Alan Franco (footballer, born 1996)

Alan Javier Franco (born 11 October 1996) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club São Paulo.

Alan Franco

Personal information
Full name	Alan Javier Franco
Date of birth	(1996-10-11) 11 October 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth	Avellaneda, Argentina
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	São Paulo
Number	28
Youth career
2011–2014	San Telmo
2015–2016	Independiente
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2021	Independiente	83	(0)
2021–2022	Atlanta United	56	(1)
2023–	São Paulo	57	(3)
International career
2018	Argentina	1	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 13:07, 30 December 2024 (UTC)

Club career

Independiente

Born in Avellaneda, Franco joined Independiente in January 2015, from San Telmo.^[2] On 20 December 2016, he signed his first professional contract with the club, agreeing to a deal until 2020, and was promoted to the main squad shortly after.^[3]

Franco made his first team – and Primera División – debut on 18 March 2017, starting in a 0–0 home draw against San Martín de San Juan.^[4] He scored his first professional goal on 12 July, netting the first in a 4–2 Copa Sudamericana home defeat of Deportes Iquique.^[5]

Franco became a starter under Ariel Holan during the 2017 Copa Sudamericana, featuring in both legs of the Final against Flamengo.^[6]

Atlanta United

On 8 April 2021, Franco joined Major League Soccer side Atlanta United on a five-year contract as a designated player.^[7] He made his debut for the club on 27 April 2021 in the CONCACAF Champions League against the Philadelphia Union, the club losing 3–0.^[8]

São Paulo

On 5 January 2023, Franco joined Brazilian side São Paulo on a permanent deal, signing a three-year contract, with an option for another year.^[9]

International career

Franco made his international debut for Argentina on September 8, 2018, in a 3-0 international friendly against the Guatemala national football team.^[10]

Career Statistics

Club

As of match played 8 December 2024^[11]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			State league		National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Independiente	2016-17	Primera División	14	0	—		0	0	—		5[c]	1	2[d]	0	21	1
	2017-18	Primera División	20	0	—		1	0	—		14[e]	0	2[f]	0	37	0
	2018-19	Primera División	17	0	—		2	0	2	0	5[g]	0	1[d]	0	27	0
	2019-20	Primera División	18	0	—		3	0	1	0	5[c]	0	—		27	0
	2020-21	Primera División	8	0	—		0	0	—		5[c]	0	—		13	0
	2021	Primera División	6	0	—		1	0	—		0	0	—		7	0
	Total		83	0	—		7	0	3	0	34	1	5	0	132	1
Atlanta United	2021	MLS	25	0	—		—		—		1[h]	0	1[i]	0	27	0
	2022	MLS	31	1	—		1	0	—		—		—		32	1
	Total		56	1	—		1	0	—		1	0	1	0	59	1
São Paulo	2023	Série A	13	1	11[j]	1	3	0	—		5[c]	0	—		32	2
	2024	Série A	27	0	6[j]	1	3	0	—		8[k]	0	0	0	44	1
	Total		40	1	17	2	6	0	—		13	0	0	0	76	3
Career total			179	2	17	2	14	0	3	0	48	1	6	0	267	5

1. Includes Copa Argentina, U.S. Open Cup, Copa do Brasil
2. Includes Copa de la Superliga
3. Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
4. Appearance(s) in Torneos de Verano
5. Seven appearances in Copa Sudamericana, Two appearances in Recopa Sudamericanax, Five appearances in Copa Libertadores
6. One appearance in Torneos de Verano, One appearance in J.League Cup / Copa Sudamericana Championship
7. Three appearances in Copa Libertadores, Two appearances in Copa Sudamericana
8. Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions Cup
9. Appearance(s) in MLS Cup playoffs
10. Appearance(s) in Campeonato Paulista
11. Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year^[12]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Argentina	2018	1	0
Total		1	0

Honours

Independiente

• Copa Sudamericana: 2017

São Paulo

• Copa do Brasil: 2023
• Supercopa do Brasil: 2024

Individual

• Troféu Mesa Redonda Team of the Year: 2024^[13]