Gastón Ávila
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gastón Luciano Ávila | ||
| Date of birth | 30 September 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Rosario, Argentina | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Rosario Central (on loan from Ajax) | ||
| Number | 13 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Rosario Central | |||
| 2019–2020 | Boca Juniors | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2022 | Boca Juniors | 9 | (0) |
| 2021 | → Rosario Central (loan) | 27 | (3) |
| 2022–2023 | Young Reds Antwerp | 5 | (1) |
| 2022–2023 | Antwerp | 24 | (0) |
| 2023– | Ajax | 5 | (0) |
| 2023 | Jong Ajax | 1 | (0) |
| 2025 | → Fortaleza (loan) | 29 | (0) |
| 2026– | → Rosario Central (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2018–2023 | Argentina U20 | 5 | (0) |
| 2023 | Argentina U23 | 2 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18:58, 29 January 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 21 November 2023 | |||
Gastón Luciano Ávila (born 30 September 2001) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a left-back or centre-back for Rosario Central, on loan from Dutch Eredivisie club Ajax.
Career
Boca Juniors
Born in Rosario, Ávila began his career with Rosario Central. On 2 January 2019, he was signed by Boca Juniors for a reported fee of $2 million for 60% of his economic rights, a move that generated some controversy as he had not yet debuted for the Rosario Central first team.[1] Shortly after his arrival, in March 2019, he suffered a serious knee injury (ruptured ligaments) during a reserve match against Banfield, which sidelined him for the remainder of the year.[2]
Ávila eventually made his professional debut for Boca Juniors on 2 February 2020 in a 2–1 Argentine Primera División win over Talleres.[3]
Loan to Rosario Central
On 10 February 2021, seeking regular playing time, Ávila returned to Rosario Central on a loan deal until the end of the season.[4] During his loan spell, he established himself as a key starter, scoring 3 goals in 27 league appearances and displaying strong aerial ability and passing range.
Antwerp
On 23 July 2022, Ávila signed for Belgian Pro League club Antwerp for a fee reported to be around €4.4 million.[5] During the 2022–23 season, he was part of the historic squad that won the "Double", securing both the league title and the Belgian Cup. He primarily featured as a left-back under manager Mark van Bommel.
Ajax
On 22 August 2023, Eredivisie club Ajax announced the signing of Ávila on a five-year contract, valid until 30 June 2028. The transfer involved a fee of €12.5 million, potentially rising to €14.5 million with add-ons.[6]
Ávila endured a difficult start to his time in Amsterdam. After making only a handful of appearances, his season was cut short in January 2024 when he suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee during training. The injury required surgery and ruled him out of action for approximately 12 months, sidelining him for the remainder of the 2023–24 season and the first half of the 2024–25 season.[7]
Loan to Fortaleza
Having recovered from his long-term knee injury, Ávila was loaned to Brazilian club Fortaleza on 18 January 2025 to regain match fitness. The deal ran until the end of the 2025 calendar year and included an option to buy.[8] He became a regular starter for the Brazilian side, making 29 appearances across all competitions as he rebuilt his form following his year-long absence.
Second loan to Rosario Central
On 9 January 2026, Ávila returned to Rosario Central on a year-long loan.[9]
Style of play
Ávila is a left-footed defender capable of playing as a centre-back or a left-back. He is known for his aggression in duels, aerial strength despite a modest height for a central defender, and his ability to play progressive passes from the back.
Personal life
Ávila is the younger brother of the footballer Chimy Ávila, who plays as a forward.[10]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 13 December 2025
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Boca Juniors | 2019–20 | Argentine Primera División | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4[b] | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2020–21 | Argentine Primera División | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2022 | Argentine Primera División | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Total | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
| Rosario Central (loan) | 2021 | Argentine Primera División | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8[e] | 0 | — | 35 | 3 | |
| Royal Antwerp II | 2022–23 | Belgian National Division 1 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | |||
| Antwerp | 2022–23 | Belgian Pro League | 22 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 26 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | Belgian Pro League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[f] | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 24 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 0 | ||
| Ajax | 2023–24 | Eredivisie | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[g] | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |
| Jong Ajax | 2023–24 | Eerste Divisie | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Fortaleza (loan) | 2025 | Série A | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| Career total | 100 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 125 | 4 | ||
- ^ Includes Copa Argentina, Belgian Cup, KNVB Cup, Copa do Brasil
- ^ Appearances in Copa de la Liga Profesional
- ^ Appearances in the Copa Libertadores
- ^ Appearances in Torneos de Verano
- ^ Appearances in Copa Sudamericana
- ^ Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
- ^ Appearance in UEFA Europa League
Honours
Boca Juniors
Antwerp
References
- ^ "Boca presentó a sus últimos dos refuerzos". Infobae (in Spanish). 1 February 2019.
- ^ "Boca confirmó la grave lesión de una de sus jóvenes figuras". Infobae (in Spanish). 29 March 2019.
- ^ "Talleres de Córdoba vs. Boca Juniors - 3 February 2020". Soccerway.
- ^ "Gastón Avila renovó con Boca pero se va a préstamo a Central" [Gastón Avila renewed with Boca but goes on loan to Central]. Olé (in Spanish). 10 February 2021.
- ^ "Gastón Ávila is a Red! 🇦🇷 🔴⚪". Royal Antwerp FC. 23 July 2022.
- ^ "Ajax signs Gastón Ávila". AFC Ajax. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "Long-term injury for Gaston Avila". AFC Ajax. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Fortaleza acerta a contratação do zagueiro Gastón Ávila" [Fortaleza signs defender Gastón Ávila] (in Portuguese). Fortaleza Esporte Clube. 18 January 2025. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
- ^ "Gaston Ávila vuelve a Central" [Gaston Avila returns to Central] (in Spanish). Rosario Central. 9 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ "La historia de Gastón Ávila: el hermano de Chimy que le dijo no a River". TyC Sports (in Spanish). 3 February 2019.
- ^ "Antwerp wint nu ook de Supercup! KV Mechelen plooit pas na strafschoppen" (in Dutch). Sporza. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
External links
- Gastón Ávila at Soccerway