a day ago
Towering defender Paarveen begins new chapter in Portugal
KUALA LUMPUR: For most young footballers, the path to Europe is often a sprint filled with short trials, brief stints and a quick return home, but for Paarveen Waran, the journey has been more of a steady climb.
Building on years of development across two continents before landing in Portugal, the 18-year-old defender signed with Portuguese Division Two side FC Vizela's Under-19 squad for the 2025-2026 season.
While he will not walk straight into the senior setup, Vizela's youth programme offers something many young Malaysians rarely experience — a proven pathway to professional football in Europe.
Their U-19s are Portugal's second division reigning champions and have produced players who have gone on to make top-flight appearances.
Paarveen's football roots trace back to Australia, where he honed his game with Perth Glory and Perth SC.
A return to Malaysia saw him join Johor Darul Ta'zim IV (JDT IV), where his imposing presence at 1.92m became a fixture in defence. Last season, he played a central role in guiding JDT IV to the Youth Cup title — a performance that drew interest from European scouts.
Unlike many Malaysian players whose overseas ventures come in the form of short-term loans or trials, Paarveen's move is a long-term investment by Vizela.
The undisclosed transfer fee reflects the belief that he can be developed into a player capable of competing at higher levels in Portugal.
On Sunday, he made his debut for Vizela U-19s in the Portugal's National Under-19 Championship at the Campo Municipal de Santo Adriao in Vizela.
The match ended in a goalless draw, but for Paarveen, it was a personal milestone.
He summed it up in a short post on social media: "Good start to the season. Proud to make my debut."
Paarveen follows in the footsteps of Nazmi Faiz Mansor and Safawi Rasid, who both had stints in Portugal.
Nazmi signed a three-year contract with SC Beira-Mar in May 2012, where he played for their U-19 squad.
His stay only lasted six-eight months before he returned to Malaysia.
Safawi joined Portimonense SC on a season-long loan in Oct 2020.
He featured for their Under-23 side and returned in Dec 2020, after approximately three months, with no senior team appearances.
His venture also adds to a growing list of Malaysians stepping outside familiar borders this season.
