Yaimar Abel Medina Ortiz

Yaimar Medina made his senior debut for Independiente del Valle on 30 July 2022, coming through the club's academy in Ecuador. Over the following seasons he became a regular in the side, making 48 league appearances and scoring six goals from defence. His time at the club coincided with a run of silverware: the Serie A title in 2021, the Copa Ecuador and Copa Sudamericana in 2022, and both the Supercopa Ecuador and Recopa Sudamericana in 2023.

That record of success helped take him to Belgium. On 9 January 2025, KRC Genk signed the defender on a contract running until 30 June 2029. Reports on the transfer fee vary — Argentine outlet Olé and Belgian site Voetbalbelgie.be put it at around €3.5 million plus variables, while other outlets have cited figures closer to €5 million — but all accounts agree the move represented a significant step up.

Medina has also broken into the Ecuador national team, making his senior debut on 6 September 2024 in a World Cup qualifier against Brazil. He has since gone on to earn seven caps for his country, though he is yet to open his scoring account at international level.