Guillermo Varela

Peñarol

Born in Montevideo, Varela started his career with his hometown club Peñarol and made his senior debut on 5 June 2011, in a 1–0 home defeat against Racing Club de Montevideo, on the last matchday of Uruguayan Primera División.

Manchester United

In May 2013, Varela went on a two-week trial with Manchester United after an impressive performance at the 2013 South American Youth Championship. On 7 June, Varela announced he was having a medical, and on 11 June, United completed his signing on a five-year contract, becoming the first signing of new manager David Moyes.

Loan to Real Madrid Castilla

In September 2014, Varela joined Real Madrid reserve side Real Madrid Castilla for a season-long loan. He was, however, included in the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League squad for the first-team and he was given the squad number 28. He made 33 appearances and scored once, when he was set up by Martin Ødegaard in a 4–0 win over Barakaldo on 21 February 2015, at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano in that season's Segunda División B.

Return to United and loan to Eintracht Frankfurt

After returning to United, Varela was included in their squad for the group stage of the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League. He made his debut on 5 December 2015, as a half-time substitute for Paddy McNair in a goalless Premier League draw against West Ham United at Old Trafford. Three days later, Varela made his first start and Champions League debut in the 2015–16 UEFA…

Varela made 29 appearances for the Uruguay under-20 team. He played for Uruguay at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where the team finished as runners-up to champions France. On 5 March 2016, following his emergence into the Manchester United first-team, Varela received his first call-up to the Uruguay senior squad, for the World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Peru later that same month. In June 2018, Varela was named in Uruguay's final 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He appeared in the opening two group stage matches, Uruguay's 1–0 victories over Egypt – on 15 June – and Saudi Arabia – on 20 June – which saw his side advance to the knock-out stages. Uruguay were eliminated from the tournament following a 2–0 defeat to eventual champions France in the quarter-finals on 6 July. Varela was named in Uruguay's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He came on as a substitute in the 88th minute in Uruguay's first game of the tournament – against South Korea, replacing Facundo Pellistri. In June 2024, Varela was named to Uruguay's squad for the 2024 Copa América. Uruguay reached the semi-finals of the tournament, losing 1–0 to a ten-man Colombia, Varela making a substitute appearance during the match, replacing the injured Rodrigo Bentancur in the first half; he was later shown a red card for violent conduct in the final minute of injury time of the second half. In the third-place play-off match, Uruguay defeated Canada 4–3 on penalties, following a 2–2 draw. On 31…

Club

As of match played 20 December 2024

International

As of match played 26 June 2026

Peñarol

Uruguayan Primera División: 2017, 2018 Supercopa Uruguaya: 2018 Copenhagen

Danish Superliga: 2018–19 Flamengo

FIFA Challenger Cup: 2025 FIFA Derby of the Americas: 2025 Copa Libertadores: 2022, 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2025 Copa do Brasil: 2024 Supercopa do Brasil: 2025 Campeonato Carioca: 2024, 2025 Uruguay

Copa América third place: 2024 Individual

Campeonato Carioca Team of the Year: 2024 South American Team of the Year: 2025 IFFHS Men's CONMEBOL Team: 2025