At just 16 years old, Gilberto Mora is emerging as Mexico’s most exciting young talent, attracting interest from some of the biggest clubs in world football.
Since making his professional debut over a year ago, Mora has racked up 38 appearances for Los Xolos whilst earning a place in the Mexican national team.
This past summer, he became a starter as El Tri lifted the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, providing the winning assist in the semi-final against Honduras before playing a starring role to defeat the United States in the final.
His performances for club and country have caught global attention, with the youngster even going on trial with FC Barcelona at the start of the calendar year. Although a move failed to materialise at the time, reports indicate that scouts are still monitoring the player as he continues to impress.
Now, Mora is reportedly the name on every scout’s lips, with clubs across Europe viewing him as a star of the future and preparing to battle for his signature.
This surge in global attention has prompted Tijuana to set their stance: if the 16-year-old is to depart, Los Xolos will demand a minimum fee of €20 million. If this fee is met, it would make Mora the most expensive Liga MX sale, topping the €15 million paid by Ajax for Edson Álvarez or the Enner Valencia deal to West Ham United in 2014 for the same value.
In the last week, reports emerged suggesting that the Mexican club have rejected two initial bids for the player. Whilst the clubs are undisclosed, the reports highlight that the offers came from teams in England and Portugal, looking to get ahead of the pack to set the tone to test Tijuana.
Those early bids were believed to be in the region of €6-€8million, but the club and the player's agent have since come to an agreement on a price which would suit all parties.
As transfer rumours continue to grow, Mora is currently representing the Mexico U-20 team at the FIFA World Cup in Chile, where he has helped them reach the knockout rounds. In the opening three games, the Tijuana star has scored three goals, including a brace against Spain to secure a 2-2 draw.
Where do you think Gilberto Mora will end up? Let us know!
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