[2][3][4] Lisandro Martínez's transfer to Eredivisie side Ajax was announced on 20 May 2019, while Leonel Miranda switched Argentina for Mexico by signing for Tijuana and Ciro Rius left across the Primera División to Rosario Central in early June.
[9] Three incomings came on 24 June, with Marcelo Herrera, Gonzalo Piovi and Juan Rodríguez moving from Belgrano, Racing Club and Fénix - while Daniel González went to Dorados de Sinaloa.
[13] Defensa y Justicia defeated Defensores de Belgrano 2–0 on 29 June in a pre-season friendly, with the goals coming from Alexis Castro and Nicolás Fernández.
[16] Maximiliano Caire was signed by Gimnasia y Esgrima on 1 July, on the same day as Guido Mainero completed a loan move in from Vélez Sarsfield.
[17][18] Hours later, Nicolás Maná was snapped up; having spent the prior months unattached after leaving Greek team Panetolikos.
[22][23] Defensa remained unbeaten in pre-season on 3 July, after beating and drawing with Huracán at the Estadio Norberto "Tito" Tomaghello.
[29][30] Newell's Old Boys were fought in exhibition matches on 13 July, with Defensa coming away without goals or a victory; drawing and losing games at the Predio Áreas Grandes in Florencio Varela.
[44][45] Defensa made it two defeats from two Primera División fixtures on 4 August, losing on the road against Unión Santa Fe.
[46] Defensa's poor start to the competitive season continued on 18 August, as Arsenal de Sarandí scored three unanswered goals in the league at the Estadio Norberto "Tito" Tomaghello.
Defensa y Justicia's first opponent of pre-season was revealed on 20 June, as Primera B Nacional side Chacarita Juniors scheduled an exhibition match with them for 6 July.