Barcelona de Guayaquil Legend Kitu Díaz Founds New Club in Ecuador

Damián “Kitu” Díaz, currently playing for Banfield in Argentina, has taken a bold new step by founding his own football club in Ecuador, where he rose to stardom with Barcelona SC. According to Infobae, the 39-year-old midfielder returned to Santa Elena this week to finalize the launch of Academia Kitu Díaz (AKD), a team that will compete in Ecuador’s Segunda Categoría.

The club originates from the acquisition of Dreamers, which has been rebranded with a new identity, name, and colors. Based in the city of La Libertad, AKD will play its home matches at Estadio Las Acacias. Official registration is expected to be completed between Wednesday and Friday, positioning the club to participate in the 2025 season.

“This is hopefully the beginning of a new chapter for the youth of Santa Elena,” said Díaz, emphasizing that his project is about more than just football—it’s about creating safe, productive paths for local kids through sport and personal development.

Kitu Díaz emerged from Rosario Central and joined Boca Juniors in 2008. However, his time at La Bombonera was short-lived. It was in Guayaquil, with Barcelona SC, where he truly made his mark, eventually acquiring Ecuadorian citizenship and becoming a club icon.

With Banfield now out of the Apertura playoffs, Díaz used the break to advance his entrepreneurial vision. Once AKD’s registration is complete, he will return to Argentina to rejoin training under head coach Pedro Troglio ahead of the upcoming Clausura tournament.