Chivas land their first reinforcement of the preseason

Chivas have secured their first signing ahead of the Liga MX Apertura 2025 tournament. Efraín Álvarez is officially a new player for El Rebaño Sagrado - the club’s first reinforcement of the preseason.

The former Xolos de Tijuana midfielder is currently training with the Mexico squad in Mexico City but has been granted special permission to travel to Guadalajara this Friday to finalize his contract with his new club.

Álvarez is expected to undergo medical this weekend and return to rejoin Javier Aguirre’s Mexico squad on Sunday. Mexico have two friendlies lined up ahead of next month’s Gold Cup - against Switzerland on Saturday June 7 and Turkey on Monday June 9.

Chivas’ pursuit of Álvarez finally pays off

Chivas had been actively pursuing Álvarez since the previous transfer window. However, Juan Carlos Osorio, who was in charge at Xolos at the time, blocked the move. In recent weeks, the club reignited negotiations with the player agreeing a four-year contract with the option of a one-year extension.

While no fee details have been confirmed, reports indicate that the transfer was finalized for more than $7 million - a large fee that effectively edged out other suitors. In the past few days, rumors circulated that América were also interested, but Guadalajara’s financial commitment ultimately tipped the scales in its favor.

Family links to Chivas

Álvarez’s personal desire to join Chivas also played a crucial role. In the last transfer window, the winger had openly expressed excitement about joining a club deeply rooted in his family’s heritage. Born in California, he saw it as a chance to fulfill a long-standing dream for both himself and his family. Now, that dream has become a reality as Chivas begins to shape its squad for the Apertura 2025 campaign.

His arrivals marks the first signing under the leadership of new head coach Gabriel Milito, but it certainly won’t be the last. In recent days, Guadalajara has reached a verbal agreement with Richard Ledesma, a Mexican-American midfielder who spent several seasons with PSV Eindhoven, where he was a regular starter last season and even gained valuable Champions League experience.

Additionally, the club is in active negotiations with Pachuca to secure left-back Bryan González. Sources close to the team indicate that talks are progressing well and could potentially involve players like Fernando Beltrán or Víctor Guzmán. Meanwhile, Guadalajara’s management is also exploring options in the transfer market for a central defender, as they work to bolster Milito’s squad for the upcoming campaign.

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