Following his move to FC Zurich, Palacio's current-season form is up 100% on last season (Season 12→24), while his Rating held around 41. That makes this his strongest season for form to date.

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	FC ZurichLoan · 10th	32	0	1	6.95	41	24
2025/26	Real Monarchs	2	0	0	—	—	—
2025/26	Real Salt Lake · 9th	10	0	0	6.65	34	5
2024/25	Real Monarchs	1	0	0	—	—	—
2024/25	Real Salt Lake · 8th	25	1	1	6.75	40	12
2023/24	Real Salt Lake · 8th	15	0	1	6.71	39	11
2023/24	Atletico Nacional	21	1	1	6.85	—	—
2022/23	Atletico Nacional	37	1	1	6.79	—	—
2021/22	Atletico Nacional	13	0	0	6.74	—	—
2021/22	Valledupar	16	0	0	—	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 1 earlier season in the full career.

Colombia · international

Side	Apps	G
Colombia	1	0
Colombia U23	8	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Project playerDefensive midfielder

N. Palacio is a 25-year-old defensive midfielder at Toronto FC, rated 42.3 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 118th of 436 on scout potential in the Major League Soccer. In his prime years, he has been an ever-present this season (90.8% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.44 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Palacio.

Judged on this season alone, Palacio graded 28 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 21st of 40 of the 40 defensive midfielders in the Major League Soccer, on 0 goals, 1 assist and 3.443 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 12 → 24). Across the 3 seasons we hold, it's his best return yet.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 42, top 33% of the 40 defensive midfielders in the Major League Soccer. At 25 Palacio is in his prime years, and a market index of 8.8 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

A career still climbing — Palacio is at his peak right now, and the curve hasn't flattened.

Peak: 2025/26Trending upRemarkably consistent

Current potentialTop 33% defensive midfielders · Major League Soccer Current season21st of 40 defensive midfielders · Major League Soccer 21st-best defensive midfielder in the Major League Soccer 118th in the Major League Soccer · potential 13th-highest potential defensive midfielder in the Major League Soccer

42.3

Ratingi

13th of 40 defensive midfielders

28.1

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

90.8%

Minutes

near ever-present

3.44

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Toronto FC finished 8th of 15 · a mid-table side

Apps

3.44

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.44 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 2 clean sheets across 32 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 0 goals and 1 assist — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 90.8% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.

Watch points

Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 42.3, Palacio carries the 13th-highest potential of the defensive midfielders in the Major League Soccer (top 33%). Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (3.44 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 2×) with the best seasons likely ahead.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %90.8%

Available fixtures32 of 21

Goals / 900

Assists / 900.034

Goal contribution / 900.034

Defensive actions / 903.443

Player flow

Goal involvements1

Cards / 900.172

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~9), then tapers with age. At 25, Palacio sits on 8.8, at or near its peak. The blue line is Palacio's projected Rating — 42.3 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among defensive midfielders in the Major League Soccer with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals0

Passing

Assists1

Defending

Tackles59

Interceptions27

Blocks14

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards5

Red cards0

Transfer history

Toronto FCJul 2026 – now

Real Salt Lake(back from loan)Jun 2026 – Jul 2026

FC Zurich(on loan)Jul 2025 – Jun 2026

Real Salt LakeJun 2023 – Jul 2025€ N/A

Atletico Nacionaluntil Jun 2023

About N. Palacio

Nelson Daniel Palacio Ruiz is a 25-year-old defensive midfielder who plays for Toronto FC, born on June 16, 2001 in Apartadó, standing 180 cm tall. He is from Colombia. Toronto FC currently sit 8th of 15 in the Major League Soccer.

This season

In the current season, N. Palacio has made 32 appearances with 0 goals and 1 assist across 2,614 minutes, with 5 yellow cards.

N. Palacio's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Toronto FC face New York City FC at home in the Major League Soccer.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates N. Palacio at 42.3 with a Season form score of 28.1, ranking 118th of 436 defensive midfielders in the Major League Soccer. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 6 career titles — among them the Superliga and the Primera A. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 6 recorded seasons, N. Palacio has totalled 190 club appearances with 3 goals and 5 assists for 5 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2022/23, with 37 appearances for Atletico Nacional.

N. Palacio's career has also included time at Real Salt Lake, FC Zurich and Atletico Nacional.

On the international stage, N. Palacio has represented Colombia and Colombia U23 — 9 caps in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Also this season

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Toronto FC finished 8th of 15 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points