# Billy Arce

Billy Vladimir Arce Mina (born 12 July 1998) is an Ecuadorian footballer who plays either as a left winger or a forward.

## Club career
### Independiente del Valle

Born in Esmeraldas, Arce finished his formation with Independiente del Valle, after playing for Emelec, CSCD Fedeguayas and CSCD La Paz. He made his first-team debut for the former on 5 February 2017, starting and scoring the game's only through a penalty kick in a home defeat of Deportivo Cuenca.
On 25 November 2017, Arce scored a brace in a 4–1 home routing of Guayaquil City. He finished his first senior campaign with 12 goals in 39 appearances, being the club's second-best goalscorer behind Michael Estrada.

### Brighton & Hove Albion

On 3 August 2018, Independiente del Valle confirmed Arce's transfer to Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion. His new club officially announced the deal four days later, on a reported four-year contract.

#### Loan to Extremadura

On the same day for being announced at the English club, Arce penned a loan move to Segunda División club Extremadura UD. He only featured in four matches overall for the club, and left in December after "having trouble adapting to the league".

#### Loan to Emelec

On 8 January 2019, after being rarely used, Arce returned to his home country after agreeing a loan move to Emelec. In May, he was left out of several matches of the club after being photographed in a party, being subsequently demoted to the reserve squad before leaving.

#### Loan to Barcelona SC

After being rarely used, Arce moved to fellow league team Barcelona SC also on loan on 23 July 2019. He spent the month of October away from trainings after being arrested, only returning on the 25th.

#### Loan to LDU Quito

On 24 January 2020, Arce was announced at LDU Quito. Regularly used as a substitute, his loan was renewed for a further year on 29 January 2021.

#### Return to Brighton

On 31 January 2022, Brighton announced the return of Arce, and initially assigned him to the under-23 squad. On 1 March, the club reached an agreement with Arce to terminate his contract; he left the club without making a senior appearance for them.

### Independiente del Valle return

On 8 March 2022, Arce returned to his first club Independiente del Valle on a deal until the end of the year. He left the club in July, after just 17 matches.

### Peñarol

On 20 July 2022, Arce was announced at Uruguayan Primera División side Peñarol on a short-term contract. He only featured in three matches, and was deemed surplus to requirements in September.

### Deportivo Pasto

On 6 January 2023, Arce switched teams and countries again, after signing for Colombian Categoría Primera A side Deportivo Pasto. Despite being regularly used, he left the side in June.

### Once Caldas

On 17 June 2023, Arce was presented at Once Caldas. He became an undisputed starter for the side, but departed the club roughly one year later.

### Santos

On 31 July 2024, free agent Arce signed a contract with Campeonato Brasileiro Série B side Santos until December 2025. He made his debut for the club on 17 August, replacing Serginho in a 1–0 home loss to Avaí.
On 20 December 2024, after just two matches and 35 minutes of action, Arce's contract with Santos was rescinded.

## Personal life

In October 2019, Arce was jailed for twenty days having been arrested for drink-driving.

## Career statistics

    As of 16 September 2024
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Independiente del Valle | 2017 | Ecuadorian Serie A | 32 | 12 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 12 |
| Independiente del Valle | 2018 | Ecuadorian Serie A | 20 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 22 | 7 |
| Independiente del Valle | Total | Total | 52 | 18 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | 56 | 19 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2018–19 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Extremadura (loan) | 2018–19 | Segunda División | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| Emelec (loan) | 2019 | Ecuadorian Serie A | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 2 |
| Barcelona SC (loan) | 2019 | Ecuadorian Serie A | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 1 |
| LDU Quito (loan) | 2020 | Ecuadorian Serie A | 26 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 4 |
| LDU Quito (loan) | 2021 | Ecuadorian Serie A | 21 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 30 | 6 |
| LDU Quito (loan) | Total | Total | 47 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 64 | 10 |
| Independiente del Valle | 2022 | Ecuadorian Serie A | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 1 | — | — | 19 | 2 |
| Peñarol | 2022 | Uruguayan Primera División | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Deportivo Pasto | 2023 | Categoría Primera A | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 1 |
| Once Caldas | 2023 | Categoría Primera A | 17 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 2 |
| Once Caldas | 2024 | Categoría Primera A | 22 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | 5 |
| Once Caldas | Total | Total | 39 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 40 | 7 |
| Santos | 2024 | Série B | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 187 | 33 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 225 | 42 |
* 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
* ↑ Six appearances and four goals in Copa Libertadores, one appearance in Copa Sudamericana
* ↑ Appearance(s) in Supercopa Ecuador
* ↑ Five appearances and one goal in Copa Libertadores, one appearance in Copa Sudamericana

## Honours

Santos
* Campeonato Brasileiro Série B: 2024