The top signings in Liga MX ahead of Clausura 2024 tournament

After winning their 14th Mexican title in the Apertura 2023 tournament, Club América are the team to beat heading into the Clausura 2024, which gets underway when Querétaro host Toluca in Friday’s opener. Clubs have been busy strengthening their squads ahead of the Liga MX kick-off, with their sights set on dethroning the champions - and their efforts to bolster their attacking firepower have particularly caught the eye. As the Mexican league prepares for its return, we take a look at the most notable transfer business - be it confirmed or imminent - of the off season:

Gabriel ‘Toro’ Fernández, Cruz Azul (confirmed)

In the Liga MX, a player who commands a €9 million ($9.9 million) transfer fee is expected to be a difference-maker. Signed from Mexican rivals Pumas, Gabriel Fernández has arrived at Cruz Azul tasked with scoring the goals that can help the nine-time Mexican champions, one of the country’s traditional ‘big four’ clubs, bounce back from a disastrous Apertura 2023 campaign. A team that has managed just one Liga MX title since the turn of the millennium, Cruz Azul finished down in 16th in the regular-season standings.

Rogelio Funes Mori, Pumas (confirmed)

Rogelio Funes Mori is a proven goalscorer, having racked up a club-record 160 goals in a nearly nine-year spell with Monterrey. Part of Mexico’s squad at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Argentina-born striker has now joined Pumas on an 18-month deal. His brief at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario is to provide the goals the club needs to end a championship drought that has extended for over a decade now: Los Felinos last lifted the Liga MX crown in the Clausura 2011 tournament.

Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández, Chivas (probable)

The most successful product of the club’s youth academy in recent years, Javier Hernández is expected to return to Chivas Guadalajara after 14 years in Europe and Major League Soccer. If ‘Chicharito’ does complete his move back to Los Rojiblancos, the veteran striker’s arrival will significantly boost optimism among the club’s fans that they can compete with arch rivals América.

Guillermo ‘Memo’ Martínez, Pumas (confirmed)

After netting 11 goals in 18 games for Puebla in the Apertura 2023, Guillermo Martínez was a transfer target for a whole host of teams in the Liga MX. Finally, it was Pumas who secured the 28-year-old forward’s services. The hope at Los Universitarios is that Martínez and fellow new recruit Funes Mori can form the kind of explosive alliance that can take the Mexico City giants’ attack to the next level.

Salomón Rondón, Pachuca (confirmed)

A legend of the Venezuelan game, Salomón Rondón will bring bags of experience to Pachuca. The 34-year-old spent the best part of 15 years in European soccer, and arrives in the Liga MX after a 12-month stint with Argentinian giants River Plate. Rondón plundered 10 goals in 35 appearances for River, helping Los Millonarios to their 38th domestic championship.

Juan Brunetta, Tigres (confirmed)

Since moving to Mexico to sign for Santos Laguna in 2022, Juan Brunetta has earned rave reviews for his performances. The Argentinian attacking midfielder, who had a brief spell in Italy before joining Santos, has now been snapped up by Tigres. Eight-time champions of Mexico, the Clausura 2023 winners will be bidding to reclaim the Liga MX title, after December’s playoff final defeat to América prevented them from securing back-to-back domestic crowns.

Clausura 2024: matchday-one key info

In the first game of the Clausura 2024 tournament, Quéretaro and Toluca meet at the Estadio Corregidora at 8pm ET on Friday, before Mazatlán host Atlético San Luis later in the day at 10pm ET. Champions América begin their title defence away to Tijuana on Saturday at 10pm ET.

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