The Ecuadorian international arrived in Glasgow with a high reputation, and supporters had great expectations for the central midfield player, who was bought by former manager Michael Beale for £1.2 million from MLS side Los Angeles FC after a protracted wait to acquire his signature.
Though Cifuentes made just 20 appearances for the Light Blues, the 25-year-old struggled to adjust to Scottish football and failed to make an impression during his first six months with the club. As a result, new boss Philippe Clement was glad to allow Cifuentes to return to South America on loan.
He signed a 12-month loan agreement with Cruzeiro during the winter transfer window, but it now looks like the agreement has been cancelled so he can return to Europe and complete his transfer to Aris Thessaloniki in Greece. The Daily Record reports that Cifuentes will join the Super League team on a new season-long loan, with an option to buy the player next summer.
Giannis Chorianopoulos, a reporter based in Greece, believes the sum has been fixed at approximately €5 million (£4.2 million). Cifuentes’ contract with the Ibrox club expires in 2027. Although Beale had earlier called his signing a “game-changer,” he was one of several unproductive additions made last summer. His stay in Belo Horizonte hasn’t quite gone as expected.
Although Cruzeiro and the Gers had an option-to-buy deal in place, it never seemed plausible that they would exercise it. It is now anticipated that within the next 24 hours, he will sign a contract with Aris. Cifuentes was called up to the Ecuador national team for the 2024 Copa America despite his struggles at the club level; nevertheless, he did not appear in any of his country’s matches prior to their elimination in the quarterfinals.
A source close to the deal remarked: “Jose had a tough time adapting to Scottish football, but this move to Aris Thessaloniki could be a fresh start for him. He’s still young and has a lot of potential.”
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