# Rafa Soares

Luís Rafael "Rafa" Soares Alves (born 9 May 1995) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Primeira Liga club Famalicão.

## Club career
### Porto

Born in Marco de Canaveses, Porto District, Soares joined FC Porto's youth system in 2005 from local F.C. Alpendorada. On 21 August 2013, while still a junior, he made his professional debut with the former's reserves, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute in a 1–0 away win against Portimonense S.C. in the Segunda Liga.
From January 2016 to June 2017, Soares was on loan to Académica de Coimbra and Rio Ave FC, with both clubs in the Primeira Liga. He played his first game in the competition on 22 January 2016 while at service of the former in a 2–1 away loss to Vitória de Setúbal, and scored his first goal the following matchday but in a 3–2 defeat at Sporting CP.
On 22 August 2017, deemed surplus to requirements by new Porto manager Sérgio Conceição, Soares was loaned to EFL Championship side Fulham in a season-long deal. He made his debut on 31 October, coming from the bench in a 0–2 home loss to Bristol City.
Soares' deal was mutually terminated by on 31 January 2018, after they had loaned Matt Targett earlier that month. The same day, he signed a permanent contract with Portimonense in his country's top flight.

### Vitória Guimarães

On 6 July 2018, Soares agreed to a contract at Vitória de Guimarães. On 31 January 2020, he joined SD Eibar of Spain's La Liga on an 18-month loan with the option to buy.
After returning from the relegated Basque team, Soares scored his first Vitória goal on 21 November 2021, as a substitute in a 3–2 defeat at neighbours Moreirense F.C. in the fourth round of the Taça de Portugal.

### PAOK

In June 2022, Soares signed a three-year deal with Super League Greece club PAOK FC. He totalled 33 games in his first season, finishing runner-up in the domestic cup.
Soares scored his first league goal on 25 November 2023, closing the 5–0 home win over Panserraikos FC. He added another in a 3–0 victory against PAS Lamia 1964, claiming the national championship alongside his compatriots André Ricardo and Vieirinha.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 24 April 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Europe | Europe | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Porto B | 2013–14 | Segunda Liga | 11 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 1 |
| Porto B | 2014–15 | Segunda Liga | 30 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 30 | 2 |
| Porto B | 2015–16 | Segunda Liga | 20 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | 5 |
| Porto B | Total | Total | 61 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 61 | 8 |
| Académica (loan) | 2015–16 | Primeira Liga | 15 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 1 |
| Rio Ave (loan) | 2016–17 | Primeira Liga | 32 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 3 |
| Fulham (loan) | 2017–18 | Championship | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Portimonense | 2017–18 | Primeira Liga | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 0 |
| Vitória Guimarães | 2018–19 | Primeira Liga | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 0 |
| Vitória Guimarães | 2019–20 | Primeira Liga | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Vitória Guimarães | 2021–22 | Primeira Liga | 30 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 2 |
| Vitória Guimarães | Total | Total | 67 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 81 | 2 |
| Eibar (loan) | 2019–20 | La Liga | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| Eibar (loan) | 2020–21 | La Liga | 19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 22 | 0 |
| Eibar (loan) | Total | Total | 25 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 28 | 0 |
| PAOK | 2022–23 | Super League Greece | 26 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 33 | 0 |
| PAOK | 2023–24 | Super League Greece | 12 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 21 | 2 |
| PAOK | Total | Total | 38 | 2 | 9 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | 54 | 2 |
| Career Total | Career Total | Career Total | 252 | 15 | 37 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 310 | 16 |
* ↑ Includes Taça de Portugal, Copa del Rey, Greek Football Cup
* ↑ Includes Taça da Liga
* 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
* 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

## Honours

Porto B
* LigaPro: 2015–16
PAOK
* Super League Greece: 2023–24