# Franco (footballer, born 1993)

Franco de Paula Ferreira (born 27 January 1993), simply known as Franco, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a midfielder for São José-SP.

## Career

Franco was born in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, and began his career with hometown side Uberlândia EC. After making his senior debut at the age of 17 in 2010, he moved on loan to Cruzeiro.
After returning to Uberlândia, Franco joined Joinville in 2013, initially for the under-20s. After making his debut with the main squad in the Copa Santa Catarina, he featured in 12 matches in the 2014 Série B as the club achieved promotion as champions.
On 6 February 2015, Franco terminated his contract with JEC, and signed for Mogi Mirim five days later. On 31 May 2016, after a short period at Cabofriense, he moved to Rio Claro.
In the following three years, Franco served loans at Série C side Macaé Esporte and Série D sides Maringá and América de Natal. Ahead of the 2020 season, he agreed to a contract with FC Cascavel.
In December 2021, Franco was included in Velo Clube's squad for the upcoming campaign. On 26 October of the following year, after playing for Pérolas Negras, he returned to Velo.
On 2 June 2023, Franco joined Portuguesa Santista for the year's Copa Paulista. On 16 April 2024, after being a regular starter as the club won the state cup, he moved to São José-SP.
On 2 August 2024, Franco was loaned to Portuguesa for the remainder of the year.

## Career statistics

    As of 15 November 2024
| Club | Season | League | League | League | State League | State League | Cup | Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Uberlândia | 2010 | Mineiro | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Joinville | 2014 | Série B | 12 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 0 |
| Joinville | 2015 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Joinville | Total | Total | 12 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 0 |
| Mogi Mirim | 2015 | Série B | 15 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | 1 |
| Cabofriense | 2016 | Carioca | — | — | 10 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 3 |
| Rio Claro | 2016 | Paulista | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 1 | 15 | 1 |
| Rio Claro | 2017 | Paulista A2 | — | — | 19 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | 0 |
| Rio Claro | 2018 | Paulista A2 | — | — | 14 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
| Rio Claro | 2019 | Paulista A2 | — | — | 16 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | 24 | 3 |
| Rio Claro | Total | Total | — | — | 49 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 39 | 2 | 88 | 6 |
| Macaé (loan) | 2017 | Série C | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Maringá (loan) | 2018 | Série D | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| América de Natal (loan) | 2019 | Série D | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| FC Cascavel | 2020 | Série D | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 0 |
| Uberlândia | 2021 | Série D | 8 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 2 |
| Velo Clube | 2022 | Paulista A2 | — | — | 16 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 2 |
| Pérolas Negras | 2022 | Série D | 10 | 3 | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | 26 | 3 |
| Velo Clube | 2023 | Paulista A2 | — | — | 15 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 0 |
| Portuguesa Santista | 2023 | Paulista A2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 8 | 15 | 8 |
| Portuguesa Santista | 2024 | Paulista A2 | — | — | 16 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 5 |
| Portuguesa Santista | Total | Total | — | — | 16 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 8 | 32 | 13 |
| São José-SP | 2024 | Série D | 13 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 2 |
| Portuguesa (loan) | 2024 | Paulista | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 81 | 7 | 139 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 10 | 286 | 32 |
* 1 2 3 4 5 Appearance(s) in Copa Paulista
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in Copa Rio

## Honours

Joinville
* Campeonato Brasileiro Série B: 2014
Portuguesa Santista
* Copa Paulista: 2023