Fernando Varela

Fernando Lopes dos Santos Varela (born 26 November 1987) is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays for Greek club PAOK FC and the Cape Verde national team mainly as a centre-back.

Club Career

Portugal

Born in Cascais, Varela started playing professionally with G.D. Estoril Praia in the Segunda Liga, being loaned to lowly U.D. Rio Maior for one year during his spell. In January 2009 he moved to C.D. Trofense, as the northern club was playing for the first time in the Primeira Liga. He managed to appear regularly during the season, but they were relegated.

In the summer of 2011, after two additional second-tier seasons with Trofense, Varela signed for C.D. Feirense, returned to the top flight after a 22-year absence. In the following campaign he played all league games as a starter, notably scoring twice against S.L. Benfica on 28 January 2012 (one in his own net) in a 1–2 loss where he also committed a penalty, and his team would again drop down a division.

Romania

Varela signed a three-year contract with Romanian side FC Vaslui on 29 May 2012. On 3 September of the following year he joined FC Steaua București also from Liga I, after agreeing to a three-year deal for a €1.25 million transfer fee.

At the end of 2014–15, Malaga CF showed interest in acquiring Varela, but Steaua rejected the Spaniards' €6 million offer. He appeared in 47 matches across all competitions, in an eventual double conquest.

PAOK

On 23 July 2016, Varela, who had less than six months left on his contract, moved to the Super League Greece with PAOK FC for three years and a €1.4 million fee. He scored his first goal in the 2017–18 season on 12 February 2018, heading home in a 3–0 win against Athlitiki Enosi Larissa F.C. at the Toumba Stadium.

On 21 May 2019, Varela declined the club's contract renewal offer.

This page also has a version in other languages :  Фернанду Варела (russian)