Jacynta Galabadaarachchi
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Jacynta Prema de Nieva Galabadaarachchi | ||
Date of birth | 6 June 2001 | ||
Place of birth | Dandenong, Australia | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Celtic | ||
Number | 8 | ||
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– | Celtic | 22 | (5) |
National team‡ | |||
2016-2018 | Australia U17 | ||
2018– | Australia U20 | 1 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:40, 21 July 2020 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 31 October 2018 |
Jacynta Prema de Nieva Galabadaarachchi (born 6 June 2001) is an Australian soccer player who plays as a forward for Scottish Women's Premier League club Celtic and the Australia national under-20 team. In February 2017, she was called up to training camp with the senior national team.[1]
Early life[]
Galabadaarachchi began playing soccer at age five after watching her brother play. At age 9, English club Manchester United contacted Galabadaarachchi to come for a trial. She was later invited to Manchester City W.F.C. Academy and spent eight weeks training with the team.[2] 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.[3]
Galabadaarachchi's father is originally from Sri Lanka. She also has Italian citizenship through her maternal grandparents.[4]
Club career[]
Melbourne City, 2016–2017[]
In October 2016 at age 15, Galabadaarachchi signed with Melbourne City for the 2016–17 season,[5] and made five appearances for the club,[6] 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.[7]
Perth Glory, 2018–2019[]
Galabadaarachchi returned to Australia and signed with Perth Glory for the 2018–19 W-League season.[8]
West Ham United, 2019–2020[]
In July 2019, Galabadaarachchi secured a move to English FA WSL side West Ham United.[9]
Napoli, 2020–2021[]
Galabadaarachchi signed on loan with Italian team Napoli in September 2020.[10]
Celtic, 2021-
Galabadaarachchi signed for SWPL side Celtic F.C. Women in February 2021
International career[]
Galabadaarachchi has represented her country in the Australian Under-17 team. In February 2017, she was called up for the Matildas for training camp ahead of the 2017 Algarve Cup.[11]
Career statistics[]
Club[]
- As of July 13, 2020[12]
Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | League Cup[b] | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | 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 |
Career total | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
- ^ Includes FA Cup
- ^ Includes League Cup
Honours[]
- with Melbourne City
- W-League Champions: 2016-17
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Melbourne City teenage sensation Jacynta Galabadaarachchi named in Matildas squad". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- ^ Talmage, Kerry (13 April 2016). "The 14-year-old girl compared to star Messi". BeSoccer. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Jacynta Galabadaarachchi West Ham's new striker is a wizard from Oz standard.co.uk
- ^ "City re-signs four W-League champions". Melbourne City FC. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- ^ J. Galabadaarachchi at Soccerway. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- ^ "New Glory attacker nearly signed for English heavyweights". 7 September 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
- ^ Gareth Morgan (6 September 2018). "Glory snap up exciting attacker". Perth Glory FC. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ^ "Jacynta Galabadaarachchi: West Ham United Women sign Australian forward". BBC. 19 July 2019.
- ^ "UFFICIALE - Napoli femminile, dal West Ham arriva l'australiana Galabadaarachchi". www.calcionapoli24.it (in Italian). 18 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ Davutovic, David (16 February 2017). "Matildas teenage prodigy Jacynta Galabadaarachchi living the dream". The Courier-Mail. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- ^ "Australia - J. Galabadaarachchi - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
Further reading[]
- 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
External links[]
- J. Galabadaarachchi at Soccerway
- Jacynta Galabadaarachchi on Instagram
- 2001 births
- Living people
- Australian women's soccer players
- Women's association football forwards
- Melbourne City FC (A-League Women) players
- Perth Glory FC (A-League Women) players
- A-League Women players
- West Ham United F.C. Women players
- FA Women's Super League players
- Serie A (women's football) players
- Celtic F.C. Women players
- Scottish Women's Premier League players
- Australian expatriate soccer players
- Australian expatriate sportspeople in England
- Expatriate footballers in England
- Australian people of Sri Lankan descent
- Australian people of Argentine descent
- Australian people of Italian descent
- S.S.D. Napoli Femminile players
- Australian expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
- Australian expatriate sportspeople in Italy
- Expatriate women's footballers in Scotland
- Expatriate women's footballers in Italy
- Australian women's soccer biography stubs