Brazilian Giovana Queiroz Aiming To Kick-Start Career In Women’s Super League

Giovana Queiroz Santos is a winner of the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the Copa América Femenina. She has played in the Olympic Games and is looking forward to playing in her first FIFA Women’s World Cup next summer yet, still a teenager, she arrives in England looking for a fresh start.

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Gio’s family moved to the United States when she was a small child, settling in Weston, Florida before they emigrated once again to Madrid, Spain where she was enrolled into the academy of Atlético de Madrid at the age of 11.

After moving to cross-town rivals Madrid CFF, Gio made her senior debut at the age of 15 before she was transferred to Spanish champions FC Barcelona in July 2020 on a three-year contract. There, she was part of a squad which won an unprecedented treble of Spanish league, Cup and Champions League but Gio was never destined to play for the first team.

After being loaned out to Levante for the following season, she impressed scoring 11 goals in 31 games but on the eve of Barcelona’s first Champions League match at Camp Nou she published an open letter to the President of the Club claiming she was “subjected to illegal confinement by the head of the club’s medical services” when attempting to travel home to play for Brazil during the height of the Covid-pandemic.

The club responded by stating that the player’s allegations were “not true” and she was prevented from travelling “due to Spanish government regulations”. Nevertheless, Gio finished by saying, “today I want to take the first step to fully recover my freedom and emotional stability and that is why I decided to write this open letter.”

With her bridges burnt at Barcelona, it was English league leaders, Arsenal who offered her salvation signing her in September for a fee reported in the Spanish press of €40,000 ($41,200). She was immediately loaned to Women’s Super League team Everton for the season in order for her to acclimatise to the country and a new league.

Speaking to me from Liverpool, Gio insists she is now settled into life in England. “I think I’ve adapted pretty well. I’m used to moving around since I was little. I’ve lived in four different countries so I think I’ve adapted pretty well to the weather and everything. So, so far, so good.”

Gio’s debut for Everton came as a late substitute in the derby against local rivals Liverpool. The match was moved to the club’s main stadium, the iconic Anfield, and played in front of a club record 27,574 spectators. With Everton already leading in the game, Gio’s hunger and desire to chase a lost cause twice forced Megan Campbell into a mistake from which her team regained possession to score the clinching third goal, instantly winning the hearts of her new fans.

“It was amazing”, she tells me. “The stadium was just so great. The Evertonians were there and it was like our stadium because they were supporting us so well. We were winning 2-0, obviously I did my best and I think the third goal was because I went to put pressure on and we won the ball so I’m very happy for that. I think we produced an amazing performance.”

With six appearances as a substitute so far, Gio is yet to make a start for Everton and, still adapting to the English league, insists she is still working her way towards full match-fitness. “I feel like the league here is very physical, with much more intensity,” she admits. “It’s good for my body obviously. It’s been a little bit hard for me in the beginning because I had a mini-injury. I feel like that’s just part of the process. I’m glad about that, as it will help me to develop.”

Speaking to me ahead of the season, Brazilian national team captain, Rafaelle said she was keen for more of her compatriots to join her in the English Women’s Super League. Therefore, it is no surprise that Rafaelle persuaded Gio to sign for Arsenal. “The decision was basically made when we were at the Copa América,” Gio tells me. “I was speaking to Rafaelle about it and she gave me some advice. I asked ‘do you think it would be good for me to develop, especially as a young player?’ I spoke to her a few times about. The decision was made. I’m very excited, I play with her for the national team so hopefully I can play with her for Arsenal as well.”

Currently top of the Women’s Super League with a 100% record so far, Gio is impressed that Arsenal and their coach, Jonas Eidevall, have remained in contact with her. “We’ve been in touch a few times. I like that they support me as well to see how I am doing and if I need anything.”

Pacy and technically adept, Gio is the first Brazilian forward to play in the English Women’s Super League but her best position on the field is hard to pin down. “I think, I’ve mostly played as a striker, but I do go out as well and play on the left or right wing. Being a fast player, I do like one-on-ones, but I also like to go around the back behind the defense and run into the spaces. I think I can play in any of the positions up top.”

As well as Neymar, Ronaldinho and Messi, Gio cites the six-time World Player of the Year, Marta as her inspiration growing up. Marta first represented Brazil before Gio was born in 2003 but last year, they played together for the Selecão. “I think I always watched Marta, she influenced me to start playing as well.”

Aged just 18, Gio was part of the Brazil squad that travelled to the Tokyo Olympics, playing in one game against Zambia. “It was crazy, I was very excited obviously to go. I didn’t really think I would play. I was just happy to be there. I got the opportunity to come in on that game and play. I did my best. I was very nervous. Once I got on the pitch, I thought I just had to make the most of the opportunity and do my best. That’s what I did, I think I did well.”

Wihout Marta, Gio was part of the Brazil squad who retained the Copa América Feminina this summer defeating the hosts in the final. It was an unforgettable experience for the teenager, “just winning the title, winning against Colombia. I feel like everything in general was so good. Our team-mates were so connected, the staff, on and off the field. It was great for us to win and get ready for the World Cup”

Short of first-team action at club level, Gio has not been part of Brazil’s squad since then but, motivated by the opportunity to play at the Women’s World Cup finals next summer and against England in the first-ever Finalissima at Wembley Stadium in April, Gio is putting in the work now to get herself back in contention.

“I’ve been training hard and working hard to get back. I’ve been doing a lot of running, rehab, gym just to get back. I feel like that’s my goal in the next one or two weeks to be back and better so then I can start actually start playing the minutes I think I need and then I can go back to the Brazilian national team.”