Santos Laguna Signs Six New Reinforcements Ahead of Apertura 2026

The overhaul in Torreón comes as the club attempts to erase a last-place finish from the previous championship and return to competing for a spot in the Liguilla. President Alejandro Irarragorri Kalb, football director Gonzalo Pineda, and manager Renato Paiva introduced the new arrivals in a press conference, framing the moves as a necessary step to recover the history of Santos, according to Mediotiempo.

The Six New Arrivals at Santos Laguna

The club’s recruitment strategy focused on a mix of international talent and returning familiarity, combining experience, youth, and international talent to strengthen various lines of the squad and provide more options for the coaching staff. While Excélsior notes that the return of Eduardo Aguirre—who returns from the Rojinegros del Atlas with the mission of becoming the attacking reference the club urgently needs—is the most anticipated move for the fans at Estadio Corona, the full list of reinforcements covers every line of the pitch.

• Eduardo Aguirre: Center forward returning from Atlas for a “scoring revenge.”
• Diego González: Center forward (identified as a Paraguayan midfielder by Excélsior who will provide dynamism and distribution in the midfield).
• Franco Pardo: Argentine center back contracted to lead the central defense.
• Felipe Sánchez: Argentine center back.
• Mauricio Cuevas: Right back.
• Joshua Mancha: Offensive midfielder (identified as a skilled full-back with projection by Excélsior).

Irarragorri Kalb expressed satisfaction with the group’s commitment, stating, “Estamos felices de presentar a seis guerreros que se suman al proyecto, que desde el inicio manifestaron su deseo de venir. Invito a todos a que se ilusionen con nosotros, porque haremos todo lo posible para mostrarles en la cancha,” as reported by Tvazteca.

Renato Paiva’s Tactical Shift and Roster Status

Manager Renato Paiva is operating with a full squad for the first time in his experience during a pre-season. He credits the front office for their speed, noting that no negotiation took longer than a week. Paiva intends to build a team that is significantly harder to score against than previous iterations.

Paiva acknowledged the club’s poor sporting moment but emphasized that he values the players’ will to be there regardless of the technical or tactical situation. He stated that the goal is clear: “we want to fight for qualification, it is difficult.”

The roster is now finalized, with Gonzalo Pineda confirming the squad is closed based on a conviction that there is the necessary technical-tactical quality to support the group. Pineda noted, “Fuimos de los primeros en mover el mercado. Hemos traído guerreros, porque tienen un gen muy del Santos.” With the sale of Atlas, Grupo Orlegi is shifting its full attention back to the Guerreros, ensuring the squad is locked before the start of both the Apertura and the 2026 Leagues Cup.

The July 18 Clash at Estadio BBVA

The new-look squad faces a daunting start on Saturday, July 18, at 7:00 p.m., when they visit Rayados de Monterrey. While Santos recently beat Rayados 3-0 in their last meeting, that victory occurred at home. The road trip to Monterrey represents a historical hurdle, as the team is currently facing a severe negative streak outside the Comarca Lagunera.

Preparation for this match has been mixed for both sides. Santos fell 1-0 in their final warm-up game against América de Cali, conceding a goal to Jhon Murillo. Meanwhile, Rayados, under new manager Matías Almeyda, lost 1-2 to Sporting FC of Costa Rica on July 11, though they managed a second-half goal from newcomer Víctor Guzmán.

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