Jairo David Vélez Cedeño

Vélez left El Carmen for River Plate Ecuador's youth system and made his senior debut in 2013, before a move that shaped his career: within the year he was in Argentina with Vélez Sársfield, first on loan and then on a permanent deal, and lifted the Supercopa Argentina before he had turned 19. Loan spells took him to Universidad Católica in Ecuador and to Universidad San Martín de Porres in Peru.

A move to Mexico followed, first with Atlante and then Cafetaleros de Chiapas, before Vélez returned to Peru in 2020 to join César Vallejo. The 2025 season, played on loan at Universitario de Deportes, saw 37 appearances, three goals and two assists, and a share in the club's Clausura and overall Liga 1 titles, secured by finishing top of the table rather than through a final. Universitario held an option to sign him outright but could not agree terms, and instead of returning to César Vallejo, Vélez was sold to Alianza Lima in December 2025 for around $250,000, signing through 2028.

Born in Ecuador, he had already represented the country at U-20 level, appearing four times at the South American Youth Championship in 2015. A decade on, he switched allegiance at senior level, making his debut for Peru in 2026 and scoring four goals in his first four caps.