Alan Franco (footballer, born 1998)

Alan Steven Franco Palma (born 21 August 1998) is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Atlético Mineiro and the Ecuador national team.

Independiente del Valle
Franco came through the youth setup at Independiente del Valle and made his professional debut as an 18-year-old in 2016. He was a first team regular by 2018 and was one of the standout performers of Independiente del Valle’s winning campaign in the 2019 Copa Sudamericana, in which he and defender Luis Segovia were the only players to start every game.

Atlético Mineiro
On 4 June 2020, Franco moved to Brazilian club Atlético Mineiro.

Loans to Charlotte FC and Talleres
On 21 December 2021, Atlético Mineiro agreed to send Franco to Major League Soccer expansion club Charlotte FC on a one-year loan deal with an option to buy. On 27 June 2022, Franco's loan with Charlotte transferred to Argentinian side Talleres de Córdoba.

International career
In August 2018, Franco was called up to the Ecuador national team for the first time by manager Hernán Darío Gómez. He made his debut on 12 September 2018, in a friendly against Guatemala.

Honours
Independiente del Valle
 * Copa Sudamericana: 2019

Atlético Mineiro
 * Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2021
 * Copa do Brasil: 2021
 * Campeonato Mineiro: 2020, 2021, 2024