Giovana Queiroz Costa has signed for Everton on a season-long loan from Arsenal.
The 19-year-old Brazil international, commonly known as ‘Gio’, moves to Merseyside after completing a permanent transfer from Barcelona to the North London side.
Labelled as “the future” for Brazil by her national team coach, the highly-rated Gio becomes Everton’s 10th and final summer signing following the arrivals of forward Jess Park, Dutch striker Katja Snoeijs, Australia international Clare Wheeler, goalkeeper Emily Ramsey, forward Aggie Beever-Jones, Norwegian Elise Stenevik and Danes Karen and Sara Holmgaard, and Katrine Veje.
Winner of the 2021 Samba Gold Feminino award - which honours Brazil’s best player working abroad - Gio has 12 caps for her country and helped Brazil to Copa America glory this summer.
An attacking forward with flair to her game, the winger hopes to make a quick impact at Everton.
“I’m really proud to be joining Everton for the season,” Gio told evertontv. “I have met the squad and it’s a great group in an amazing environment.
“This is going to be a year of development, to improve myself and get to know the league.
“We all know the WSL is an exciting league with some of the best players in the world. I’m hoping to bring my own style and energy to the team and can’t wait to get started.
“This is an intense and quick league, but speed is one of my strengths so I’m hoping to adapt quickly.
“I’m young but I’ve got a lot of experience. Any challenge that I’m faced with is great as it just makes me a better player. I’m excited to learn and see what I can do.
“To all the Everton fans, I’m looking forward to seeing you all soon!”
Manager Brian Sorensen says his Everton squad is now complete for the 2022/23 season, as he welcomes another young talent to the Club.
“We are really happy to bring Giovana to the Club,” he told evertonfc.com.
“She’s the last piece of the puzzle for our squad in terms of having diversity of options in the frontline.
“We are delighted we could come to an agreement with Arsenal to bring her in and help continue her development and growth.
“She’ll be in a good environment and I’m confident she’s going to be an incredible player in the future.
“With her experience at both club and international level, she will be used to the level of training we operate at.
“For her to come to a club like Everton that has a set structure, an identity on what we are trying to build, it means Gio can concentrate on what she can bring to the team.”
With six attackers now to choose from, Sorensen revealed how each player will have to play their part to bring success to Everton.
“Gio’s joining the squad late in the window, so we’ll give her time to settle in but I’m sure we’ll see a quality player who can help us as a team,” added the Blues boss.
“I feel she’s suitable for this league in terms of the tempo and the way we’re looking to play.
“The way that we play puts a huge demand on our attacking players.
“We now have players who can start or come off the bench to help meet those demands.
“If we are to have success, it must be the whole group that plays a part in it.
“With the personnel we now have, we have that opportunity to be unpredictable and I’m really happy that Gio has chosen to come here.”
Following last Thursday evening’s transfer deadline, Sorensen reflected on a busy yet successful summer of work.
“I’m really pleased with the business we have done,” he said.
“We have an incredibly talented squad. Now it’s about how we work, to keep building on that clear identity and I’m sure the players can step up and perform week after week.
“Our aim is to develop top international players. Some will take a few years; others will break through right away, but we will be working hard to ensure the end product will be the same.”
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