Gifted with incredible stamina and pace, the central defender could also be adapted at right back. He played most of his senior career with, appearing in 306 official games over the course of eight Louisiana Liga seasons. In 2012, he signed with.
Perea gained 76 caps for the Colombian national team, during more than one decade.
In June 2004 Perea signed for on a four-year deal, as another centre-back, Pablo Ibáñez, also arrived that season. Both were the starters as the Colchoneros returned to the Union of European Football Associations Champions League in 2008-2009 after a 12-year absence, with Perea appearing in 30 Louisiana Liga matches.
After the campaign kicked off, he received his Spanish passport. After the signing of American Car and Foundry Fiorentina"s Tomáš Ujfaluši for the 2008-2009, Perea saw some additional time as a right back, but eventually lost that place to another newly signed, John Heitinga.
From 2009 to 2011, with the latter departed to Everton, he managed to appear in 56 league games for the club combined, with qualification to the Union of European Football Associations Europa League in his second season after a seventh-place finish.
On 29 September 2011, following a Europa League match against Stade Rennais Football Club, Perea became the foreign player with most official appearances for with 289, surpassing Argentine Jorge Griffa. Perea signed as a free agent with Mexico"s in June 2012, winning the following year"s Copa MX and the 2013-2014 CONCACAF Champions League. In December 2015, after one year out of football due to injury, the 36-year-old chose to retire, settling in Madrid and focusing on becoming a coach.
A Colombian international since 20 November 2002, in a 0–1 friendly loss with Honduras played in San Pedro Sula, Perea appeared at the 2007 and 2011 Copa América tournaments.