Tomás Chancalay Bio
Tomás Alejandro Chancalay (born 1 January 1999) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a winger. Currently contracted to Minnesota United of Major League Soccer, he is best known in North America for his time with the New England Revolution, where he became a Designated Player. Standing 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) tall, Chancalay combines wide attacking play with a knack for important goals in cup and league competition.
Born in Viale, in the Entre Ríos province of Argentina, Chancalay rose through the youth ranks at Colón before establishing himself in the Argentine Primera División. He later represented Racing Club, spent a loan spell in the United Arab Emirates with Al-Wasl, and featured briefly for New England Revolution II before securing a permanent move to MLS with New England. He has also represented Argentina at under-20 level, including at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Early Life and Background
Tomás Alejandro Chancalay was born on 1 January 1999 in Viale, a small city in the Entre Ríos province of Argentina. Like many Argentine footballers, he grew up immersed in the country’s football culture and began playing at a local level before being spotted by larger academies in the region.
Chancalay joined the Colón youth setup in 2006, arriving from hometown club Arsenal de Viale. He spent more than a decade progressing through the ranks in Santa Fe, refining his game as a winger and learning the tactical demands of Argentine football. Colón has long been known for producing technically sharp wide players, and Chancalay’s development there laid the foundation for his professional career.
On 10 February 2017, still a teenager, Chancalay signed his first professional contract with Colón. The deal marked the transition from promising youth prospect to senior professional, and within months he was promoted to the first team ahead of the 2017–18 Argentine Primera División campaign.
Path to Soccer
Chancalay’s rise through Colón’s academy was steady rather than sudden. After more than ten years in the youth system, he was given a chance to train with the senior squad ahead of the 2017–18 season, an indication that the coaching staff viewed him as a player ready for first-team football. His technical profile as a left-footed winger capable of playing on either flank gave Colón tactical flexibility.
His professional debut arrived on 26 August 2017, when he came on as a second-half substitute for Nicolás Leguizamón in a 1–1 away draw against Rosario Central. Just over a week later, on 8 September 2017, he scored his first senior goal in a victory over Arsenal de Sarandí. Further strikes against San Martín and Godoy Cruz followed, and he finished his debut season with twenty-four appearances as Colón secured qualification for the 2018 Copa Sudamericana.
That debut campaign established Chancalay as a first-team contributor at Colón and caught the attention of bigger clubs in Argentina. By early 2021, he was ready for a move to a club competing at the top end of the Primera División.
Tomás Chancalay Career
Early Career at Colón (2017–2021)
Chancalay spent four full seasons in Colón’s first team, gradually expanding his role from impact substitute to regular starter. Over the course of his time in Santa Fe, he made more than one hundred appearances and contributed goals and assists against established Argentine opposition, including early career goals versus Arsenal de Sarandí, San Martín, and Godoy Cruz.
His development at Colón coincided with the club’s push into continental competition. The team qualified for the 2018 Copa Sudamericana during his first senior season, and Chancalay continued to feature prominently as Colón sought to balance domestic and international fixtures. By the end of his spell at the club, he had established himself as one of the more reliable wide attackers in the Argentine top flight.
Racing Club Breakthrough (2021–2022)
On 5 February 2021, Chancalay moved to Racing Club of the Argentine Primera División on a loan deal for the remainder of the year, with Racing paying a fee of around 100,000 US dollars for the loan. The move represented a step up in competition, as Racing regularly compete for top honors domestically and in the Copa Libertadores.
On 14 January 2022, Racing triggered the purchase option, acquiring 50% of Chancalay’s sporting rights for 1,250,000 US dollars. He signed a contract running through the end of 2024. His performances at Racing demonstrated his ability to operate at a higher level, and his pace and direct running gave the Avellaneda side a different dimension in the final third.
Al-Wasl Loan (2022–2023)
On 7 September 2022, Chancalay left Racing to join Emirati club Al-Wasl on a loan deal that ran until June 2023. The switch gave him experience of football outside South America for the first time, exposing him to a different league structure and playing environment in the United Arab Emirates.
Although his time in the Gulf was relatively short, the loan broadened his professional experience and prepared him for his eventual move to North American soccer later that same year.
New England Revolution Era (2023–2025)
On 10 July 2023, Chancalay joined Major League Soccer club New England Revolution on loan for the remainder of the 2023 season. The deal included a purchase option and the option to extend the loan through 2024. He made his first appearance for the Revolution on 13 August 2023, playing initially through the club’s academy side, New England Revolution II, before being cut short by a thigh contusion after twenty minutes.
On 2 September 2023, Chancalay announced himself in MLS by scoring twice against Austin FC. On 28 November 2023, New England made the move permanent, transferring him from Racing as a Designated Player on a contract through the 2026 MLS season, with an additional one-year club option. The reported transfer fee was approximately 3.1 million US dollars, including a 25% sell-on clause. On 7 May 2025, Chancalay scored the first-ever goal at Centreville Bank Stadium, opening the scoring in a 2–1 U.S. Open Cup victory over Rhode Island FC.
Minnesota United Move (2026–)
On 26 December 2025, Minnesota United announced the signing of Chancalay from New England Revolution. The club paid a reported 100,000 US dollars and signed him through the 2027/28 season, with an option for an additional campaign in 2028/29. The move marked the start of a new chapter in his MLS career.
International Career
Chancalay has represented Argentina at under-20 level. He was initially selected for the 2018 L’Alcúdia International Football Tournament, though Colón withdrew him from the squad. He had previously trained with the U20s, including sessions against the senior Argentina side during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He was later called up by Fernando Batista for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, where he appeared in two matches before Argentina were eliminated by Mali on penalties, with Chancalay missing the decisive spot-kick.
Tomás Chancalay Family
Personal Life
Tomás Alejandro Chancalay maintains a largely private personal life away from football. Public records list his height as 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in), and he has been based in Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States during his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 MLS season, Chancalay continued as a Designated Player for New England Revolution, contributing goals and creative play from wide positions. He was part of the squad that opened the new Centreville Bank Stadium, scoring the historic first goal at the ground in a 2–1 U.S. Open Cup win over Rhode Island FC on 7 May 2025.
Across league and cup competition, Chancalay remained a regular contributor in the final third, providing width, direct dribbling, and end product that had made him one of New England’s most influential attackers since his permanent transfer in late 2023. His form during the campaign helped underline the value that ultimately convinced Minnesota United to pursue his signing.
With the December 2025 transfer to Minnesota United confirmed, Chancalay’s outlook centers on settling into a new squad, building chemistry with new teammates, and translating his Revolution form into goals and assists for his new club from 2026 onward.