Franco Gabriel Ibarra (born 28 April 2001) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Rosario Central in the Argentine Primera División.
Ibarra arrived in Argentinos Juniors in 2010, aged nine.[1][2] He would go on to make over one hundred competitive appearances in their youth system.[1] Ibarra made his breakthrough into first-team football in December 2019, coming off the bench to replace Francis Mac Allister in a Primera División draw at home to Estudiantes.[3] June 2020 saw Ibarra sign a new contract that would last until December 2024.[4] His next appearance wouldn't arrive until 31 October 2020 against San Lorenzo, though the defensive midfielder would leave the match prematurely after receiving a red card; as he would again nine games later versus Boca Juniors; his final appearance.[3][5]
On 22 February 2021, Ibarra signed with Major League Soccer club Atlanta United[6] with a release clause amounting to €1,700,000 and his contract is valid until 2026.
In July 2023, Ibarra was loaned to Major League Soccer club Toronto FC for six months with Atlanta receiving $50,000 in General Allocation Money.[7] The loan comes as a result of a logjam with the U-22 initiative roster slots, with the returns of Erik Lopez and Edwin Mosquera, there were four U-22 players with only three allotted spots.[8]
Ibarra represented Argentina's U18s at the 2019 COTIF Tournament.[1][9]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Argentinos Juniors | 2019–20 | Argentine Primera División | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021[nb 1] | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |||
| Total | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
| Atlanta United | 2021 | Major League Soccer | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 22 | 0 | |||||
| 2023 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 18 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 53 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 0 | ||
| Toronto FC (loan) | 2023 | Major League Soccer | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 1[b] | 0 | 8 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 71 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 78 | 0 | ||
