FC Basel sign Eder Alvarez Balanta to 4-year contract

Balanta was part of River's Copa Libertadores-winning squad in 2015 (Shizuo Kambayashi/AP)

BASEL, Switzerland — Swiss champion Basel has signed Colombia defender Eder Balanta from Argentine club River Plate on a four-year contract.

Basel says on its website that the 23-year-old Balanta has joined the team at a pre-season training camp in the Swiss Alps. Details of Balanta’s transfer were not disclosed.

Balanta was part of River’s Copa Libertadores-winning squad in 2015. He was also in Colombia’s squad at the 2014 World Cup and played in the win over Japan.

Basel qualified for the group stage of the Champions League after winning its seventh straight Swiss league title last season.

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