Midfielder Richard Ríos, one of the standout players for the Colombian national team, has extended his contract with Palmeiras until December 31, 2028, the Brazilian club announced.

Ríos added two more years to his previous deal with the São Paulo-based team, which was set to expire at the end of 2026. "I want to thank Palmeiras and the management for believing in me and trusting me to stay here. I’m really happy to renew my contract, and my family is too," the 24-year-old player said in a statement released by the club.

The midfielder, who played futsal until he was 18, joined Palmeiras in 2023 after impressing at Guarani and winning that year’s Brazilian league title. Now, he’s a key player in the lineup of Portuguese coach Abel Ferreira. He’s racked up 93 appearances for Palmeiras, scoring five goals along the way, making him the third Colombian with the most games for the decorated São Paulo squad.

Before joining Palmeiras, Ríos spent time in Flamengo’s youth system and played for Mazatlán in Mexico. Ríos was also a crucial part of Colombia’s squad in the 2024 Copa América in the U.S., where they finished as runners-up after losing to Argentina in the final.

"The Copa América was a great experience. When the team does well, individual players naturally stand out too. I’m also excited to live my dream of playing in the Libertadores and the Brasileirão," the Colombian international said as he celebrated his contract extension.

Palmeiras is currently second in the Brazilian Championship, just three points behind leaders Botafogo with eleven games left in the season. It’s the only competition they’re still in after being knocked out in the round of 16 in both the Copa do Brasil and the Copa Libertadores.