Vizela bring in former Manchester United academy midfielder Aliou Traore

French-Malian midfielder Aliou Traore has opened a new chapter in Portugal after joining Vizela from Van Spor FK on a free transfer.

The 25-year-old central midfielder moves from Turkey’s 1.Lig to Liga Portugal 2, with the switch taking him to a new country and league after one season with Van Spor FK. Traore joined the Turkish club from fellow 1.Lig side Ankaraspor-based Keciorengucu in August 2025, also as a free transfer.

Traore was born in Sarcelles, France, and represents both French and Malian footballing heritage. He stands 1.85m tall and is predominantly right-footed, with central midfield listed as his main position.

His senior career began in Italy with Frosinone, whom he joined in October 2022 after a spell without a club. He then moved to Goztepe in January 2023 before switching to Keciorengucu in February 2024. The move to Van Spor FK followed in the next campaign, giving him back-to-back free transfers before his latest change of club.

Earlier in his career, Traore developed within the Manchester United youth system. He joined the club’s under-23 side from SM Caen in July 2019 after spending the 2020-21 season on loan with the French club. Before that, he had progressed through Manchester United’s under-18 team, having started his youth football with Sarcelles and Paris Saint-Germain.

The move to Vizela marks a return to Portugal’s professional football structure for a player whose recent career has been shaped by changes across France, England, Italy and Turkey. Vizela’s new signing arrives with experience of several European football environments, while his role is centred in midfield.

Traore’s transfer was completed on 2 September 2026.