Jacynta Galabadaarachchi
Australian soccer player (born 2001)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jacynta Prema de Nieva Galabadaarachchi[a] (Latin American Spanish: [ˈpɾema ðe ˈnjeβa];[b] born 6 June 2001), also known as Jacynta Gala,[2][3] is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Serie A Femminile club Sassuolo and the Australia women's national team.
|
Galabadaarachchi in 2020 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jacynta Prema de Nieva Galabadaarachchi | ||
| Date of birth | 6 June 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Sassuolo | ||
| 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) |
| 2023–2025 | Sporting CP | 23 | (3) |
| 2025– | Sassuolo | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2016–2018 | Australia U17 | ||
| 2018 | Australia U20 | 1 | (0) |
| 2025– | Australia | 2 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16 August 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 10 July 2025 | |||
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, 2023–2025
Galabadaarachchi signed for Portuguese team Sporting CP in July 2023.[14]
Sassuolo, 2025–
In August 2025, Galabadaarachchi joined Italian club Sassuolo.[15]
International career
Galabadaarachchi is eligible to represent Australia, Sri Lanka (via her father), Argentina and Italy (both from her mother) in international football,[16][17] 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.[18][19] After being called up again by Australia in 2022, but not making her international debut, she announced in 2023 that she would instead commit to playing for Argentina.[20] However, she again failed to debut for La Albiceleste, and was called up by Australia for the third time in mid 2025 for two friendlies against Slovenia in June.[21]
She made her international debut for Australian on 5 July 2025 in the first friendly against Panama in Bunbury, Western Australia, coming on as a sub in the second half.[22]
Personal life
Galabadaarachchi is in a relationship with Swedish footballer Carl Starfelt.[23][24]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 13 July 2020[25]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[c] | League Cup[d] | Continental[e] | Other[f] | 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 | ||
- Sinhala: ජසින්තා ප්රේමා ද නීවා ගලබඩආරච්චි, pronounced [d͡ʒasin̪t̪a præːma da niːʋaː ɡaləbədəaːraʈ͡ʃːi]
- Pronunciation in Rioplatense Spanish.
- Includes League Cup
- Includes UEFA Women's Champions League
- Includes Supertaça de Portugal
