Latest news with #PaarveenWaran
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
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.
The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
From Malaysia to Portugal, towering defender Paarveen takes giant leap
Big break: Paarveen Waran in action with his new club FC Vizela. — Paarveen's Instagram PETALING JAYA: As the race for Super League spots heats up at home, Paarveen Waran is taking his game abroad – with Portugal as his new stage. The Australian-Malaysian talent has signed with Portuguese Division Two side FC Vizela on Aug 3, and will join their Under-19 squad. While he will not be featuring in the senior league just yet, Paarveen's new team are no lightweights as Vizela's Under-19s were crowned national champions of the Second Division last season. The transfer fee remains undisclosed. Previously, the 18-year-old featured for Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) IV in last season's Youth Cup, helping the team to the title. Standing at 1.92m, Paarveen is seen as a bright prospect, especially as he plays in defence. Paarveen is excited about what lies ahead of him. 'It's the best place to grow and chase my dream of playing for Harimau Malaya,' said Paarveen. Before Paarveen, winger Safawi Rasid also had a stint in Portugal in 2020, but it was only a loan spell with Portimonense SC from JDT before he returned home three months later. Apart from Paarveen, several other players have also ventured abroad in search of opportunities this season, including former Selangor defender R. Ruventhiran, who is now with Filipino club Aguilas-UMak. Meanwhile, Dion Cools is making his mark in the Japanese league with Cerezo Osaka. Naturalised Brazilian midfielder Endrick Dos Santos is also plying his trade overseas with Vietnam's V League 1 side Ho Chi Minh City.
