Gerso Fernandes
Guinea-Bissauan footballer (born 1991)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gerso Fernandes (born 23 February 1991) is a Bissau-Guinean professional footballer who plays as a left winger for K League 1 club Incheon United.
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Gerso with Incheon United in 2026 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gerso Fernandes[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 23 February 1991[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Bissau, Guinea-Bissau[1] | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Incheon United | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004–2009 | União Coimbra | ||
| 2009–2010 | Académica | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2011 | Académica | 0 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | → Tourizense (loan) | 25 | (3) |
| 2011–2016 | Estoril | 93 | (3) |
| 2014–2015 | → Moreirense (loan) | 25 | (5) |
| 2016–2017 | Belenenses | 14 | (1) |
| 2017–2020 | Sporting Kansas City | 107 | (18) |
| 2021–2022 | Jeju United | 69 | (13) |
| 2023– | Incheon United | 98 | (26) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:41, 24 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Portugal
Born in Bissau, Gerso moved to Portugal in his early teens, joining União de Coimbra's youth system in 2004 at age 13. As a junior, he signed with neighbouring Académica de Coimbra where he went on to complete his development;[2] he did not play football for two years during his formative spell, after a priest from the charity facility where he was living advised him against the dangers of turning professional.[3]
Gerso made his debut as a senior with Tourizense in the third division, who acted as Académica's farm team.[4] Released in summer 2011, he moved to Estoril of Segunda Liga, contributing 20 scoreless appearances in his first season as the club returned to the Primeira Liga after seven years.[5]
Gerso made his debut in Portugal's top flight on 17 August 2012, playing 30 minutes in a 2–1 away loss against Olhanense.[6] He continued to be played almost exclusively as a substitute in the following campaigns by manager Marco Silva.[7][8]
For 2014–15, Gerso was loaned to Moreirense of the same league.[9] Ahead of the 2016–17 season, he agreed to a contract a fellow top-tier side Belenenses.[10]
Sporting Kansas City
On 4 January 2017, Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer announced the signing of Gerso from Belenenses on a three-year designated player contract, with an option for a fourth year.[11] On 17 May, he scored a hat-trick in a 3–0 win over Seattle Sounders FC at Children's Mercy Park.[12]
Gerso helped the club to win the 2017 U.S. Open Cup.[13] He rejected an offer for a new deal at the end of the 2020 campaign, and was released.[14]
South Korea
On 16 February 2021, Gerso joined K League 1 club Jeju United.[15] In 2022, he earned a ₩1.7 billion salary, becoming the highest-paid player in the competition.[16]
Subsequently, Gerso signed for Incheon United in the same league on a free transfer.[17] During the 2023 season, he displayed top-class speed[18] while scoring ten goals and providing nine assists in all competitions to be his team's only player to be included in the K League Best XI.[19]
Gerso suffered relegation at the end of 2024, also dealing with injury problems.[20] Incheon were however crowned champions of the League 2 in the following campaign, and he was named Most Valuable Player in the process.[21]
Career statistics
- As of match played 23 November 2025[22]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Estoril | 2011–12 | Liga de Honra | 21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 0 | ||
| 2012–13 | Primeira Liga | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 0 | |||
| 2013–14 | Primeira Liga | 16 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5[c] | 0 | — | 26 | 2 | ||
| 2015–16 | Primeira Liga | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 2 | |||
| Total | 93 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 112 | 4 | |||
| Moreirense (loan) | 2014–15 | Primeira Liga | 25 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 31 | 6 | ||
| Belenenses | 2016–17 | Primeira Liga | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 1 | ||
| Sporting Kansas City | 2017 | Major League Soccer | 32 | 8 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 1[d] | 0 | 38 | 10 | ||
| 2018 | Major League Soccer | 31 | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 2[d] | 1 | 36 | 6 | |||
| 2019 | Major League Soccer | 25 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 6[e] | 4 | — | 32 | 7 | |||
| 2020 | Major League Soccer | 19[f] | 3 | — | — | — | 4[g] | 0 | 23 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 107 | 18 | 9 | 3 | — | 6 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 129 | 26 | |||
| Jeju United | 2021 | K League 1 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 33 | 5 | |||
| 2022 | K League 1 | 37 | 8 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 39 | 8 | ||||
| Total | 69 | 13 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 72 | 13 | |||||
| Incheon United | 2023 | K League 1 | 34 | 7 | 2 | 1 | — | 5[h] | 2 | — | 41 | 10 | ||
| 2024 | K League 1 | 27 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 27 | 7 | ||||
| 2025 | K League 2 | 37 | 12 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 37 | 12 | ||||
| Total | 98 | 26 | 2 | 1 | — | 5 | 2 | — | 105 | 29 | ||||
| Career total | 396 | 64 | 23 | 5 | 14 | 1 | 16 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 452 | 79 | ||
- Includes Taça de Portugal, U.S. Open Cup, Korea Cup
- Includes Taça da Liga
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- Appearances in MLS Cup playoffs
- Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League
- Includes three appearances in MLS is Back Tournament group stage
- Two appearances in MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage, two appearances in MLS Cup playoffs
- Appearances in AFC Champions League
Honours
Estoril
Sporting Kansas City
Incheon United
Individual
