Jacynta Galabadaarachchi

Jacynta Galabadaarachchi
	Galabadaarachchi in 2020
Personal information
Full name	Jacynta Prema de Nieva Galabadaarachchi
Date of birth	6 June 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth	Dandenong, Australia
Height	1.55 m (5 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Sporting CP
Number	28
Youth career
	Kingston City
Senior career*
Years	Team
2016–2017	Melbourne City
2018–2019	Perth Glory
2019–2020	West Ham United
2020–2021	Napoli
2021–2023	Celtic
2023–	Sporting CP
International career‡
2016–2018	Australia U17
2018	Australia U20
	*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

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

Melbourne City, 2016–2017

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

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

West Ham United, 2019–2020

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

Napoli, 2020–2021

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

Celtic, 2021–2023

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

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

International career

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

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

Career statistics

Club

As of 13 July 2020^[21]

Club	Season	League			National Cup^[a]		League Cup^[b]		Continental^[c]		Other^[d]		Total
Club	Season	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	W-League	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

^ Includes FA Cup
^ Includes League Cup
^ Includes UEFA Women's Champions League
^ Includes Supertaça de Portugal

Honours

Melbourne City

W-League: 2016–17

Celtic

Scottish Cup: 2022, 2023
SWPL League Cup: 2021–22^[22]

Sporting

Supertaça de Portugal: 2024

References

^ "Jacynta Galabadaarachchi". sporting.pt. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
^ "Jacynta Gala vai estrear-se em Alvalade: "Estou entusiasmada por jogar no estádio!"". www.record.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 26 November 2023.
^ "Jacynta Gala contratada pelo Sporting para o futebol feminino". SAPO Desporto (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 November 2023.
^ 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.
^ "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.
^ J. Galabadaarachchi at Soccerway. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
^ "New Glory attacker nearly signed for English heavyweights". 7 September 2018. Archived from the original on 29 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.
^ "Jacynta Galabadaarachchi". Celtic F.C.
^ @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.
^ Abola.pt (11 July 2023). "Futebol Feminino Oficial: Sporting contrata Jacynta Galabadaarachchi! (não, não é gralha) | Abola.pt". Abola.pt. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
^ Harrington, Anna. "WILL GALABADAARACHCHI GET HER MATILDAS DEBUT?". The Women's Game. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
^ Andrew Southwick (2 May 2022). "Celtic's award winning Aussie star on the rise… but mum wants her to play for Argentina". Keepup.com.
^ "Melbourne City teenage sensation Jacynta Galabadaarachchi named in Matildas squad". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
^ Davutovic, David (16 February 2017). "Matildas teenage prodigy Jacynta Galabadaarachchi living the dream". The Courier-Mail. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
^ "A namorada saiu para o Sporting, agora ele também quer deixar o Celtic". CNN Portugal (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 November 2023.
^ "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.
^ "Australia – J. Galabadaarachchi – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
^ "#SWPLCup: Glasgow City 0–1 Celtic". Women’s Premier League. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.

External links

J. Galabadaarachchi at Soccerway
Jacynta Galabadaarachchi on Instagram

[22] Includes FA Cup

[23] Includes League Cup

[24] Includes UEFA Women's Champions League

[25] Includes Supertaça de Portugal

[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.

[overturn-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.

[sw_stats-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.

[26] "#SWPLCup: Glasgow City 0–1 Celtic". Women’s Premier League. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.

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