Gonçalo Franco

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Batista and the second or paternal family name is Franco.

Gonçalo Batista Franco (born 17 November 2000) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL Championship club Swansea City.

Gonçalo Franco

Personal information
Full name	Gonçalo Batista Franco[1]
Date of birth	(2000-11-17) 17 November 2000 (age 24)[1]
Place of birth	Porto, Portugal[1]
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Swansea City
Number	17
Youth career
2008–2010	Boavista
2010–2013	Porto
2014	Rio Ave
2014–2020	Leixões
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020	Leixões	6	(0)
2020–2024	Moreirense	112	(6)
2024–	Swansea City	26	(2)
International career
2019	Portugal U20	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:44, 9 February 2025 (UTC)

Club career

Early career

Born in Porto, Franco finished his youth career at Leixões S.C. after joining its academy at the age of 13. He made his LigaPro debut with the first team on 4 January 2020, featuring 83 minutes in a 0–1 home loss against F.C. Penafiel.^[2]

Moreirense

Franco signed a five-year contract with Primeira Liga club Moreirense F.C. in summer 2020.^[3] He played his first match in the competition on 20 September, coming on as a late substitute in the 2–0 home victory over S.C. Farense.^[4] He scored his first goal the following 10 May, closing the 2–1 away defeat of Portimonense SC.^[5]

During his tenure at the Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas, Franco totalled 129 appearances, nine goals and six assists.^[6]

Swansea City

On 12 July 2024, Franco joined EFL Championship side Swansea City on a four-year deal, for an undisclosed fee.^[7]

International career

Franco won caps for Portugal at under-20 level.^[8]

Personal life

Franco's father, Pedro, was also a footballer. A defender, he too represented Moreirense.^[9]

Career statistics

As of match played 12 January 2025^[10]

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Leixões	2019–20	LigaPro	6	0	0	0	0	0	—		6	0
Moreirense	2020–21	Primeira Liga	26	1	3	0	—		—		29	1
	2021–22	Primeira Liga	23	0	3	1	1	1	2[c]	0	29	2
	2022–23	Liga Portugal 2	30	3	2	0	4	1	—		36	4
	2023–24	Primeira Liga	33	2	1	0	1	0	—		35	2
	Total		112	6	9	1	6	2	2	0	129	9
Swansea City	2024–25	EFL Championship	21	2	1	0	1	0	—		23	2
Career total			139	8	10	1	7	2	2	0	158	11

1. Taca de Portugal, FA Cup
2. Taca da Liga, EFL Cup
3. Appearances in Primeira Liga relegation play-offs

Honours

Moreirense

• Liga Portugal 2: 2022–23^[11]

Individual

• Liga Portugal 2 Team of the Season: 2022–23^[12]
• Liga Portugal 2 Midfielder of the Month: August 2022,^[13] October/November 2022^[14]

References

1. "Gonçalo Franco" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
2. "Leixões-Penafiel, 0–1: Triunfo vale subida ao 9.º lugar" [Leixões-Penafiel, 0–1: Win equals climb to 9th place]. Record (in Portuguese). 4 January 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
3. Freitas, Bruno (1 September 2020). "Gonçalo Franco é reforço de longa duração para o Moreirense" [Gonçalo Franco is long-term addition for Moreirense]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 1 December 2020.
4. "Moreirense vence Farense no regresso dos algarvios 18 anos depois" [Moreirense beat Farense as Algarveans return 18 years later]. O Minho (in Portuguese). 20 September 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
5. "Moreirense bate Portimonense com golo nos últimos minutos e aproxima-se dos lugares europeus" [Moreirense beat Portimonense with goal in last minutes and near European places] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
6. Agre, João (12 July 2024). "Moreirense despede-se de Gonçalo Franco" [Moreirense say goodbye to Gonçalo Franco]. A Bola (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 July 2024.
7. "Gonçalo Franco seals Swansea City move". Swansea City A.F.C. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
8. Carvalho, Filipe (2 July 2020). "Olheiro BnR: Gonçalo Franco" [BnR scout: Gonçalo Franco] (in Portuguese). Bola Na Rede. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
9. "Moreirense garante Gonçalo Franco por cinco épocas" [Moreirense confirm Gonçalo Franco for five seasons] (in Portuguese). Guimarães Digital. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
10. Gonçalo Franco at Soccerway
11. Devesas, Lino (22 May 2023). "Campeão Moreirense fixa recorde e despede-se na quinta-feira" [Champions Moreirense set record and say goodbye on Thursday]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 14 August 2023.
12. "Gonçalo Franco joins the Liga Portugal SABSEG Team of the Year". Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
13. "Best of August: Gonçalo Franco named Midfielder of the Month in Liga Portugal SABSEG". Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
14. "Best of October/November: Gonçalo Franco named Midfielder of the Month in Liga Portugal SABSEG". Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2023.

External links

• Gonçalo Franco at ForaDeJogo (archived)
• Gonçalo Franco national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)