Newell’s Old Boys confirmed the arrival of his first reinforcement to face 2026. It is the goalkeeper Gabriel Ariaswho comes from being free from Racing. “Welcome to the heart of the city”the Rosario entity published on its social networks. In this way, the goalkeeper born in Neuquén became the first incorporation of the Leprosy who will have as coaches Favio Orsi and Sergio Gomez.
The hiring of Arias until the end of 2026 is related to the recent departures of Keylor Navas (he left for Pumas UNAM in Mexico in mid-2025) and Lucas Hoyos (he went to Atlanta United of the MLS), with the aim of reinforcing the position after the irregular performances of Williams Barlasina y Juan Espinola. The latter could also leave the red and black box.
“The institution reports that during the afternoon of this Friday the soccer player Gabriel Arias appeared at the Jorge B. Griffa Training Center to seal the link that will join him to Newell’s for the next season, more precisely until December 2026“, reported the club leper in the statement of the goalkeeper’s presentation. Furthermore, on their official social networks, they confirmed that “He is already training under the orders of the duo when they return to practice.”.
At 38 years old and after saying goodbye to Racing after seven and a half years, Arias landed in Rosario with the aim of once again being the owner of the goal in a Professional League team. His arrival represents a key commitment to the goal after having become one of the last references of the Academia of Avellaneda and lose ownership to Facundo Cambeses during the second half of 2025.
The man from Neuquén, who has international experience as a goalkeeper for the chilean team con 19 disputed partiesbegan his professional career in Bahía Blanca Olympus in 2007, then shone in Defense and Justice and was on loan in Union La Calera before joining Racing in 2018where did he get six titles and he wore the captain’s ribbon for several years. His last official match as a starter was on October 11, 2025 against Banfield. Before Gustavo Costas would choose to give confidence to Facundo Cambeses, Arias He played 31 games last season, where only 27 goals were scored.
“Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when it’s time to leave a place where we were very happy.. If someone had told me when I was little that I was going to be a Racing goalkeeper for seven and a half years, I wouldn’t have believed them. But they say that dreams are meant to come true and I had the privilege of making them come true: I was captain and champion in a club that marked me as a professional and as a human being.. “What else can I do then than thank all the people who helped me get here?” he commented. Gabriel Arias when he said goodbye to Racing.
It should be noted that the hiring of Gabriel Arias is the first signing of the Orsi-Gómez duo at Newell’swho took command of the Leprosy after the assumption of Ignacio Boero as president at the end of 2025. The coaches who became champions of the Apertura Tournament con Platense They plan to reinforce all the lines of the team, with the offensive zone and the central defense as the most important places.
“From the first day we were completely convinced and we usually listen to our desire when deciding to work in an institution as large as Newell’s. After the first meeting we agreed on our search and what we want for Newell’s. It seems essential to us to get the setup right and understand that the player who joins this beautiful challenge represents Newell’s in the best way. Beyond the choice and characteristics of the players that one scouts, knows or chooses, there is a question of desire to want to be there,” said Orsi.
It is worth noting that Newell’s suffered the loss of a key figure in the 2025 team, since Ever Banega He left in condition of freedom. “We met with Éver yesterday and he is not going to continue at the club. It is a decision between the two of us, player and club. We made that decision and I wanted to inform it”he assured Roberto Sensinibrand new sports director chosen by the president-elect, Ignacio Boero. It must be remembered that Newell’s finished in the last places in the 2025 Annual Table and will begin 2026 with the obligation to add points to avoid complications in the averages.
