Joaquín Varela

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Independiente Medellin	2	0	0	6.15	—	—
2026/27	Águilas Doradas	6	2	0	6.78	—	—
2025/26	Águilas Doradas	2	0	0	7.35	—	—
2025/26	Independiente Medellin	3	0	0	6.57	—	—
2025/26	Deportivo Cali · 14th	25	0	0	6.8	19	20
2024/25	Independiente MedellinLoan	2	2	0	7.9	—	—
2024/25	Águilas Doradas	11	1	0	6.57	—	—
2023/24	Independiente Medellin	23	3	2	7.02	—	—
2023/24	Instituto Cordoba	11	1	0	6.57	—	—
2022/23	Deportivo Maldonado	27	1	0	—	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 5 earlier seasons in the full career.

Uruguay · international

Side	Apps	G
Uruguay U17	8	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Squad depthCentral defender

J. Varela is a 28-year-old central defender at Independiente Medellin, enjoying a standout season — 0 goals and 0 assists in 25 appearances, a Season grade of 20, top 37% of Primera A centre-backs. On long-term scout potential he's rated 18.5, ranking 181st of 347 in the Primera A. An experienced operator, he has been a rotation option (57.4% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.87 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Varela.

Judged on this season alone, Varela graded 20 — a solid campaign that ranks top 37% of the 68 centre-backs in the Primera A, on 7 clean sheets and 2.872 defensive actions per 90.

We hold a single season for Varela, so there's no year-on-year comparison to draw yet — the read above is this campaign only.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 19, 33rd of 68 of the 68 centre-backs in the Primera A. At 28 Varela is in his prime years, and a market index of 1.3 reflects that trajectory.

Current potential33rd of 68 centre-backs · Primera A Current seasonTop 37% centre-backs · Primera A 25th-best centre-back in the Primera A 181st in the Primera A · potential 33rd-highest potential centre-back in the Primera A

18.5

Ratingi

33rd of 68 centre-backs

20.4

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

57.4%

Minutes

rotation minutes

2.87

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Independiente Medellin finished 1st of 20 · a title-challenging side

Apps

2.87

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.87 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 7 clean sheets across 25 appearances. Behind a title-challenging side (1st of 20) the side controls more games, so the defensive load is lighter — the value sits as much in composure and ball progression as in raw volume.

Watch points

Game time. Only 57.4% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 18.5, Varela carries the 33rd-highest potential of the centre-backs in the Primera A of 68. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.87 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1.2× now → 0.9× projected in three years).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %57.4%

Available fixtures40 of 54

Goals / 900

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900

Defensive actions / 902.872

Player flow

Goal involvements0

Shot conversion %0

Shot accuracy %20

Dribble success %100

Cards / 900.261

Foul involvement / 901.349

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~2), then tapers with age. At 28, Varela sits on 1.3, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Varela's projected Rating — 18.5 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the Primera A with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals0

Shots on target2

Shots10

Passing

Assists0

Possession

Successful dribbles1

Dribble success100%

Fouls won9

Defending

Tackles29

Interceptions16

Blocks21

Fouls committed22

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards6

Red cards0

Transfer history

Independiente MedellinJun 2026 – now

Águilas Doradas(back from loan)Dec 2025 – Jun 2026

Deportivo CaliJun 2025 – Dec 2025-

RRionegro Aguilas(back from loan)Jul 2025 – Jun 2025

Independiente Medellin(on loan)Aug 2024 – Jul 2025

RRionegro Aguilasuntil Aug 2024

Independiente MedellinAug 2023 – Aug 2024Free

Instituto CordobaJan 2023 – Aug 2023Free

DDeportivo Maldonadountil Jan 2023

About J. Varela

Joaquín Varela Moreno is a 28-year-old centre-back who plays for Independiente Medellin, born on June 27, 1998 in Montevideo, standing 190 cm tall. He is from Uruguay. Independiente Medellin currently sit 1st of 20 in the Primera A.

This season

In the current season, J. Varela has made 25 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 2,068 minutes, with 6 yellow cards.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates J. Varela at 18.5 with a Season form score of 20.4, ranking 181st of 347 centre-backs in the Primera A. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

Career

Across 10 recorded seasons, J. Varela has totalled 173 club appearances with 13 goals and 2 assists for 9 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2022/23, with 27 appearances for Deportivo Maldonado.

J. Varela's career has also included time at Águilas Doradas, Deportivo Cali, RRionegro Aguilas, Instituto Cordoba and DDeportivo Maldonado.

On the international stage, J. Varela has represented Uruguay U17 — 8 caps in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Independiente Medellin finished 1st of 20 · a title-challenging side

Watch points