This summer, 21-year-old Willian Pacho arrives at Eintracht having already won two major trophies. The first arrived at the end of April when he lifted the Belgian cup with Royal Antwerp FC following a 2-0 victory over Mechelen in the final, in which the young South American centre-back played for 69 minutes. The second piece of silverware was secured on the final day of the season when a last-gasp goal to equalise at 2-2 against KRC Genk sealed the league title and the domestic double.
Defensive rock
Despite his youth, Pacho was a cornerstone of the Antwerp rearguard last season. The 1.87-metre Ecuadorian made 50 competitive appearances - the vast majority of which were over the full 90 minutes - including five outings in UEFA Europa Conference League qualification. As such, he has already gained important experience just 18 months after moving to Europe.
Goal-scoring international debut
Before Pacho arrived in Belgium in January 2022 at the age of 19, the left-footed defender laced his boots for Indepediente del Valle in his homeland. He made 40 first-team appearances in two years for the Ecuadorian top-flight side, helping them win the club's maiden league title in 2021. Furthermore, Pacho played 11 times in the Copa Libertadores, the South American equivalent of the UEFA Champions League, while he also made his senior international debut in March and even scored in the 2-1 win over Australia.
It’s always been a dream of mine to play in the Bundesliga one day.
Willian Pacho
“He’s a very young player but he brings a lot to the table,” said Eintracht board member for sport Markus Krösche. “The signing of Willian is an important building block for us. In Belgium he showed that he can perform at a high level. He’s quick, plays good passes, is strong in the tackle and good in the air. He’s got everything you need as a defender. We’re pleased he decided to join Eintracht and we want to further develop his huge potential.”
Friends with Buta
The fact that Pacho already knows Aurélio Buta could help him settle in Frankfurt, the duo having played together in Antwerp for six months before the latter joined Eintracht last summer. “I’m looking forward to playing with him again,” said Pacho, who cannot wait to get started as an Eagle: “It’s always been a dream of mine to play in the Bundesliga one day.” That dream will now come true.
