Alejo Sarco has completed a permanent transfer from Bayer Leverkusen to Spanish Segunda División side Sporting Gijón, the Bundesliga club confirmed on Tuesday. The move comes after a largely unsuccessful 18-month spell in Germany, where the 20-year-old made just six Bundesliga appearances across spells with Leverkusen and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Sarco initially joined Leverkusen as a free agent in January 2025 from Vélez Sarsfield, arriving with a reputation as a promising young striker. However, he struggled to break into the first team at the BayArena, making only three league appearances. A loan move to Borussia Mönchengladbach in January 2026 offered a potential opportunity for increased playing time, but he featured in just three more Bundesliga games for the Foals.
Despite his limited club action in Germany, Sarco has been a key figure for the Argentina national youth team. He played a significant role as Argentina reached the final of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, showcasing his potential on the international stage. This international experience likely contributed to Sporting Gijón’s interest in securing his services.
According to reports, Bayer Leverkusen have included a buyback clause in the deal, allowing them to potentially re-sign Sarco in the future should he flourish in Spain. Leverkusen’s sporting director Simon Rolfes stated that the move is in Sarco’s best interest, explaining, “Alejo did not get the playing time he hoped for in his year and a half with us. With his move to Spain, he now has the opportunity to collect important minutes. We trust him a lot and will follow his development closely.”
Sporting Gijón are preparing for their tenth consecutive season in the Segunda División and will hope Sarco can provide a spark in attack. The transfer represents a chance for the young Argentinian to gain consistent first-team football and further develop his game, while Leverkusen maintain a potential pathway to re-acquire a player they clearly still believe in. This move could prove beneficial for all parties involved as Sarco looks to reignite his career.
