Luis Ángel Palacios Mena

Luis Ángel Palacios Mena has moved through Colombian football in stages, from a first professional home to a loan spell and back again before settling into the role he plays today. Born in Bogotá, the right-footed defender began his senior career with Internacional de Bogotá in 2021, then spent the following season out on loan at Tigres FC before returning to Internacional de Bogotá in January 2023.

The move that shaped his career came in January 2024, when he joined Once Caldas on a free transfer.

Now with Independiente Santa Fe, Palacios has already had a hand in silverware. He started in the final of the 2026 Superliga BetPlay against Junior, a match Santa Fe won, and set up a goal in the game. Although some early team sheets listed him as a forward, his club records and match reports place him primarily at right-back, with the option of playing higher up as a right-sided midfielder.

Palacios is comfortable either shutting down the flank as a full-back or pushing forward into midfield. His goal contribution in the Superliga final stands as the clearest marker so far of a player who, despite being classified as a defender, offers something further up the pitch as well.