Bayer Leverkusen sign Argentine playmaker Exequiel Palacios

Exequiel Palacios will officially be a Bayer Leverkusen player on Jan. 1 after the attacking midfielder signed terms until June 2025 with the Bundesliga club.

The Argentine is moving to Germany after playing in River Plate's 3-0 Copa Argentina final win over Central Cordoba on Friday. He made 80 appearances for River Plate and started both legs of the victorious 2018 Copa Libertadores final along with the defeat to Flamengo in the 2019 edition.

Palacios cost Bayer Leverkusen €22 million, according to a Kicker report cited by The Associated Press. The 21-year-old was also attracting attention from Major League Soccer expansion franchise Inter Miami, ESPN's Tom Marshall claims.

Leverkusen are noted for kick-starting the careers of many South American players in Europe, including Arturo Vidal, Ze Roberto, Renato Augusto, and Emerson.

"Bayer 04 have a good reputation here in Argentina," Palacios said. "I'm proud to be part of this ambitious club and I'm looking forward very much to the Bundesliga and European games."