Claudio Echeverri: Who is Bayer Leverkusen's new attacking midfield maestro?

Get to know Argentinian attacking midfield starlet Claudio Echeverri, who has joined Bayer Leverkusen on a season-long loan deal from Manchester City.

Data correct as of 21 August 2025

Claudio Echeverri

Age: 19 (born 2 January 2006)
Club: Bayer Leverkusen (on loan from Manchester City)
Position: Attacking midfield
Country: Argentina (44 youth caps, 18 goals)

Key stats

Echeverri joins the Werkself as Erik ten Hag looks to add extra creativity to his first-team squad. Having signed for City from Argentinian giants River Plate, the teenager has long been destined for the top and will hope to prove he belongs among the elite in 2024/25.

Born in Resistencia, a city of just under 300,000 inhabitants, Echeverri was first spotted by River as a 10-year-old before officially joining the club a year later. After scoring on his debut for the outfit’s second team in October 2022, he made his first-team bow in June 2023 at just 17 years of age.

Echeverri made three first-team appearances for Pep Guardiola's team in 2024/25. - IMAGO/Jose Breton

He would go on to make 47 further appearances before moving to Manchester in January 2025, having committed his future to the Cityzens 12 months earlier. Echeverri was met with few playing opportunities in England, but he did manage three outings in all competitions and scored his first goal in a 6-0 FIFA Club World Cup win over Al-Ain.

At international level, he played a starring role for Argentina’s U17s as the Albiceleste finished third at both the 2023 South American Championship and the 2023 World Cup. Echeverri scored five goals in each competition and got his hands on the Bronze Boot, awarded to the third-best player of the World Cup, at the tournament in Indonesia. He was also a member of Argentina’s 2024 Paris Olympics squad, scoring once as he and his teammates exited at the quarter-final change.

Plays a bit like… Mario Götze

Now a seasoned Bundesliga professional, Götze was once a bright young thing when he burst onto the scene at Borussia Dortmund. Of a similar build to the 2014 World Cup winner, Echeverri is reminiscent of the Eintracht Frankfurt man in terms of agility, creativity and the ability to find pockets of space and influence games. This season, he will share a league and, at times, a pitch with the man 14 years his senior, and will be desperate to make a big impact.

Did you know?

Echeverri has been nicknamed ‘El Diablito’ (the ‘Little Devil’) after former Bolivia international Marco Etcheverry due to his dribbling and ability to beat opponents with ease. Bundesliga defences will be hoping the Leverkusen ace does not make their life hell for 90 minutes.

Echeverri could end up sharing a pitch with 2014 World Cup winner Mario Götze this season. - IMAGO/Revierfoto

What they’re saying…

“I’m a big fan of Claudio because he plays football in a similar way to the way I play; he has a lot of blood in his veins, fights for every possession, fights for every ball. Then his talent does the rest. But what I like about Claudio is he’s a No.10 or second striker and doesn’t give up; any possession, any ball, anything he can do to help, he’s there.” – Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva

“He’s an incredible player, a big, big talent in small spaces, and I’m happy for him. I want to tell you a secret: Last season, when he arrived, after every training session he practised free-kicks alone. So all his work paid off. If you score a goal, it’s because he practised. When the other guys don’t practise, they don’t score goals.” – Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola following Echeverri’s goal against Al-Ain

“Claudio Echeverri is a technically strong, energetic player who is very dynamic and causes problems between the lines. He's a fine footballer – a very good dribbler who drives towards goal and always uses his teammates to his advantage. Football fans come to the stadium for players like Claudio.” – Bayer Leverkusen director of sport Simon Rolfes

About the clubs

Bayer Leverkusen

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