Boca Juniors has officially agreed to transfer forward Exequiel “Changuito” Zeballos to Italian Serie A club AC Monza for a fee of 5 million dollars, resolving months of uncertainty regarding the player’s future ahead of a crucial Copa Argentina fixture, according to extensive reports from regional and sports outlets.
The Numbers Behind the Monza Deal
The operation, finalized near the close of the transfer window, ensures that Boca Juniors secures a financial return on a homegrown asset whose contract was set to expire on December 31. Without this agreement, the club faced the prospect of losing the 24-year-old forward on a free transfer. According to transfer market journalist Fabrizio Romano, the agreement between the clubs includes a 40% capital gains sell-on clause, meaning Boca will receive 40% of any future profit if Monza transfers Zeballos for a sum higher than the initial purchase price. Zeballos is scheduled to travel to Italy in the coming days to undergo routine medical examinations before signing a five-year contract with the Italian side.
Contract Uncertainty and Roster Shifts
The departure brings closure to a protracted standoff between the player and the club leadership led by Juan Román Riquelme. Zeballos had made the decision not to extend his expiring contract, a stance that effectively altered his status within the squad. Although he continued training with the professional group under head coach Rodolfo “Vasco” Arruabarrena, he had fallen out of favor and was omitted from matchday squads. Before the agreement with Monza was reached, clubs such as Napoli and Parma also monitored the situation, though neither reached a formal agreement with Boca’s board.
The shift in the winger’s standing within the club was also reflected in squad allocations. Zeballos lost his iconic number 7 shirt for the new season to Chilean international Carlos Palacios. His last official appearance for the blue and gold came in May during a Copa Libertadores group stage fixture against Universidad Católica—a match that sealed the club’s elimination under former manager Claudio Úbeda. Following Arruabarrena’s appointment, Zeballos did not feature in official competitions and was left off the Copa Sudamericana roster.
Looking Back at Form and Physical Setbacks
The 24-year-old’s trajectory in Buenos Aires was frequently interrupted by injuries. Having joined Boca’s youth ranks in 2016 at the age of 14, Zeballos experienced a productive stretch under Úbeda during the latter half of 2025, netting four goals—including a memorable strike in a 2-0 victory over River Plate at La Bombonera where he celebrated with supporters in the stands. Across the 2025 campaign, he made 35 appearances and scored six goals, featuring in both the Copa Libertadores and the FIFA Club World Cup. However, a muscle injury sidelined him for over two months at the start of 2026, halting his momentum. Between 2022 and 2023, a series of severe physical setbacks—including a major right ankle fracture during a Copa Argentina match followed by knee and muscular issues—limited his continuity, restricting him to four major injuries across a 14-month span. Despite these interruptions, Zeballos departs Boca Juniors with 140 official appearances, 16 goals, 16 assists, and five titles to his name.
What Comes Next for Boca Juniors
With the transfer finalized, Boca turns its immediate focus to domestic competition. The squad travels to Córdoba to face Vélez Sarsfield in the round of 16 of the Copa Argentina, looking to advance in the knockout tournament while managing the final adjustments of the post-transfer window roster.
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