Meet Lucas Villalba, Botafogo’s new signing.

The 24-year-old Uruguayan striker arrives to join the black and white squad.

Lucas Villalba will be Botafogo’s second signing for 2026. The 24-year-old Uruguayan striker will join the team and will report with the rest of the squad in early January. Find out who the Glorioso’s newest player is.

Villalba began his career in the youth ranks of Boston River in Uruguay. Despite this, he never played for the club’s first team. In 2023, the right winger had his first professional opportunity at Tacuarembó, in the Uruguayan second division. There, he played 27 games and scored three goals, which earned him a transfer to Montevideo City Torque, part of the City Group, in 2024.

For City Torque, Villalba played in 36 matches, scoring six goals and providing three assists. His performance led to his call-up to the Uruguayan national team for a friendly against Guatemala, but he did not play before being signed by Nacional in early 2025.

For Tricolor, the striker had a standout season: he played 43 matches, scoring four goals and providing nine assists. In the Libertadores Cup, the right winger contributed three assists in six games, attracting the attention of the Brazilian market.

Villalba is seen as a promising addition to strengthen the team’s attack and is expected to bring speed and creativity to the offensive sector. The team will reconvene at Espaço Lonier on the 5th to begin the 2026 season.