Dinamo Completes Signing of Uruguayan Midfielder Lautaro Ultra
The young Uruguayan midfielder Lautaro Ultra is set to become the new player of the Croatian runners-up, with the deal in its final stages.
The young Uruguayan midfielder Lautaro Ultra is set to become the new player of the Croatian runners-up, with the deal in its final stages.
Dinamo Zagreb has almost finalized another transfer, this time for 19-year-old Uruguayan midfielder Lautaro Ultra. According to Uruguayan journalist Leandro Hernández, the clubs have already exchanged all necessary documentation, with only administrative formalities remaining. Ultra is expected to travel to the Croatian capital this weekend and join his new team.
The young Uruguayan, whose full name is Lautaro Alejo Ultra Goro, was born on May 21, 2007, in Soriano, and primarily plays as a defensive midfielder, with the ability to also play as a central midfielder. Although Transfermarkt values him at €200,000, his current club, Oriental de la Paz, extended his contract until 2031 in May, which is quite unusual for a player of his age and clearly indicates his potential, which has also been recognized by the Blues.
According to Sportske novosti, Dinamo will pay €200,000 for Ultra, with bonuses potentially reaching an additional €500,000. Additionally, Oriental could receive 10% of any future transfer fee. If all bonuses are met, the maximum compensation for the young Uruguayan would be €700,000. Ultra will sign a four-year contract with Dinamo, and it is still unknown whether he will join the B team or immediately link up with Mario Kovačević's first team.
Ultra has already received a call-up to the Uruguayan U-18 national team and has appeared in two friendly matches against Argentina, which speaks to his talent. This is the third addition to the 'number six' position for Dinamo this summer, following the earlier signings of Kiril Kravtsov (24) and Fuzy Taylor (18). This will provide significant competition for captain Josip Mišić in the midfield.
Incidentally, Dinamo has reactivated its second team this season, which competes in the SuperSport 1. NL, the second tier of Croatian football. It is there that Ultra could begin his adaptation to European football, where he would have the opportunity to develop and prove himself.
Ultra began his football career at Peñarol de Dolores, and was later spotted by Oriental de La Paz. He spent a year in the youth academy and made his debut in the Uruguayan second division at the age of 17. Over the past two years, he has established himself as a regular starter at Oriental. According to official data from the Uruguayan Football Association, he has recorded 18 appearances and 1,370 minutes in the first team this season.
In June, the Uruguayan newspaper El País named him one of the most interesting young players in the local second division. In that interview, Ultra highlighted positioning, passing, and physical effort in pressing as his main qualities, while admitting he needs to improve his heading. He also emphasized the importance of playing with the ball and being part of a team that wants to control possession.
In addition to the U-18 call-up, Ultra received a call-up to the Uruguayan U-20 national team this month. New coach Diego Forlán included him among 31 players for the start of preparations for the South American Championship. Ultra is thus among the midfielders on the list, alongside young players from Nacional, Peñarol, Danubio, and Defensor Sporting.
"🚨 Lautaro Ultra, volante central de Oriental de La Paz, será nuevo futbolista del Dinamo Zagreb 🇭🇷.👉🏻 Los clubes ya intercambian la documentación para cerrar la transferencia.✈️ El futbolista viajará el fin de semana para sumarse a su nuevo equipo."
This post was shared on Twitter by journalist Leandro Hernández and is also reported by Tportal. It is expected that Ultra could be officially presented as early as the beginning of next week.
