Nilton Varela

Following his move to Maritimo, Varela's current-season form is level with last season (Season 0→0), while his Rating held around 35. His peak season for form remains 2023/24 (Season 24).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Maritimo · 10th	2	0	4.19	35	0
2025/26	Beerschot VA · 3rd	8	0	6.56	36	0
2025/26	Estrela Calheta · 9th	2	0	6.2	47	0
2025/26	Estrela · 15th	2	0	6.3	45	1
2024/25	Estrela · 15th	28	2	6.6	60	22
2023/24	Estrela · 14th	14	0	6.64	52	7
2022/23	Belenenses	2	0	—	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 3 earlier seasons and 2 youth-team spells in the full career.

Scout report

Squad depthFull-back

Nilton Varela is a 25-year-old full-back at Beerschot VA, rated 36.3 overall by Field Insider's model. In his prime years, he has been a fringe squad member this season (7.7% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.03 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Varela.

On the season, Varela graded 4 for current form (age-blind), on 1 clean sheet and 2.027 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 0 → 0). Over the 7 seasons on record his form has held fairly steady, peaking in 2023/24.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 36. At 25 Varela is in his prime years, and a market index of 7.3 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Past his 2023/24 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2023/24Trending downStepped up 2024/255 clubs

36.3

Ratingi

developing / rotation level

3.7

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

7.7%

Minutes

limited game time

2.03

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Beerschot VA finished 3rd of 17 · an upper-table side

Apps

2.03

Def. / 90

Tackles

—

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.03 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 1 clean sheet across 8 appearances. Behind an upper-table side (3rd of 17) 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 7.7% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 36.3 overall — developing / rotation level. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.03 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 2×) with the best seasons likely ahead.

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

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %7.7%

Available fixtures32 of 32

Goals / 900

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900

Defensive actions / 902.027

Player flow

Goal involvements0

Cards / 900.405

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

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 (~14), then tapers with age. At 25, Varela sits on 7.3, at or near its peak. The blue line is Varela's projected Rating — 36.3 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.

Transfer history

MaritimoAug 2026 – now

Beerschot VAJan 2026 – Aug 2026Free

Estrelauntil Jan 2026

NNiltonSept 2025 – Jan 2026Free

EstrelaJan 2024 – Sept 2025

FC Portountil Jan 2024

About Nilton Varela

Nilton Varela Lopes is a 25-year-old full-back who plays for Maritimo, born on May 25, 2001 in Lisboa, standing 182 cm tall. He is from Portugal. Maritimo currently sit 10th of 18 in the Primeira Liga.

This season

In the current season, Nilton Varela has made 2 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 22 minutes, averaging a 6.29 match rating over his last 2 rated games.

Recent matches

September 5, 2026: 0-3 loss at home vs Benfica (12 minutes, 5.98 rating)
August 29, 2026: 1-2 loss away at Arouca (10 minutes, 6.6 rating)

Nilton Varela's next match is on September 19, 2026, when Maritimo face GIL Vicente away in the Primeira Liga.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates Nilton Varela at 36.3 with a Season form score of 3.7. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 4 career titles — among them the Taça de Portugal and the Taça da Liga. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 8 recorded seasons, Nilton Varela has totalled 155 club appearances with 5 goals and 7 assists for 6 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2022/23, with 29 appearances for FC Porto B.

Nilton Varela's career has also included time at Beerschot VA, Estrela, NNilton and FC Porto.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.