Alan Varela

Alan Gonzalo Varela (born 4 July 2001) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a defensive or central midfielder for Primeira Liga club Porto.^[3]

Alan Varela

Personal information
Full name	Alan Gonzalo Varela
Date of birth	(2001-07-04) 4 July 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth	Isidro Casanova, Argentina
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder, central midfielder[1][2]
Team information
Current team	Porto
Number	22
Youth career
	Barcelona Luján
2012–2020	Boca Juniors
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2023	Boca Juniors	111	(2)
2023–	Porto	54	(2)
International career‡
2019	Argentina U20	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:22, 15 March 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 August 2023

Club career

Boca Juniors

Varela joined Boca Juniors in 2012 from Barcelona Luján; a subsidiary of Barcelona, who later became known as Barcelona Juniors following a partnership with Boca.^[2] After training with Boca's senior side during 2019, a year that also saw him sign his first professional contract, Varela made the breakthrough into Miguel Ángel Russo's first-team in 2020.^[4][5][6] He was an unused substitute seven times in all competitions between September and December, including for the first time on 17 September for a Copa Libertadores win over Libertad.^[3] Varela's senior debut came on 20 December in a Copa de la Liga Profesional game with Independiente.^[3][7][8][9]

Porto

On 16 August 2023, Primeira Liga club Porto announced the signing of Varela on a five-year contract,^[10] for a reported fee of €8 million + €3 million in performance-related add-ons.^[11] He made his debut on 3 September, coming off the bench to replace Stephen Eustáquio at half-time in a 1–1 league draw at home against Arouca.^[12] Twelve days later, Varela made his first start for the Dragons, away at Estrela da Amadora, where he made a last-minute goal-line clearance to guarantee a 1–0 Porto win.^[13] On 20 January 2024, he scored his first goal for Porto, in a 5–0 league victory at home to Moreirense.^[14]

International career

In 2019, Varela was selected by Argentina U20 manager Esteban Solari for the COTIF Tournament in Spain.^[4][15]

Career statistics

As of match played 15 March 2025^[16]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Boca Juniors	2020	Argentine Primera División	4	0	3	0	—		—		—		7	0
	2021	Argentine Primera División	20	0	0	0	—		7[c]	0	—		27	0
	2022	Argentine Primera División	30	0	4	0	—		7[c]	1	2[d]	0	43	1
	2023	Argentine Primera División	24	0	1	0	—		8[c]	1	1[e]	0	34	1
	Total		78	0	8	0	—		22	2	3	0	111	2
Porto	2023–24	Primeira Liga	30	2	6	0	0	0	8[f]	0	—		44	2
	2024–25	Primeira Liga	24	0	2	0	1	0	9[g]	0	1[h]	0	37	0
	Total		54	2	8	0	1	0	17	0	1	0	80	2
Career total			132	2	16	0	1	0	39	2	4	0	192	4

1. Includes Copa Argentina, Taça de Portugal
2. Includes Taça da Liga
3. Appearances in Copa Libertadores
4. One appearance in Trofeo de Campeones de la Liga Profesional, one appearance in Supercopa Argentina
5. Appearance in Supercopa Internacional
6. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
7. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
8. Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira

Honours

Boca Juniors

• Argentine Primera División: 2022
• Copa Argentina: 2020
• Copa de la Liga Profesional: 2020, 2022
• Supercopa Argentina: 2022

Porto

• Taça de Portugal: 2023–24^[17]
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2024^[18]