The 15-year-old striker attracted attention from Sunderland and Bundesliga clubs after a prolific 2025, and River Plate have moved to protect one of their most highly rated young forwards with a deal running until December 2028.
Cabral became a major talking point after starring for River at the 2025 Messi Cup in Miami. He scored seven goals in five matches as his side won the tournament, finishing as both the competition’s top scorer and its most valuable player.
His goals included strikes against Barcelona, Manchester City and Chelsea, while he scored three times against Inter and twice against Atletico Madrid.
Cabral had already been producing impressive numbers at youth level before his performances in Miami. He scored 26 goals in 2024 before adding 34 in 28 appearances for River in 2025, while also scoring regularly for Argentina’s Under-15 side.
Those performances led to European interest, with Sunderland among the clubs to make enquiries. Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen were also reported to have monitored the teenager as his reputation continued to grow.
River have now secured Cabral’s future on professional terms. The agreement was reached after the club had been working to complete the deal, with his age preventing him from signing a professional contract earlier.
Cabral turned 16 on August 16, allowing the agreement to be formalised. His contract will now keep him at River until the end of 2028 and includes a €100m release clause.
The size of the clause underlines River’s desire to protect Cabral from an early move to Europe. Interest from Sunderland dates back to December, when the Premier League club were among those reported to have sounded out the forward.
River’s agreement does not mean European interest has disappeared, but it ensures any club looking to sign Cabral will face a substantial financial barrier. For a player who has only just entered professional football, his contract represents a significant commitment from the Argentine club.
The agreement also gives River greater control over the timing of any future move. Cabral’s performances at the Messi Cup put him on the radar of clubs outside Argentina, and his latest contract ensures River will be in a strong position if that interest develops into formal approaches.
Sunderland’s previous interest therefore provides context for a deal that could become increasingly important if Cabral continues his rapid development.