Geyse da Silva Ferreira Bio
Geyse da Silva Ferreira, born on 27 March 1998 in Maragogi, Alagoas, Brazil, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward. Commonly known as Geyse and previously nicknamed Pretinha, she currently plays for Liga MX Femenil side Club América, where she wears the number 17. She is on loan from Manchester United of the English Women’s Super League, having joined Gotham FC of the National Women’s Soccer League on loan during the 2025 season, and represents the Brazil national team. Over the course of her career, Geyse has built a reputation as a sharp and opportunistic goal-scorer in top leagues across Brazil, Spain, Portugal, England, the United States, and Mexico.
Standing 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) tall, Geyse began her professional career in 2016 and has since become one of the most recognizable South American forwards in the women’s game. She is known for her movement in the box, her finishing, and her composure in front of goal, traits that have earned her top-scorer honours in Spain and helped her lift major trophies in Europe and the Americas.
Early Life and Background
Geyse was born in the coastal city of Maragogi in the northeastern Brazilian state of Alagoas. She was raised by her mother, Maria Cristina “Cris” Gomes da Silva, a street sweeper and daycare worker who brought up Geyse and her five siblings, Aline, Geovanne, Gisele, Alisson, and José Willamys, as a single parent. Her father, a fisherman, had an abusive relationship with her mother, and Geyse grew up in a tight-knit household shaped by her mother’s resilience and hard work.
Before football took over her life, Geyse spent two years playing futsal in the state of Pernambuco, an experience that sharpened her touch, speed, and small-space decision-making. She later played football for União Desportiva Alagoana (UDA), based in the state capital Maceió, where her performances in regional competition drew the attention of bigger clubs. Her early path from futsal pitches in Pernambuco to organized football in Alagoas laid the foundation for a professional career that would eventually take her across two continents.
Path to Soccer
Geyse’s rise into the professional ranks came quickly after her time at UDA. In April 2015, at just 17 years old, her performances for União Desportiva in their run to the quarterfinals of the 2015 Copa do Brasil de Futebol Feminino earned her a call-up to the Brazil women’s national under-20 team training squad. That same year, she was selected for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, signaling her arrival on the national stage.
Her development continued at Centro Olímpico, where she made the jump into senior football in 2016. Although her time there produced very few appearances, the move positioned her for a step up to one of Brazil’s biggest clubs and set the stage for a career that would soon take her abroad.
Geyse da Silva Ferreira Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Geyse began her senior career at Centro Olímpico in 2016 before quickly moving to Corinthians in 2017. She debuted for Corinthians on 12 March 2017, scoring in a 4–0 win over São Francisco. In her single season with the club, she played in 27 matches and scored nine goals, a strong return that caught the eye of European clubs.
Later in 2017, Geyse made her first move abroad, signing with the newly promoted Madrid CFF of the Spanish Liga F. She made 11 appearances and scored two goals as Madrid finished 10th in the league, gaining valuable experience in one of Europe’s strongest women’s leagues.
Benfica Breakthrough (2018–2019)
In May 2018, Geyse signed for the newly formed Benfica women’s side in Portugal’s second division. She joined the squad in September 2018 after the conclusion of her national team commitments at the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Her impact was immediate and historic: she debuted on 16 September by scoring five goals in a 28–0 victory over Ponte Frielas, then matched that feat with another five goals in a 19–0 win over Os Vidreiros. Her record for goals in a single match reached six, scored against Almeirim.
Despite finishing fourth in the golden boot standings behind teammate Darlene, Geyse scored 42 goals in 21 league appearances and added nine goals in the Taça de Portugal as Benfica won the trophy in their first season. Benfica were crowned league champions and earned promotion to the Campeonato Nacional Feminino. In January 2020, the club rescinded her contract by mutual agreement.
Madrid CFF Return and Pichichi Title (2020–2022)
In January 2020, Geyse re-signed for Madrid CFF, then at the bottom of the Primera División table. She scored five goals in five league matches before the 2019–20 season was ended prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. She extended her contract on 21 July 2020 and continued to grow into a focal point of the team.
On 21 April 2021, Geyse scored in the quarterfinal of the 2020–21 Copa de la Reina in a 2–1 win over Real Madrid, though Madrid fell 4–0 to eventual treble-winners FC Barcelona in the semifinals. On 10 October 2021, she scored four goals in a 5–4 win against Real Betis. Although Madrid CFF finished 13th in the league, Geyse finished the season with a joint league-high 20 goals, earning her first Pichichi title alongside Barcelona’s Asisat Oshoala and becoming the first South American to claim the Spanish league’s top-scorer honour.
Barcelona (2022–2023)
In June 2022, FC Barcelona announced the signing of Geyse on a contract through 2024. She debuted in September 2022 alongside fellow newcomers Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh, and 16-year-old Vicky Lopez, scoring the match’s second goal. In her first Champions League appearance, she scored twice and added an assist, with her first goal coming just minutes after entering as a substitute.
With Barcelona, Geyse won the Liga F, the Supercopa de España Femenina, and the Champions League during the 2022–23 season, completing a memorable treble at one of the world’s most decorated clubs.
Manchester United (2023–Present)
On 18 August 2023, Manchester United announced the signing of Geyse. In her first season with the club, United won the Women’s FA Cup, the club’s first major title. Following the death of her brother Geovanne in January 2025, Geyse took a period of compassionate leave and returned to Manchester in March, later publicly expressing unhappiness at the club.
On 24 March 2025, Manchester United sent Geyse on loan to National Women’s Soccer League side Gotham FC for the remainder of the season, with an option for Gotham to acquire her permanently. She made her NWSL debut on 13 April 2025 as a second-half substitute for Sarah Schupansky in a victory over the North Carolina Courage, then scored her first Gotham goal in a 4–0 win over Angel City FC. On 21 May 2025, she opened the scoring in a 3–1 CONCACAF W Champions Cup semifinal win against Club América, and on 25 May she started in the final as Gotham beat Tigres 1–0 to win the inaugural competition. On 4 December, Gotham announced that Geyse would return to Manchester United at the end of her loan. She subsequently signed for Liga MX Femenil side Club América on 13 January 2026.
Driving Style and Strengths
Geyse is best known for her sharp movement inside the penalty area, her calm finishing with both feet, and her willingness to shoot from tight angles. Her futsal background gives her quick feet in confined spaces, while her experience at top European clubs has added tactical discipline to her game. Teammates and coaches have consistently praised her attacking threat, work rate off the ball, and ability to deliver in decisive moments.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Geyse’s most memorable milestones are her five-goal debut for Benfica, her Pichichi-winning 20-goal season at Madrid CFF, her Champions League debut brace for Barcelona, and her role in Gotham FC’s first CONCACAF W Champions Cup title in 2025. She also became the first South American player to win the Spanish league’s top-scorer award, a historic achievement in Liga F history.
Geyse da Silva Ferreira Career Wins
Geyse has collected major team trophies across four countries, including league titles in Spain and Portugal, a Champions League crown with Barcelona, an English Women’s FA Cup with Manchester United, a Liga MX Femenil championship with Club América, and back-to-back CONCACAF W Champions Cup titles with Gotham FC and Club América.
Liga F / Pichichi Highlights
In the Spanish Liga F, Geyse’s standout season came in 2021–22, when she scored 20 goals to share the Pichichi trophy with Barcelona’s Asisat Oshoala, becoming the first South American to earn the honour. She scored four goals in a single match against Real Betis and found the net in Copa de la Reina knockout games during her second spell at Madrid CFF.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond her Pichichi season, Geyse lifted the Liga F, Supercopa de España Femenina, and UEFA Champions League with Barcelona in 2022–23, and won the Women’s FA Cup with Manchester United in 2023–24. With Club América, she won the Clausura 2026 Liga MX Femenil title and the 2026 CONCACAF W Champions Cup, scoring twice in the 5–3 final win over the Washington Spirit.
Geyse da Silva Ferreira Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Geyse was raised by her mother, Maria Cristina “Cris” Gomes da Silva, a street sweeper and daycare worker who raised Geyse and her five siblings as a single parent. Her mother’s determination shaped Geyse’s early years, and with the money she earned from football, Geyse later gifted her mother and siblings a house. She also has her mother’s face tattooed on her left arm as a permanent tribute.
Personal Life
Geyse is openly lesbian and has spoken publicly against prejudice. In 2023, she issued a statement on X vowing to “not remain silent in the face of prejudice” after facing homophobic attacks for sharing photos with her partner. In January 2025, Geyse’s brother, Geovanne, passed away, an event that led her to take compassionate leave from Manchester United.
2025 Season Performance
Geyse’s 2025 season was defined by both personal loss and on-field success. After beginning the year with Manchester United, she took compassionate leave following the death of her brother in January, returning to the squad in March. The club then loaned her to National Women’s Soccer League side Gotham FC for the remainder of the season, with an option for a permanent transfer.
At Gotham, Geyse quickly established herself, scoring her first goal against Angel City FC and delivering a key performance in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup. She scored the opening goal in the 3–1 semifinal win over Club América and started in the final as Gotham beat Tigres 1–0 to become the inaugural winners of the competition. On 4 December, Gotham announced that Geyse would return to Manchester United at the end of her loan, closing a turbulent but ultimately trophy-winning 2025 campaign.