Chivas gem Mateo Chávez joins AZ Alkmaar on deal until 2029

It’s now official — Mateo Chávez, the promising full-back from Chivas, has made the leap to European football, joining Dutch side AZ Alkmaar. At just 21 years of age, Chávez becomes the 14th Mexican to play in the Eredivisie, a league where several compatriots have thrived over the years.

The move was confirmed on Thursday, with the young defender signing his contract in the Netherlands, accompanied by his father. In a meaningful detail, Chávez will wear the No. 15 shirt — the same number once worn by his father, Paulo Chávez, during his professional career.

Chávez has committed to AZ until 2029, becoming the first Mexican at the club since Héctor Moreno, who wore the Red and White shirt from 2008 to 2011 and was part of the side that lifted the Eredivisie trophy in 2009. Mateo is only the second Mexican ever to play for AZ, and now stands as one of two active Mexican players in the Eredivisie — the other being Stephano Carrillo, currently with Feyenoord.

The transfer sees Chivas receiving €2 million for 75 percent of Chávez’s rights, while retaining 25 percent in a potential future sale. With this move, Chávez becomes the eighth Chivas academy graduate to be exported to Europe, and the fourth homegrown defender from the club to make the transatlantic jump.

"I'm a defender who plays with a lot of intensity. I like to move the ball forward and support the attack. Football here is very fast and offensive, and that suits my style. AZ has a young team and they’re always striving to improve," Chávez said during his first interview with the Dutch club.

Chávez arrives after a steady climb through the ranks at Chivas, where he logged 1,785 minutes across 26 regular season appearances in Liga MX, starting 19 of those games. He also featured in three playoff matches, adding another 224 minutes to his tally. Before joining the senior side, he was a key figure for Tapatío, Chivas' reserve team, winning the Liga de Expansión in 2023 after debuting in September 2022.

Reflecting on the move, Chávez shared the personal support he received from Chivas’ president Amaury Vergara prior to his departure.

“Amaury Vergara told me he believed in my potential, that this was a beautiful opportunity for me, that I deserved to live this experience. He encouraged me to represent Mexico and Chivas with pride, and assured me the doors of the club would always be open if I ever decide to return,” Chávez revealed. “It’s a huge opportunity — it’ll be my first time living alone, in a new country, learning a new language, and adapting to a different culture. I want to grow, address my weaknesses, and develop at a higher level. The dream, like for so many players, is to eventually reach one of Europe’s top leagues.”

The transfer marks Chivas’ first player sale to Europe since José Juan Macías made his move to Getafe in 2020. After successfully completing his medical, Chávez is now officially part of the AZ project — a young, ambitious squad in a league that continues to welcome Mexican talent.

In response to the announcement, Chivas shared a heartfelt message on social media: “ANOTHER ACADEMY GRADUATE REACHES EUROPE…” signaling both pride and hope for their latest export to thrive on the continental stage.