Boca Requests Extra Roster Spot from AFA After Aranda's Fracture to Bolster Defense

A fractured fibula suffered during a training session changed Boca's plans in the transfer market. The injured player is Tomas Aranda, a young defender in the squad, and his extended absence pushed the club to make a move that wasn't part of the original plan: asking AFA for an extra roster spot.

The process is already underway. According to Augusto Cesar on ESPN F3, Boca formally submitted the request to AFA after Aranda underwent successful surgery this Thursday. He now faces a long recovery, and the club's expectation is that he won't be able to rejoin full training with the squad until the January 2027 preseason. That's where the regulation comes into play: when the estimated recovery time exceeds four months, a club can request that additional spot to replace the injured player.

How Long Does the Process Take?

AFA has to give its approval first, and that process usually takes about 48 hours. Once the request is approved, Boca will have 10 days to complete the signing of a player. That timing matters: the transfer window closes on September 2, and the club's front office wants to keep that door open in case an opportunity comes up right after that date, when in theory the club should no longer be able to add reinforcements.

So, can Boca use that spot to bring in another center back? That's where the fine print of the regulation comes in. Aranda plays a specific position, and in principle the club wouldn't be able to sign someone for that exact role. That leaves the door open for the spot to be used to strengthen another area of the team, and that's exactly why the center back need is being talked about more now than it was before the injury.

Still, nothing has been decided yet. It's more of a possibility that has opened up than a decision made behind closed doors.

It's unlikely someone would come in for that specific position, but this could extend the deadline and they could look for a center back.Augusto Cesar

With the fracture already operated on and the clock ticking on AFA's approval, Boca now has an extra card to play for the rest of the market. It remains to be seen whether the front office decides to use it before the window closes or waits for an opportunity to appear after September 2, which, it seems, is exactly what they're hoping for.