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Jacynta Galabadaarachchi

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Jacynta Galabadaarachchi
Galabadaarachchi in 2020
Personal information
Full name Jacynta Prema de Nieva Galabadaarachchi
Date of birth (2001-06-06) 6 June 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Dandenong, Australia
Height 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Sporting CP
Number 28
Youth career
Kingston City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Melbourne City 5 (0)
2018–2019 Perth Glory 4 (0)
2019–2020 West Ham United 11 (0)
2020–2021 Napoli 4 (0)
2021–2023 Celtic 25 (15)
2023– Sporting CP 23 (3)
International career‡
2016–2018 Australia U17
2018 Australia U20 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 October 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 31 October 2018

Jacynta Prema de Nieva Galabadaarachchi (born 6 June 2001), also known as Jacynta Gala,[2][3] is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Campeonato Nacional Feminino club Sporting CP and the Australia women's national under-20 team.

Early life

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Galabadaarachchi began playing soccer at age five after watching her brother play. She was later invited to Manchester City W.F.C. Academy and spent eight weeks training with the team.[4] At age 14, her request to play for an under-15 boys premier league team was denied by Football Federation Victoria; the decision was later overturned.[5]

Club career

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Melbourne City, 2016–2017

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In October 2016 at age 15, Galabadaarachchi signed with Melbourne City for the 2016–17 season,[6] and made five appearances for the club,[7] playing primarily as a striker. After getting limited playing time at Melbourne City, Galabadaarachchi went to England and trained with various professional teams over there. Despite offers she was unable to sign a pro contract as she was under 18.[8]

Perth Glory, 2018–2019

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Galabadaarachchi returned to Australia and signed with Perth Glory for the 2018–19 W-League season.[9]

West Ham United, 2019–2020

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In July 2019, Galabadaarachchi secured a move to English FA WSL side West Ham United.[10]

Napoli, 2020–2021

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Galabadaarachchi signed on loan with Italian team Napoli in September 2020.[11]

Celtic, 2021–2023

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Galabadaarachchi signed for SWPL side Celtic in February 2021.[12] In July 2023, Celtic confirmed that Galabadaarachchi would leave the club.[13]

Sporting CP, 2023–present

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She signed for Portuguese team Sporting CP in July 2023.[14]

International career

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Galabadaarachchi is eligible to represent Australia, Sri Lanka, Argentina and Italy in international football,[15][16] and has represented the Australian Under-17 team. In February 2017, she was called up for the Matildas for training camp ahead of the 2017 Algarve Cup.[17][18]

Personal life

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She has a relationship with Swedish footballer Carl Starfelt.[19][20]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 13 July 2020[21]
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Continental[c] Other[d] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Goals Apps Goals Apps Apps Goals
Melbourne City 2016–17 W-League 5 0 — — 5 0
Perth Glory 2018–19 4 0 — — 4 0
West Ham United 2019–20 FA WSL 11 0 1 0 5 0 — 17 0
Napoli 2020–21 Serie A 4 0 0 0 0 0 — 4 0
Celtic 2020–21 SWPL 1 10 1 0 0 0 0 — 10 1
2021–22 SWPL 1 23 3 2 0 3 1 — 28 4
2022–23 SWPL 1 30 15 1 0 0 0 — 31 15
Total 63 21 3 0 3 1 — 69 20
Sporting CP 2023–24 Campeonato Nacional Feminino 18 3 5 0 4 1 0 0 2 0 29 4
2024–25 Campeonato Nacional Feminino 5 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 2 0 11 0
Total 23 3 5 0 4 1 4 0 4 0 40 4
Career total 110 24 9 0 12 2 4 0 4 0 139 24
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes League Cup
  3. ^ Includes UEFA Women's Champions League
  4. ^ Includes Supertaça de Portugal

Honours

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Melbourne City

Celtic

Sporting

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Jacynta Galabadaarachchi". sporting.pt. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Jacynta Gala vai estrear-se em Alvalade: "Estou entusiasmada por jogar no estádio!"". www.record.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Jacynta Gala contratada pelo Sporting para o futebol feminino". SAPO Desporto (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  4. ^ Talmage, Kerry (13 April 2016). "The 14-year-old girl compared to star Messi". BeSoccer. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  5. ^ Bailey, Megan (10 April 2016). "Pakenham soccer star Jacynta Galabadaarachchi gets green light from Football Federation Victoria to play with the boys". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  6. ^ "City re-signs four W-League champions". Melbourne City FC. 6 October 2016. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  7. ^ J. Galabadaarachchi at Soccerway. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  8. ^ "New Glory attacker nearly signed for English heavyweights". 7 September 2018. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  9. ^ Gareth Morgan (6 September 2018). "Glory snap up exciting attacker". Perth Glory FC. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  10. ^ "Jacynta Galabadaarachchi: West Ham United Women sign Australian forward". BBC. 19 July 2019.
  11. ^ "UFFICIALE – Napoli femminile, dal West Ham arriva l'australiana Galabadaarachchi". www.calcionapoli24.it (in Italian). 18 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  12. ^ "Jacynta Galabadaarachchi". Celtic F.C.
  13. ^ @CelticFCWomen (2 July 2023). "CelticFC Women can confirm Jacynta is leaving the club following a successful two and a half years with the Hoops" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ Abola.pt (11 July 2023). "Futebol Feminino Oficial: Sporting contrata Jacynta Galabadaarachchi! (não, não é gralha) | Abola.pt". Abola.pt. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  15. ^ Harrington, Anna. "WILL GALABADAARACHCHI GET HER MATILDAS DEBUT?". The Women's Game. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  16. ^ Andrew Southwick (2 May 2022). "Celtic's award winning Aussie star on the rise… but mum wants her to play for Argentina". Keepup.com.
  17. ^ "Melbourne City teenage sensation Jacynta Galabadaarachchi named in Matildas squad". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  18. ^ Davutovic, David (16 February 2017). "Matildas teenage prodigy Jacynta Galabadaarachchi living the dream". The Courier-Mail. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  19. ^ "A namorada saiu para o Sporting, agora ele também quer deixar o Celtic". CNN Portugal (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  20. ^ "Jacynta Gala e a transferência do namorado que não foi por amor: "Quatro horas e meia de carro é mais do que um voo para a Escócia"". www.record.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  21. ^ "Australia – J. Galabadaarachchi – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  22. ^ "#SWPLCup: Glasgow City 0–1 Celtic". Women’s Premier League. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.

Further reading

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  • Grainey, Timothy (2012), Beyond Bend It Like Beckham: The Global Phenomenon of Women's Soccer, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 0803240368
  • Stewart, Barbara (2012), Women's Soccer: The Passionate Game, Greystone Books, ISBN 1926812603
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