Gabriel Arias · Biography

Gabriel Arias Arroyo was born on 13 September 1987 in the city of Neuquén, in Argentine Patagonia. He learned his trade as a goalkeeper at clubs in his home province before joining the youth ranks of Olimpo in Bahía Blanca. He holds both Argentine and Chilean nationality and chose to represent Chile, making his debut for them in 2018. Almost his entire club career was played in Argentine football: Olimpo, Defensa y Justicia, a short spell at Unión La Calera, seven and a half years at Racing Club and, from January 2026, Newell's Old Boys.

Early years in Neuquén and Bahía Blanca

He started playing in goal at the age of 13 in Neuquén, first in the youth teams of Banco Provincia and then at Ruca Hueney. From there he moved to Olimpo's academy in Bahía Blanca, where he completed his development and reached the senior squad. He was part of the first team between 2007 and 2012, mostly as a substitute, and made just one league appearance. He was in the squad that won the 2009-10 Primera B Nacional, the title that took Olimpo back to the Argentine top flight.

Defensa y Justicia: promotion to the top flight

In 2012 he joined Defensa y Justicia, then in the Primera B Nacional. In Florencio Varela he finally found regular football and was part of the side that won promotion to the Primera División in 2013-14. He made his top-flight debut on 6 December 2014 in a goalless draw against Olimpo, his former club. He stayed at Defensa until 2018, finishing with 99 competitive appearances and 41 clean sheets.

Unión La Calera and the move to Racing

In January 2018 Defensa y Justicia loaned him to Unión La Calera of the Chilean Primera División, with an option to buy. He played 16 matches for the Chilean club and kept seven clean sheets. That half-season also opened the door to the national team. On 2 July 2018 Racing Club bought 80% of his economic rights and the goalkeeper settled in Avellaneda.

Seven seasons at Racing Club

He was first choice from the moment he arrived and won the 2018-19 Superliga Argentina in his first full season. On 14 December 2019 he added the Trofeo de Campeones de la Superliga after a 2-0 win over Tigre. Over the years he became the team's captain. On 6 November 2022 he lifted the Trofeo de Campeones de la Liga Profesional after a 2-1 win over Boca Juniors, and in January 2023 he won the Supercopa Internacional, again against Boca. There were near misses too: Racing finished as runners-up in the 2021 Copa de la Liga Profesional and in the 2022 Primera División. The continental title came on 23 November 2024 in Asunción, where Racing beat Cruzeiro 3-1 in the final of the 2024 Copa Sudamericana; Arias was named in the team of the tournament. In February 2025 he added the Recopa Sudamericana, beating Botafogo 4-0 on aggregate. He left the club at the end of 2025 after 254 competitive appearances in the Racing goal.

The Chile national team

He made his Chile debut on 4 June 2018 in Graz, Austria, in a friendly that La Roja won 1-0 against Serbia. In 2019 he was the first-choice goalkeeper at the Copa América in Brazil, playing all six of Chile's matches as they finished fourth. He was called up for the 2021 Copa América, where Chile went out in the quarter-finals, and at the 2024 Copa América in the United States he kept goal in the 0-0 group-stage draw with Canada. He also played one qualifier for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and two in the qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup. Between 2018 and 2024 he won 19 caps.

Newell's Old Boys

After leaving Racing he drew interest from Colo-Colo and Universidad de Chile but chose to stay in Argentine football. He signed a one-year deal with Newell's Old Boys as a free agent, brought in to fill the gap left in goal by Keylor Navas and Lucas Hoyos. He was the Rosario club's first signing of that transfer window, and his arrival was officially announced on 2 January 2026.