in May 2025.	16
Million dollars paid by River Plate for the transfer of Ángel Correa from Tigres de México in July 2026.	15
Million dollars paid by River Plate for the transfer of Lucas Pratto from San Pablo in January 2018.	14
Million dollars paid by Boca Juniors for the transfer of Juan Román Riquelme from Europe in December 2007.	14
Million dollars paid by River Plate for the transfer of Esequiel Barco from Atlanta United of the MLS in November 2023.	11
Million dollars paid by Boca Juniors for the transfer of Alan Velasco from Dallas of the MLS.	10
Million dollars paid by River Plate for the transfer of Sebastián Driussi from the US league.	10
Million dollars paid by River Plate for the transfer of Rodrigo Villagra from Talleres.	10

Thanks!

See original text

Download CSV

FAQ Information as frequently asked questions

Who is Thiago Almada and how much did River pay for him?

Thiago Almada is a midfielder and River paid close to 23 million dollars for him.

What was River's most expensive purchase before Thiago Almada?

River's most expensive purchase before Thiago Almada was Kevin Castaño for 16 million dollars.

Who was the most expensive purchase in the history of Argentine football before Thiago Almada?

The most expensive purchase in the history of Argentine football before Thiago Almada was Juan Román Riquelme to Boca for 12 million dollars.

How much did River pay for Ángel Correa?

River secured Ángel Correa from Tigres de México for a figure around 15 million dollars.

Who was Boca's most expensive purchase before Alan Velasco?

Boca's most expensive purchase before Alan Velasco was Juan Román Riquelme for 12 million dollars.

From where did Alan Velasco arrive at Boca?

Alan Velasco arrived at Boca from Dallas of the MLS.

How much did River pay for Esequiel Barco?

River paid 11 million dollars for Esequiel Barco's transfer.

What was River's most expensive purchase before Esequiel Barco?

River's most expensive purchase before Esequiel Barco was Lucas Pratto for 14 million dollars.

From where did Sebastián Driussi arrive at River?

Sebastián Driussi arrived at River from the US league.

From where did Rodrigo Villagra arrive at River?

Rodrigo Villagra arrived at River from Talleres.

Thanks!

See original text

GLOSSARY List of terms

Keywords


Word	Meaning
Alan Velasco	Argentine football player signed by Boca Juniors for a millionaire figure.
Ángel Correa	Argentine football player signed by River Plate for a millionaire figure.
Esequiel Barco	Argentine football player signed by River Plate for a millionaire figure.
Juan Román Riquelme	Argentine football player signed by Boca Juniors for a millionaire figure.
Kevin Castaño	Colombian football player signed by River Plate for a millionaire figure.
Lucas Pratto	Argentine football player signed by River Plate for a millionaire figure.
Rodrigo Villagra	Argentine football player signed by River Plate for a millionaire figure.
Sebastián Driussi	Argentine football player signed by River Plate for a millionaire figure.
Thiago Almada	Argentine football player signed by River Plate for a record figure in Argentine football.

Specific terms


Word	Meaning
Enganche	A football player who plays as an attacking midfielder, responsible for creating goal opportunities for the team.
Ficha	Document that certifies a football player's ownership by a club.
Mediocampista	A football player who plays in the midfield.

Region-specific terms


Word	Meaning
Núñez	A neighborhood in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, where Club Atlético River Plate's stadium is located.
Xeneize	Nickname given to the followers and players of Club Atlético Boca Juniors.

Thanks!

See original text

Download CSV

River has once again broken the market. The signing of Thiago Almada marks a before and after in Argentine football due to the player's prominence, but also because of the economic dimension of the operation. The Núñez club agreed with Atlético de Madrid on a transfer rumored to be around 20 million euros (23 million dollars) for the midfielder, a figure that places him as the most important purchase in the history of Argentine football.

This is not the first time River has made a strong bet on a prominent player. In recent years, the club had already raised the bar with additions such as Lucas Pratto, bought from San Pablo in 2018 for a figure close to 14 million dollars, or more recently with Ángel Correa, whose transfer was also among the highest in local football, requiring them to disburse 15 million dollars. However, the most expensive until now was Kevin Castaño, who arrived for 16 million dollars.

The most expensive purchases in the history of Argentine football

For decades, the Argentine market was far from the large international figures. Millionaire investments were exceptions and were generally associated with established players returning to the country. That is changing with the new direction River has taken in recent years.

Thiago Almada to River (August 2026): a deal close to 23 million dollars plus taxes, according to figures released during the negotiation.

Kevin Castaño to River (May 2025): the Colombian midfielder arrived from Russian football for 16 million dollars. They are currently looking for a club for him.

Ángel Correa to River (July 2026): he left Tigres de México for a figure around 15 million dollars.

Eduardo Coudet welcomes Ángel Correa at the Monumental.

Lucas Pratto to River (January 2018): "El Oso" secured his departure from San Pablo after arduous negotiations that required 14 million dollars. A few months later, he justified every cent invested.

Juan Román Riquelme to Boca (December 2007): his return from Europe was on loan for the first semester, which cost 2 million dollars, and at the end of the year his transfer was finalized for an additional 12 million.

Riquelme's return to Boca, in 2007. Photo: AFP.

Esequiel Barco to River (November 2023): the attacking midfielder from Independiente was one of the big signings for the team managed by Martín Demichelis. He arrived from Atlanta United of the MLS after River paid 11 million dollars for his transfer.

The list of millionaire signings is completed by eight-figure acquisitions in US currency, all fresh in the memory of football fans and always linked to Boca and River. Alan Velasco arrived at the Xeneize from Dallas of the MLS for 10 million dollars, the same value River paid for Sebastián Driussi, also from the US league, and Rodrigo Villagra, from Talleres.

Clarín Newsletter

Receive all the news, stories, and analyses from Clarín journalists in your email