André Franco
| 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 | |||
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.
Club career
Estoril
Born 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
On 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
On 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
- 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 | ||
- ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Appearance in FIFA Club World Cup
Honours
Estoril
Porto
- Taça de Portugal: 2022–23,[23] 2023–24[24][25]
- Taça da Liga: 2022–23[26]
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2024[27]
References
- ^ a b c d "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.
- ^ a b "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
- André Franco at ForaDeJogo (archived)