Born 7/4/1989 in Mendoza, Argentina.
The Argentine Under 20 international forward joined Chelsea as an 18-year-old in January 2008, having previously played for Chilean side Audax Italiano La Florida for whom he appeared in the Copa Libertadores, the South American equivalent to the Champions League.

He totalled 13 goals in 35 starts over the last two seasons at his former club.

Franco signed a four-and-a-half year contract for Chelsea and went into the reserves mid-season. By the end he was top scorer with seven goals in eight games, doing much to turn a run of 11 games without a win into six games undefeated, three of them victories.

Two penalties and an outstanding volley registered a hat-trick away to Tottenham and he also equalised against Arsenal.

A tall, industrious player, Franco describes his style as similar to a former Chelsea striker from the same country - Hernán Crespo.