Juan Riquelme Angulo, born on 12 January 2008, was named after the president of Boca, Román Riquelme. The young player has already made a name for himself in Ecuador, representing his country at the Sub 15 and Sub 17 levels. He was one of the players followed by Sebastián Beccacece to replace Enner Valencia in Ecuador.
Riquelme Angulo has played 23 games for Independiente del Valle, scoring 7 goals in the current season. His impressive physical attributes, including a height of over 1.90m, have caught the attention of several top clubs in Europe. The Sunderland director, Florent Ghisolfi, has praised Riquelme Angulo's potential, saying: "Juan is a young player with a very interesting potential and a profile that we believe can develop very well within our club. There were many great clubs from all over Europe interested in signing him, so this transfer demonstrates the attractiveness of Sunderland."
The transfer was completed for a fee close to $7 million, with Riquelme Angulo set to join the Sunderland squad. The young winger's arrival is seen as a significant boost to the team's development, with Ghisolfi adding: "He has demonstrated in a short period of time that he can compete at a professional level despite his age, and we are delighted to bring him to Sunderland at this important stage of his development."
Riquelme Angulo's signing is a testament to the talent and potential of Ecuadorian footballers, with several top clubs in Europe vying for his signature. The young winger's future at Sunderland remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: he has already made a significant impact in the Premier League.