1. Early Life and Career Beginnings
Alan's football journey started in his native Brazil, progressing through youth academies before making his professional debut.
1.1. Birth and Youth Career
Alan was born on July 10, 1989, in Barbosa, São Paulo, Brazil. He began his youth football education at Londrina from 2006 to 2007, before continuing his development with Fluminense from 2007 to 2008.
1.2. Professional Debut in Brazil
Alan started his professional career in 2007 with Londrina, where he made 6 appearances and scored 4 goals. In 2008, he signed a professional contract with Fluminense, playing for the club for two seasons until 2010. During his time at Fluminense, he scored 11 league goals and was part of the squad that won the 2010 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, a significant achievement in his early career.
2. Club Career
Alan's professional club career has spanned multiple leagues, marked by significant transfers, periods of prolific goal-scoring, and contributions to numerous team titles, as well as challenging injury setbacks.
2.1. Red Bull Salzburg
On August 11, 2010, Alan moved to Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg as a replacement for Marc Janko. He made his debut in a UEFA Champions League qualifier against Hapoel Tel Aviv, coming on as a 67th-minute substitute in a 2-3 loss. In his first season (2010-11), Alan scored a hat-trick against Sturm Graz on April 16, 2011, and braces against Austria Wien and SC Wiener Neustadt, finishing the season with 10 league goals.
The 2011-12 season started strong for Alan, with a hat-trick against Latvian side FK Liepājas Metalurgs and a brace against FK Senica in UEFA Europa League qualifiers, as well as a goal against AC Omonia. However, his season was cut short when he ruptured his cruciate ligament in a league match against Rapid Vienna on August 28, 2011, ruling him out for at least six months. He returned to training on November 20, 2012. The 2012-13 season saw him score 11 goals in 14 league matches, without playing in any continental competitions.
The 2013-14 season proved to be Alan's most successful period in Austria. On February 8, 2014, he scored a hat-trick against SV Grodig, a feat also achieved by his teammate Jonathan Soriano. Despite receiving two red cards during the season (against SV Ried and FC Basel in the Europa League), Alan played a crucial role in Salzburg winning both the Austrian Football Bundesliga and the Austrian Cup, securing a domestic double. He was the second top scorer in the league, only behind Soriano, and also received the Austrian Cup top goalscorer award for the 2013-14 season.
The 2014-15 season also began well for Alan, as he consistently found the net. On October 23, 2014, he scored a hat-trick in a 4-2 victory against Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Europa League group stage. On November 27, he added two more goals in a 3-1 win at Celtic Park, making Salzburg the first Austrian club to win in Scotland. In his penultimate league match for the club, he scored another hat-trick against FK Austria Wien. Despite leaving midway through the season, Alan was the joint top scorer in the 2014-15 UEFA Europa League with eight goals, alongside Romelu Lukaku of Everton, marking the second consecutive time a Red Bull Salzburg player achieved this honor. He was also the Austrian Cup top goalscorer for the 2014-15 season.
During his time at Red Bull Salzburg, Alan formed a highly regarded attacking quartet known as the "Fantastic Four" alongside Sadio Mané, Kevin Kampl, and Jonathan Soriano. Across all official competitions, including the Austrian Football Bundesliga, Austrian Cup, UEFA Champions League, and UEFA Europa League, he made a total of 129 appearances, scoring 93 goals and providing 37 assists.
2.2. Guangzhou Evergrande
On January 16, 2015, Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande officially announced the signing of Alan from Red Bull Salzburg on a four-year contract for a transfer fee of 11.10 M EUR. He was assigned the number 7 jersey.
His official debut for Guangzhou was on February 14, 2015, in the 2015 Chinese FA Super Cup against Shandong Luneng, where he came on as a substitute. However, on March 3, 2015, Alan suffered another cruciate ligament rupture during training before an 2015 AFC Champions League match against Western Sydney Wanderers, which sidelined him for at least five months. Due to the foreign player limit, and while still recovering from injury, Alan was moved to the reserve team squad for the second half of the 2015 season following the arrivals of Paulinho and Robinho. He was included in the 23-man squad for the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup but did not play, as manager Luiz Felipe Scolari stated he was not yet fully recovered.
Alan made his return to action on March 6, 2016, 370 days after his injury, in a Super League match against Chongqing Lifan. He scored his first goal for Guangzhou in his fifth appearance on April 24, 2016, in a 4-0 away victory against Tianjin Teda. He continued his scoring streak in the next five matches, contributing to Guangzhou Evergrande's nine-league winning streak with goals in a 2-1 win over Shanghai Greenland Shenhua, a 2-1 win over Hangzhou Greentown, a 2-0 win over Hebei China Fortune, and a 3-0 win over Liaoning. He also scored in a CFA Cup match against Nei Mongol Zhongyou. Overall, Alan scored 18 goals in 35 appearances as Guangzhou secured a domestic double by winning the 2016 Chinese Super League and the 2016 Chinese FA Cup.
In the 2017 season, Alan kicked off with an emphatic 7-0 home victory over Eastern in the 2017 AFC Champions League on February 22, scoring a goal despite missing an earlier penalty. On February 25, he scored the winning goal in a 1-0 win against Jiangsu Suning in the 2017 Chinese FA Super Cup and was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Throughout 2017, he made 43 appearances and scored 21 goals, playing a crucial role in Guangzhou Evergrande winning their seventh consecutive league title.
Alan started the 2018 season by scoring in a 4-1 victory over Shanghai Greenland Shenhua on February 26 to win the 2018 Chinese FA Super Cup, earning him his second consecutive Most Valuable Player award for the competition. On March 2, he scored his first hat-trick in China during a 5-4 home loss to city rivals Guangzhou R&F in the season's opening league match. His impressive form continued through March, scoring eight goals in five matches. However, on March 30, he was sent off in a league match against Tianjin Quanjian for an elbow on Liu Yiming. The CFA subsequently handed him an 8-match suspension in the Super League on April 10. Despite the ban, Alan scored twice in a 3-1 win over Cerezo Osaka on April 17, ensuring Guangzhou's qualification to the knockout stage of the 2018 AFC Champions League. On May 2, he scored a penalty in the second half but missed his attempt in the penalty shootout against Guizhou Hengfeng in the fifth round of the 2018 Chinese FA Cup, leading to Guangzhou's elimination. On November 3, 2018, Alan made his 100th appearance for Guangzhou in the league title-deciding match against Shanghai SIPG, scoring two goals in a 5-4 loss.
2.2.1. Loan to Tianjin Tianhai
On February 7, 2019, Alan was loaned to fellow Chinese first-tier club Tianjin Tianhai for the 2019 season. He made his debut for the club on March 1, 2019, playing the full match in a 3-0 away defeat against his parent club, Guangzhou Evergrande. During his loan spell, he made 23 appearances and scored 7 goals.
2.2.2. Loan to Beijing Guoan
On February 29, 2020, it was announced that Alan would be loaned to Beijing Guoan for the 2020 season. He scored his first goal for the club on August 6, 2020, against Tianjin TEDA. For Beijing Guoan, he played in 15 matches and scored 5 goals.
2.3. Return to Fluminense
On June 21, 2022, Alan rejoined his former club, Fluminense, signing a two-year deal. However, on August 18, 2023, his contract with Fluminense was terminated by mutual consent. During this second stint, he made 5 appearances and scored 2 goals across various competitions.
2.4. Qingdao West Coast
On February 24, 2024, Alan returned to China and signed with Chinese Super League club Qingdao West Coast. He made 22 appearances and scored 11 goals for the club in the 2024 season. He subsequently left the club on February 21, 2025, after the conclusion of the 2024 season.
3. International Career
Alan's international journey includes appearances for Brazil's youth teams before his naturalization as a Chinese citizen and subsequent debut for the China national football team.
3.1. Brazil Youth National Team
Alan played three matches for the Brazil under-20 team in an unofficial tournament. He also featured in 5 matches and scored 1 goal for the Brazil U-20 national team between 2009 and 2010.
3.2. Naturalization and China National Team
In March 2013, while playing for Red Bull Salzburg, Alan stated that he felt "half-Austrian" and expressed an interest in representing the Austria national football team. However, FIFA rules required a minimum of five years of residency in Austria for him to be eligible. His transfer to Guangzhou Evergrande in January 2015, which occurred just six months shy of fulfilling the five-year residency requirement, ended his hopes of playing for Austria.
In 2019, Alan obtained Chinese citizenship through naturalization, making him eligible to play for the China national football team. His Brazilian nationality was officially relinquished on July 30, 2019. This naturalization also led to his name being formally adopted in Chinese as 'A Lan'. He made his debut for China on May 30, 2021, in a World Cup qualifier against Guam, coming on as a substitute and scoring two goals in a resounding 7-0 victory. He continued to contribute to the national team, scoring another goal on June 11, 2021, against the Maldives in a 5-0 win during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.
4. Style of Play
Alan primarily plays as a forward, often operating as a center forward. He is recognized for his robust physical presence and his astute ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities. His playing style has been described as "strong, energetic, and skilled," demonstrating good control of the ball. Alan is proficient with both his left and right feet, making him a versatile attacking threat. He is also noted for his effective first-time lay-offs, which contribute to team build-up play. He stands at 72 in (184 cm) and weighs 165 lb (75 kg), with a preferred right foot.
5. Career Statistics
5.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | State League | National Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Fluminense | 2008 | Série A | 13 | 1 | 2 (Appearances in Campeonato Carioca) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 16 | 4 | |
| 2009 | 23 | 6 | 5 (Appearances in Campeonato Carioca) | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 31 | 9 | |||
| 2010 | 10 | 4 | 14 (Appearances in Campeonato Carioca) | 4 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 2 | - | 38 | 12 | |||
| Total | 46 | 11 | 21 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 25 | ||
| Red Bull Salzburg | 2010-11 | Austrian Bundesliga | 24 | 10 | - | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | - | 32 | 10 | ||
| 2011-12 | 5 | 3 | - | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | - | 11 | 11 | ||||
| 2012-13 | 14 | 11 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 14 | 11 | ||||
| 2013-14 | 29 | 26 | - | 5 | 6 | 12 | 5 | - | 46 | 37 | ||||
| 2014-15 | 16 | 9 | - | 2 | 7 | 8 | 8 | - | 26 | 24 | ||||
| Total | 88 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 31 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 129 | 93 | ||
| Guangzhou Evergrande | 2015 | CSL | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 (Appearances in Chinese FA Super Cup) | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 27 | 14 | - | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 (Appearances in Chinese FA Super Cup) | 0 | 35 | 18 | |||
| 2017 | 27 | 10 | - | 5 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 1 (Appearances in Chinese FA Super Cup) | 1 | 43 | 21 | |||
| 2018 | 12 | 13 | - | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 1 (Appearances in Chinese FA Super Cup) | 1 | 22 | 19 | |||
| 2021 | 12 | 3 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 12 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 78 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 8 | 19 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 114 | 61 | ||
| Tianjin Tianhai (loan) | 2019 | CSL | 27 | 9 | - | 0 | 0 | - | - | 27 | 9 | |||
| Beijing Guoan (loan) | 2020 | 15 | 5 | - | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 | - | 22 | 11 | |||
| Fluminense | 2022 | Série A | 4 | 1 | - | 0 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 1 | |||
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | 6 (Appearances in Campeonato Carioca) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 11 | 2 | |||
| Total | 5 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 | ||
| Qingdao West Coast | 2024 | CSL | 22 | 11 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 22 | 11 | ||
| Career total | 281 | 137 | 27 | 10 | 35 | 28 | 68 | 36 | 3 | 2 | 414 | 213 | ||
Notes:
- "National Cup" includes Copa do Brasil, Austrian Cup, and Chinese FA Cup.
- "State League" refers to Campeonato Carioca appearances.
- "Other" refers to Chinese FA Super Cup appearances.
5.2. International Statistics
| China PR | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 |
| 2024 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 14 | 3 |
Scores and results list China's goal tally first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 30 May 2021 | Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre, Suzhou, China | Guam | 6-0 | 7-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2. | 7-0 | |||||
| 3. | 11 June 2021 | Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates | Maldives | 3-0 | 5-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
6. Honours
Alan has accumulated several team championships and individual awards throughout his career across various clubs and competitions.
6.1. Club Honours
Fluminense
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2010
- Taça Guanabara: 2023
- Campeonato Carioca: 2023
Red Bull Salzburg
- Austrian Football Bundesliga: 2011-12, 2013-14
- Austrian Cup: 2011-12, 2013-14
Guangzhou Evergrande
- AFC Champions League: 2015
- Chinese Super League: 2016, 2017
- Chinese FA Cup: 2016
- Chinese FA Super Cup: 2016, 2017, 2018
6.2. Individual Honours
- Austrian Cup Top goalscorer: 2013-14, 2014-15
- UEFA Europa League Top goalscorer: 2014-15
- UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2014-15
- Chinese FA Super Cup Most Valuable Player: 2017, 2018