Belgian top-flight club KAA Gent have announced the signing of FK Auda striker Josué Vergara, with the Panamanian forward signing a five-year contract. According to Baltic Football News sources, the deal is worth around €3 million, a fee that would represent a record outgoing transfer for a player from the Latvian Virslīga.
The move comes after a remarkable first half-season in Latvia for the 18-year-old striker, who quickly established himself as one of the biggest revelations of the Tonybet Virslīga campaign. In 17 league appearances, Vergara scored 13 goals and provided three assists.
Reports linking Vergara with a move to Belgium had surfaced in recent weeks, but both Auda and Gent officially confirmed the transfer on Wednesday.
“The arrival of Vergara fits perfectly within our sporting strategy: bringing in young, promising players and combining them with more experienced footballers. Josue was also on the radar of other clubs, but we are pleased that he chose KAA Gent,” said Gent Operational Director Kjeld Fort.
Standing at 196 centimetres tall, Vergara arrived in Latvia ahead of the 2026 season after previously playing exclusively in his native Panama. Before joining Auda, he represented Tauro FC and featured for several Panama youth national teams.
His impact in Latvia was immediate. Vergara was named Virslīga Player of the Month in April and quickly became one of the league’s most feared attacking players thanks to his combination of physical presence, aerial ability and finishing.
While the transfer fee has not been disclosed, this is not the first time Gent have turned to Latvia in search of attacking power. Five years ago, the Belgian club signed Serbian striker Darko Lemajic from RFS after his impressive performances against Gent in European competition. Lemajic spent two seasons in Belgium before eventually returning to RFS.
Vergara leaves Auda with 13 goals and three assists from 17 Virslīga matches, having played a key role in the club’s strong start to the season. Auda currently sit third in the league standings and are set to discover their opponents for the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League later today.
Source: https://www.kaagent.be/nl/nieuws/17-06-2026/josue-vergara-tekent-voor-kaa-gent
