Chivas following tried and trusted transfer playbook in pursuit of Liga MX star
Amid links with a striker at a major Liga MX rival, Chivas could continue its policy of snapping up experienced campaigners.
It seems Chivas Guadalajara has a recurring preference year after year: betting on aging strikers. The latest chapter in this trend comes with rumors linking Ángel Sepúlveda - Cruz Azul forward and 34 years old - to advanced talks with the Guadalajara front office. A move that, while surprising to some, fits perfectly into the club’s recent pattern.
Chivas opts for old heads
This isn’t the first time El Rebaño has turned to the veteran market to solve its scoring woes. The most memorable case was Oribe Peralta, who arrived at age 35 in 2019 and stayed until 2022 - a stint that ultimately ended with his retirement. His signing generated buzz thanks to his experience, but the results never matched his storied Liga MX career.
Before him, other names reinforced this tendency. Miguel Sabah joined at 34 for the 2013-2014 season; Rafa Márquez Lugo, also 34, played in 2015-2016 before hanging up his boots; and Jared Borgetti, at 36, wore the red and white between 2009 and 2010. All had one thing in common: veteran status as their calling card.
Even in more recent years, the front office has doubled down on the formula. Javier “Chicharito” Hernández returned in 2024 at age 35, while Alan Pulido came back for the 2025 campaign at the same age. Two high-profile bets, yet once again within the same striker profile that seems to fascinate the institution.
Sepúlveda’s potential signing only reignites an old debate: Is Chivas banking on experience, or is this a lack of long-term vision? The reality is that while other clubs chase youth and upside, El Rebaño keeps looking to forwards who’ve crossed the 34-year threshold, trusting that savvy will outweigh age.
Meanwhile, the fan base is split. For some, adding a seasoned player brings leadership and composure in front of goal. For others, it’s proof the club still hasn’t built a solid attacking project. What’s clear is that if Sepúlveda dons the red and white, it will only confirm that in Verde Valle, goals - or at least the hope of them - tend to arrive via a veteran striker.
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