# Alan Franco (footballer, born 1996)

Alan Javier Franco (born 11 October 1996) is an Argentinian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Brazilian club São Paulo.

## Club career
### Independiente

Born in Avellaneda, Franco joined Independiente in January 2015, from San Telmo. 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.
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. He scored his first professional goal on 12 July, netting the first in a 4–2 Copa Sudamericana home defeat of Deportes Iquique.
Franco became a starter under Ariel Holan during the 2017 Copa Sudamericana, featuring in both legs of the Final against Flamengo.

### Atlanta United

On 8 April 2021, Franco joined Major League Soccer side Atlanta United on a five-year contract as a designated player. 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.

### 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.

## 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.

## Career Statistics
### Club

    As of match played 8 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | State league | State league | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | 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 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 1 |
| Independiente | 2017-18 | Primera División | 20 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| Independiente | 2018-19 | Primera División | 17 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Independiente | 2019-20 | Primera División | 18 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 0 |
| Independiente | 2020-21 | Primera División | 8 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 |
| Independiente | 2021 | Primera División | 6 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Independiente | Total | Total | 83 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 132 | 1 |
| Atlanta United | 2021 | MLS | 25 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Atlanta United | 2022 | MLS | 31 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 32 | 1 |
| Atlanta United | Total | Total | 56 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 59 | 1 |
| São Paulo | 2023 | Série A | 13 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 2 |
| São Paulo | 2024 | Série A | 27 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 1 |
| São Paulo | Total | Total | 40 | 1 | 17 | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 76 | 3 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 179 | 2 | 17 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 48 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 267 | 5 |
* ↑ Includes Copa Argentina, U.S. Open Cup, Copa do Brasil
* ↑ Includes Copa de la Superliga
* 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in Torneos de Verano
* ↑ Seven appearances in Copa Sudamericana, Two appearances in Recopa Sudamericanax, Five appearances in Copa Libertadores
* ↑ One appearance in Torneos de Verano, One appearance in J.League Cup / Copa Sudamericana Championship
* ↑ Three appearances in Copa Libertadores, Two appearances in Copa Sudamericana
* ↑ Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions Cup
* ↑ Appearance(s) in MLS Cup playoffs
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in Campeonato Paulista
* ↑ Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores

### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Argentina | 2018 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 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