Gonçalo Batista Franco (born 17 November 2000) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL Championship club Swansea City.

Gonçalo Franco
Personal information
Full name Gonçalo Batista Franco[1]
Date of birth (2000-11-17) 17 November 2000 (age 23)[1]
Place of birth Porto, Portugal[1]
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Swansea City
Number 17
Youth career
2008–2010 Boavista
2010–2013 Porto
2014 Rio Ave
2014–2020 Leixões
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020 Leixões 6 (0)
2020–2024 Moreirense 112 (6)
2024– Swansea City 13 (0)
International career
2019 Portugal U20 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:08, 11 November 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Early career

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Born in Porto, Franco finished his youth career at Leixões S.C. after joining its academy at the age of 13. He made his LigaPro debut with the first team on 4 January 2020, featuring 83 minutes in a 0–1 home loss against F.C. Penafiel.[2]

Moreirense

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Franco signed a five-year contract with Primeira Liga club Moreirense F.C. in summer 2020.[3] He played his first match in the competition on 20 September, coming on as a late substitute in the 2–0 home victory over S.C. Farense.[4] He scored his first goal the following 10 May, closing the 2–1 away defeat of Portimonense SC.[5]

During his tenure at the Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas, Franco totalled 129 appearances, nine goals and six assists.[6]

Swansea City

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On 12 July 2024, Franco joined EFL Championship side Swansea City on a four-year deal, for an undisclosed fee.[7]

International career

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Franco won caps for Portugal at under-20 level.[8]

Personal life

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Franco's father, Pedro, was also a footballer. A defender, he too represented Moreirense.[9]

Career statistics

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As of match played 10 November 2024[10]
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Leixões 2019–20 LigaPro 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Moreirense 2020–21 Primeira Liga 26 1 3 0 29 1
2021–22 Primeira Liga 23 0 3 1 1 1 2[c] 0 29 2
2022–23 Liga Portugal 2 30 3 2 0 4 1 36 4
2023–24 Primeira Liga 33 2 1 0 1 0 35 2
Total 112 6 9 1 6 2 2 0 129 9
Swansea City 2024–25 EFL Championship 13 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 14 0
Career total 131 6 9 1 7 2 2 0 149 9

Honours

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Moreirense

Individual

  • Liga Portugal 2 Team of the Season: 2022–23[12]
  • Liga Portugal 2 Midfielder of the Month: August 2022,[13] October/November 2022[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Gonçalo Franco" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Leixões-Penafiel, 0–1: Triunfo vale subida ao 9.º lugar" [Leixões-Penafiel, 0–1: Win equals climb to 9th place]. Record (in Portuguese). 4 January 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  3. ^ Freitas, Bruno (1 September 2020). "Gonçalo Franco é reforço de longa duração para o Moreirense" [Gonçalo Franco is long-term addition for Moreirense]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  4. ^ "Moreirense vence Farense no regresso dos algarvios 18 anos depois" [Moreirense beat Farense as Algarveans return 18 years later]. O Minho (in Portuguese). 20 September 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Moreirense bate Portimonense com golo nos últimos minutos e aproxima-se dos lugares europeus" [Moreirense beat Portimonense with goal in last minutes and near European places] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  6. ^ Agre, João (12 July 2024). "Moreirense despede-se de Gonçalo Franco" [Moreirense say goodbye to Gonçalo Franco]. A Bola (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Gonçalo Franco seals Swansea City move". Swansea City A.F.C. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  8. ^ Carvalho, Filipe (2 July 2020). "Olheiro BnR: Gonçalo Franco" [BnR scout: Gonçalo Franco] (in Portuguese). Bola Na Rede. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Moreirense garante Gonçalo Franco por cinco épocas" [Moreirense confirm Gonçalo Franco for five seasons] (in Portuguese). Guimarães Digital. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  10. ^ Gonçalo Franco at Soccerway
  11. ^ Devesas, Lino (22 May 2023). "Campeão Moreirense fixa recorde e despede-se na quinta-feira" [Champions Moreirense set record and say goodbye on Thursday]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Gonçalo Franco joins the Liga Portugal SABSEG Team of the Year". Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Best of August: Gonçalo Franco named Midfielder of the Month in Liga Portugal SABSEG". Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Best of October/November: Gonçalo Franco named Midfielder of the Month in Liga Portugal SABSEG". Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
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