Hélio Varela is one of Cape Verde’s most exciting young wingers right now.
At just 24, he has already played in Portugal, Belgium, and Israel — and his career earnings are growing fast.
This article covers everything about Hélio Varela’s net worth, including his salary, contract terms, transfer fees, and career stats.
Hélio Varela’s Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Hélio Sandro Oliveira Alves Varela |
| Date of Birth | 3 May 2002 |
| Age | 24 years old |
| Birthplace | Almada, Portugal |
| Nationality | Cape Verdean (also holds Portuguese nationality) |
| Height | 176 cm (5’9″) |
| Weight | 69 kg (152 lbs) |
| Position | Left Winger |
| Current Club | Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israeli Premier League) |
| Turned Professional | 2020 (Amora FC) |
| Estimated Net Worth | ~$500,000 |
| Market Value | €1.20 million (Transfermarkt, 2026) |
Early Life & Career
Hélio Varela was born on 3 May 2002 in Almada, a city just south of Lisbon, Portugal.
He grew up with Cape Verdean roots and came through the youth systems of several Portuguese clubs, including Monte Caparica, Charneca Caparica, Vitória Setúbal, and Cova da Piedade.
He turned professional in November 2020 when he joined Amora FC, a lower-division Portuguese club. It was a modest start, but it gave him the foundation he needed.
After a single season at Amora, he moved to Sport União Sintrense in July 2021, where he played in Portugal’s Terceira Liga (third division) during the 2021–22 season.
These early years at lower-league clubs shaped Varela into the technically sharp, direct winger he is today.
His ability to run at defenders with pace and deliver from wide positions caught the attention of Portimonense SC, a top-flight Portuguese club, and his career shifted into a higher gear from that point on.
Professional Career
Hélio Varela signed with Portimonense SC in the summer of 2022 as a free agent.
He spent two seasons there, making his Primeira Liga debut on 30 July 2023 against Leixões in the Taça da Liga.
He scored his first league goal on 26 August 2023 in a 1–1 draw against Arouca.
His performances in Portugal’s top flight quickly attracted bigger clubs.
In August 2024, Belgian Pro League side KAA Gent signed him in a deal worth up to €6 million — with Portimonense receiving €5 million for 80% of his transfer rights, plus an additional €1 million once Varela completed 20 official appearances.
According to transfer records on Soccerway, the confirmed transfer fee was €3.1 million.
After one season in Belgium, Maccabi Tel Aviv reached an agreement with KAA Gent in September 2025 to bring Varela to Israel.
He signed a three-year deal at Maccabi Tel Aviv, with an option for a fourth year. On the international stage, Varela has represented the Cape Verde national team since October 2023, earning 14 caps and contributing 1 assist across 535 minutes of play.
Hélio Varela’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Hélio Varela’s has an estimated net worth of approximately $500,000.
He built this wealth through professional football contracts in Portugal (Portimonense), Belgium (KAA Gent), and Israel (Maccabi Tel Aviv), combined with transfer fee earnings and endorsement activity. At 24 years old and with a market value of €1.20 million on Transfermarkt, his financial profile is still growing.
Contract
Varela signed a three-year deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv in September 2025, with an option to extend for one additional season.
Before that, he had signed a four-year contract with KAA Gent in August 2024, valid until 2028 — though he moved to Maccabi before the end of that deal.
According to Besoccer, his Gent contract ran from 16 August 2024, and the Maccabi deal extends through approximately 2028–29 with the optional year included.
Salary
Hélio Varela from official club sources or Capology’s full earnings profile. EA FC 25 data — which uses real-world wage data estimates — lists his weekly wage at approximately €12,000 per week, which translates to roughly €624,000 per year.
This figure aligns with typical salary levels for young wingers at Belgian Pro League and Israeli Premier League clubs.
His Portimonense wages would have been lower, consistent with a developing player in Portugal’s first division.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Club | League | Est. Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | Amora FC | Portuguese lower divisions | Minimal / amateur wages |
| 2021–22 | Sport União Sintrense | Terceira Liga | Minimal |
| 2022–23 | Portimonense SC | Primeira Liga | ~€60,000–€100,000 |
| 2023–24 | Portimonense SC | Primeira Liga | ~€120,000–€180,000 |
| 2024–25 | KAA Gent | Belgian Pro League | ~€400,000–€600,000 |
| 2025–26 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | Israeli Premier League | ~€500,000–€650,000 |
Career Statistics
| Season | Club | Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | Amora FC | Portuguese lower division | 7 | 0 | — |
| 2021–22 | Sport União Sintrense | Terceira Liga | 24 | 4 | — |
| 2022–23 | Portimonense SC | Primeira Liga / Cup | 38 | 6 | — |
| 2023–24 | Portimonense SC | Primeira Liga | — | — | — |
| 2024–25 | KAA Gent | Belgian Pro League / Europe | 18 | 2 | — |
| 2025–26 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | Israeli Premier League | 10+ | — | — |
| International | Cape Verde | AFCON Qual / WCQ | 14 | 0 | 1 |
FAQs
What is Hélio Varela’s net wortH?
Hélio Varela’s estimated net worth is approximately $500,000. He earned this through professional club contracts in Portugal, Belgium, and Israel, as well as transfer fee structures from his moves between clubs.
Which club does Hélio Varela play?
He plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Premier League. The club signed him in September 2025 after reaching an agreement with Belgian side KAA Gent, and he signed a three-year deal with an option for a fourth season.
How much does Hélio Varela earn per week?
EA FC 25 estimates his weekly wage at around €12,000, which equals roughly €624,000 per year. No official salary confirmation has been made public by Maccabi Tel Aviv or KAA Gent.
What nationality is Hélio Varela?
Varela is Cape Verdean by nationality and represents Cape Verde internationally, although he was born in Almada, Portugal, and holds Portuguese nationality as well. He made his Cape Verde debut in October 2023.
How much did KAA Gent pay for Hélio Varela?
KAA Gent signed Varela from Portimonense in a deal that could reach up to €6 million. Portimonense received €5 million for 80% of his transfer rights, with a €1 million bonus clause tied to appearances.
