# 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.

## 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. 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. 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. Varela's senior debut came on 20 December in a Copa de la Liga Profesional game with Independiente.

### Porto

On 16 August 2023, Primeira Liga club Porto announced the signing of Varela on a five-year contract, for a reported fee of €8 million + €3 million in performance-related add-ons. 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. 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. On 20 January 2024, he scored his first goal for Porto, in a 5–0 league victory at home to Moreirense.

## International career

In 2019, Varela was selected by Argentina U20 manager Esteban Solari for the COTIF Tournament in Spain.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 20 February 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | 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 |
| Boca Juniors | 2020 | Argentine Primera División | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Boca Juniors | 2021 | Argentine Primera División | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 0 |
| Boca Juniors | 2022 | Argentine Primera División | 30 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 1 |
| Boca Juniors | 2023 | Argentine Primera División | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| Boca Juniors | Total | Total | 78 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 111 | 2 |
| Porto | 2023–24 | Primeira Liga | 30 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | — | 44 | 2 |
| Porto | 2024–25 | Primeira Liga | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 0 |
| Porto | Total | Total | 50 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 76 | 2 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 128 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 188 | 4 |
* ↑ Includes Copa Argentina, Taça de Portugal
* ↑ Includes Taça da Liga
* 1 2 3 Appearances in Copa Libertadores
* ↑ One appearance in Trofeo de Campeones de la Liga Profesional, one appearance in Supercopa Argentina
* ↑ Appearance in Supercopa Internacional
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ 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
* Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2024