André Filipe Russo Franco (born 12 April 1998) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | André Filipe Russo Franco[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 12 April 1998[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Lisbon, Portugal[1] | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Chicago Fire | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2017 | Sporting CP | ||
| 2015–2016 | → Belenenses (loan) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2022 | Estoril | 61 | (13) |
| 2022–2025 | Porto | 49 | (3) |
| 2025 | → Chicago Fire (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2025– | Chicago Fire | 0 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 7 November 2025 | |||
Club career
editEstoril
editBorn in Lisbon, Franco spent almost all of his youth career with local Sporting CP,[2] with one year on loan to neighbouring C.F. Os Belenenses.[3] In 2018 he signed with G.D. Estoril Praia, being assigned to the under-23 team.
Franco made his competitive debut with the main squad on 3 August 2019, coming on as a 69th-minute substitute in a 1–1 away draw against F.C. Paços de Ferreira in the second round of the Taça da Liga (penalty shootout loss).[4] He played his first match in the LigaPro 15 days later, again from the bench, in the 1–2 home loss to S.C. Farense.[5]
In the 2020–21 season, Franco scored once in 20 games to help the club return to the Primeira Liga as champions.[6][7] He made his debut in the competition on 7 August 2021, starting and netting in the 2–0 win at F.C. Arouca.[8] He scored a further ten goals during the campaign, as his team easily avoided relegation;[9] one came in a 2–2 home draw with B-SAD on 24 April in which he, two teammates and as many opponents were sent off in a confrontation at the end.[10]
Porto
editOn 4 August 2022, Franco joined FC Porto on a five-year contract, for €4 million.[11] He debuted 24 days later in a 3–1 loss at Rio Ave F.C. as a late replacement for Iván Marcano.[12] He scored his first goal on 10 September, coming off the bench to conclude a 3–0 home victory over G.D. Chaves with a close-range deflection.[13]
Franco made a substitute appearance in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, in a 0–0 draw against SE Palmeiras in the group stage.[14] During his spell at the Estádio do Dragão, he totalled 71 games and five goals.[15]
Chicago Fire
editOn 13 August 2025, Franco moved to the Chicago Fire FC on a season-long loan.[16] He provided two assists on his Major League Soccer home debut to help the hosts to beat the New England Revolution 3–2, and was named the game's MVP.[17]
Franco enjoyed a positive start in Chicago, making four assists in his first five matches.[18] However, on 1 October 2025, on an away fixture at Inter Miami CF, he suffered a serious knee injury.[19] He agreed to a permanent deal on 7 November, signing a contract until 30 June 2028 which could be extended for a further six months;[20] a €750.000 transfer fee was paid, which could rise to €1 million with add-ons in exchange for 50% of his economic rights.[21]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 1 October 2025[22]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Estoril | 2019–20 | LigaPro | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21 | Liga Portugal 2 | 20 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 24 | 2 | |||
| 2021–22 | Primeira Liga | 33 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 11 | |||
| Total | 61 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 72 | 15 | ||||
| Porto | 2022–23 | Primeira Liga | 17 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 3 |
| 2023–24 | Primeira Liga | 15 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 | |
| 2024–25 | Primeira Liga | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 23 | 1 | |
| Total | 49 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 71 | 5 | ||
| Chicago Fire (loan) | 2025 | Major League Soccer | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||
| Chicago Fire | 2026 | Major League Soccer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Career Total | 116 | 16 | 15 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 149 | 20 | ||
- 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ↑ Appearance in FIFA Club World Cup
Honours
editReferences
edit- 1 2 3 4 "André Franco" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ↑ "Rafael Leão: o craque da dança que bate palmas só com uma mão" [Rafael Leão: the dance master who claps with only one hand] (in Portuguese). Bancada. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ↑ Ribeiro, João Paulo (30 June 2021). ""Pedro Marques pode jogar com Paulinho, tal como fazem Ronaldo e André Silva na seleção"" ["Pedro Marques can play with Paulinho, just as Ronaldo and André Silva do in the national team"] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ↑ "Paços de Ferreira elimina Estoril nos penáltis" [Paços de Ferreira eliminate Estoril on penalties]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 3 August 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ↑ "Farense vence em casa do Estoril" [Farense win at Estoril]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 18 August 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- 1 2 "Futebol | Época 2020/2021: O ano do "Mágico"" [Football | 2020/2021 season: The year of the "Wizard"] (in Portuguese). Cascais.pt. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ↑ "Estoril-Mafra, 1–0: campeão despede-se da Liga Sabseg com vitória" [Estoril-Mafra, 1–0: champions say goodbye to Sabseg League with win]. Record (in Portuguese). 21 May 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ↑ Almeida Santos, Rui (7 August 2021). "Arouca-Estoril, 0–2 (crónica)" [Arouca-Estoril, 0–2 (match report)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ↑ "André Franco despede-se do Estoril: "Deram-me a mão quando estava sem rumo"" [André Franco says goodbye to Estoril: "They reached out when I was lost"]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 4 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ↑ "Final "quentinho" no Estoril-Belenenses vale castigos a quatro jogadores" ["Red hot" end of Estoril-Belenenses results in punishments for four players] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ↑ "André Franco assina por cinco temporadas com o FC Porto" [André Franco signs for five seasons with FC Porto]. Record (in Portuguese). 4 August 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ↑ "Nova surpresa na Liga: Rio Ave vence FC Porto" [Another surprise in the League: Rio Ave defeat porto]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 28 August 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ↑ "De peito (sem querer...): foi assim que André Franco se estreou a marcar pelo FC Porto" [Off his chest (without meaning it...) this was how André Franco scored his first goal for FC Porto]. Record (in Portuguese). 10 September 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ↑ Liskai, Renan (15 June 2025). "Palmeiras martela no fim, mas para em goleiro e empata com Porto na estreia" [Palmeiras hammer in the end, but crash into goalkeeper and draw with Porto on debut] (in Portuguese). Universo Online. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ↑ "OFICIAL: André Franco deixa FC Porto e assina em definitivo pelo Chicago Fire" [OFFICIAL: André Franco leaves FC Porto and signs permanently for Chicago Fire] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ↑ "Chicago Fire FC acquires midfielder André Franco on loan from FC Porto". Chicago Fire FC. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- ↑ "André Franco bags assists, MVP in second Chicago Fire game". OneFootball. 7 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ↑ "André Franco soma quarta assistência em cinco jogos na MLS. Veja aqui" [André Franco adds fourth assist in five MLS matches. Watch here]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 28 September 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ↑ "André Franco sofre lesão grave" [André Franco suffers serious injury]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 2 October 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ↑ "Chicago Fire FC acquires midfielder André Franco on a permanent transfer from FC Porto". Chicago Fire FC. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ↑ "André Franco transferido para o Chicago Fire" [André Franco transferred to Chicago Fire] (in Portuguese). FC Porto. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ↑ André Franco at Soccerway
- ↑ Kundert, Tom (4 June 2023). "Dominant Porto dispatch Braga to lift Portuguese Cup". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ↑ "Vilar de Perdizes perde com excelente exibição" [Vilar de Perdizes lose with excellent performance]. Diário de Trás-os-Montes (in Portuguese). 20 October 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ↑ Kundert, Tom (26 May 2024). "Porto beat 10-man Sporting in extra time to win Portuguese Cup". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ↑ "Porto beat Sporting 2–0 to lift first Taça da Liga". PortuGOAL. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ↑ Ribeiro, Patrick (3 August 2024). "Porto pull off stunning comeback to beat Sporting in seven-goal Super Taça thriller". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
External links
edit- André Franco at ForaDeJogo (archived)