Soccer Tejas
| Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... |
HOUSTON (Aug. 11, 2026) – Houston Dynamo FC acquired veteran defender Marcelo Saracchi on a full transfer from the Argentinian top-flight’s CA Boca Juniors, both clubs announced today. The fullback is signed to a contract through the 2028-29 season, with Club options through 2030-31.
“Marcelo is a balanced left back, capable of contributing to all phases of play, with considerable winning experience in top flights in Europe and South America,” said Dynamo President of Soccer Pat Onstad. “His work ethic, competitiveness and team-first mentality match the DNA of a Dynamo player. We are excited to welcome Marcelo and his family to Houston, as we continue to push for postseason success this year.”
The 28-year-old Uruguayan international arrives in Houston with 12 goals and 25 assists in 272 career appearances across several top-flight leagues, including LaLiga, the Bundesliga, the Turkish Süper Lig, the Scottish Premiership and the Argentine Primera División, as well as prestigious competitions like the Copa Libertadores, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Saracchi has also proven himself as a winner, lifting six trophies across his career.
Saracchi most recently completed a loan spell with prestigious Scottish club Celtic F.C., joining the club in August 2025 from CA Boca Juniors and making 27 appearances in all competitions, while recording one goal and two assists. He registered his first assist for Celtic in just his second match and played a key role during the 2025-26 season, helping the club win their 56th league title and the 2026 Scottish Cup. Additionally, the defender made four appearances for Celtic in the 2025-26 UEFA Europa League.
Prior to his loan move, Saracchi totaled 52 appearances, four goals and five assists for Boca Juniors after joining the Argentinian giant in August 2023. He helped lead Boca to the 2023 Copa Libertadores final, in which he started, and to consecutive Copa Argentina semifinals in 2023 and 2024.
Saracchi’s first playing stints in Europe came with RB Leipzig in Germany (2018-21), Galatasaray S.K. in Turkey on loan (2020-21) and Levante UD in Spain (2022-23).
With RB Leipzig, he made 27 appearances in all competitions, while recording one goal and one assist. During his first season, Saracchi helped the German side finish third in the Bundesliga, securing qualification for the following season’s UEFA Champions League tournament. During the 2019-20 European competition, the defender started two group-stage matches helping Leipzig earn 2-2 draws against S.L. Benfica and Olympique Lyonnais as the team finished top of their respective group. The Uruguayan also made five appearances in the 2018-19 UEFA Europa League. Saracchi then joined Galatasaray on a one-year loan, recording two goals and six assists in 44 appearances before moving to Levante, where he made 35 appearances in all competitions and recorded one assist.
Born in Paysandú, Uruguay, Saracchi began his professional career with Danubio F.C. in his native country, making his professional debut in a 2015 in Copa Sudamericana match versus Universidad Católica. He went on to total 57 appearances, three goals and eight assists over two years, before joining Club Atlético River Plate in September 2017. During his time with the Argentinian powerhouse, Saracchi made 30 appearances, recording one goal and two assist, while helping the club win the 2016-17 Copa Argentina, the 2017 Supercopa Argentina and the 2018 Copa Libertadores.
At the international level, Saracchi has represented Uruguay at the U-17, U-20 and senior levels, most notably helping the U-20 squad win the 2017 South American Championship. He has earned 11 caps with the senior national team, with his most recent appearances coming in October 2025, featuring in two international friendlies versus Dominican Republic and Uzbekistan.
