Club América has reached a deal to acquire midfielder Alexis Gutiérrez from league rival Cruz Azul ahead of the Apertura 2025 campaign, according to multiple reports from Mexican sports outlets. The transfer fee is understood to be about US$6.5 million, with only minor details and a medical examination left before the move is formally announced. Gutiérrez, 25, ends a six-year stint with Cruz Azul, where he won the 2021 Guardianes Liga MX title and this year’s Concacaf Champions Cup. The León-born player began his career in Guadalajara’s youth system before joining Cruz Azul in 2019, logging more than 180 first-team appearances, 12 goals and 10 assists. The move would make Gutiérrez América’s first reinforcement for the new season under coach André Jardine, bolstering a midfield that already lifted the Clausura 2025 championship. His arrival also marks the latest high-profile transfer between the Mexico City clubs, whose rivalry remains one of the most intense in Liga MX.

Chilean playmaker Diego Valdés left Mexico City on Thursday to complete a move from Club América to Argentina’s Vélez Sarsfield, a transfer that will yield roughly US$3 million for the Liga MX champions. The 31-year-old is scheduled to undergo medical examinations upon arrival in Buenos Aires before signing a multi-year contract with the Primera División club. Valdés departs after three-and-a-half seasons in Mexico in which he scored 38 goals and provided 31 assists across about 140 competitive matches, helping América capture six trophies, including a recent league tricampeonato. Speaking at Benito Juárez International Airport, the midfielder said he was “happy with all we achieved in Mexico,” adding that the decision to return to South America was made for family reasons and to take on “a new challenge” in Argentine football.

According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Venezuela remains the leading country of origin for internally displaced persons and refugees in Latin America, with a combined total of approximately 7.2 million people by the end of 2024. This includes 6.9 million internally displaced individuals and 370,200 refugees. The Venezuelan government has criticized UNHCR, accusing it of serving U.S. interests through USAID and manipulating refugee statistics to undermine Venezuela's sovereignty. Meanwhile, Brazil has seen a rise in refugee numbers, hosting over 156,600 recognized refugees and receiving 68,159 asylum requests in 2024, marking a 16.3% increase compared to the previous year. Over the past decade, Brazil has processed around 455,000 asylum applications, the majority of which are from Venezuelans.

Club América has experienced a challenging period following its recent successes, facing three consecutive eliminations that have ended its 2024-25 season on a disappointing note. The team lost the Liga MX final to Toluca, was eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions League by Cruz Azul, and failed to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup after losing to LAFC. These setbacks mark a sharp decline after América's recent tricampeonato (three consecutive championships). As a result, the club is preparing for a significant roster overhaul ahead of the Apertura 2025 season, with key players such as Néstor Araújo and Javairo Dilrosun confirmed to be leaving, and potential departures of Diego Valdés and Brian Rodríguez. The club's management has emphasized a pragmatic approach, indicating that no player will be retained solely based on past contributions if they no longer fit the project. In contrast, Cruz Azul has had a highly successful season. The club secured its seventh CONCACAF Champions League title by defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 5-0 and has matched América in the number of CONCACAF Champions Cup titles. Cruz Azul's achievements have garnered international media attention, including coverage in the United States and Europe. Financially, Cruz Azul has benefited substantially from its performance, securing approximately $15.55 million in prize money and bonuses from Liga MX, the CONCACAF title, and qualification for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and Club World Cup. The club is also reportedly making a lucrative offer for a new promising player, referred to as "La Joya" (the jewel).