Midfielder Iván Tona is on the verge of leaving Club Tijuana to join Club América. Negotiations between the two clubs for the player's services are at a very advanced stage. En.as.com first reported the story.
A source in Coapa confirmed the status of the talks. "Negotiations between América and Club Tijuana over Iván Tona’s services are at an advanced stage," the source said. Only minor details remain before the 26-year-old makes the jump to the capital city giants, who are looking to finalize their squad for the remainder of the Apertura 2026.
Iván Tona is a product of the Club Tijuana academy, though he left the border club's youth setup in 2020. After his departure, he spent time with Dorados de Sinaloa, Cimarrones de Sonora, and Raya2 in the Liga de Expansión MX. His return to Xolos came in 2023, signing from Raya2. Since then, he has become an important player for the team, making 94 appearances and scoring one goal in the black and blue shirt.
His importance in the current setup is clear. Tona has appeared in all six of Club Tijuana's matches during the Apertura 2026 campaign. He has not, however, played the full 90 minutes in every outing. His contract with the club currently runs through next summer.
A historic pipeline to Coapa
Tona's potential transfer fits a historical pattern. Since Club Tijuana earned promotion to Liga MX in 2011, a total of 12 players have made the journey from the border to América's facilities in Coapa. Of that dozen, only one failed to win a trophy with the Eagles.
The list of footballers who have represented both clubs is extensive and includes big names. Henry Martín, Guido Rodríguez, Pablo Aguilar, Darío Benedetto, and Cristian Pellerano are on it. So are Emanuel Aguilera, José Raúl Zúñiga, Carlos Vargas, Joe Corona, Mauro Lainez, Jordan Silva, and José Antonio Madueña. This tradition suggests América sees the Tijuana pipeline as a reliable source of talent.
Club Tijuana's current context
While these negotiations unfold, Club Tijuana is enjoying a positive sporting moment. The team sits fourth in the Liga MX standings, with 13 points from six games. Their record is four wins, one draw, and just one loss, with a recent form string of WLWDW. For goals, they have scored 10 and conceded 7, giving them a +3 goal difference.
Miguel Herrera's team arrives at this point following a solid 2-0 victory over UNAM Pumas on August 29. Their form over the last five matches is four wins and one loss, and they are on a two-game winning streak. In the title race, Xolos are three points behind the leader, which happens to be Club América.
The next fixture is at home against Club Querétaro, seventh in the table, on September 12. This match will be key to maintaining momentum before the transfer window closes. The lineup for that clash can be seen in our squad list. If the transfer is finalized, Tona would leave a gap in a midfield that has been fundamental to the strong start to the season, reflected in the team's stats.
