Gerso Fernandes


Gerso Fernandes is a Bissau-Guinean professional footballer who plays as a left winger for K League 1 club Incheon [United FC|Incheon United].

Club career

Career in 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; 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.
Gerso made his debut as a senior with Tourizense in the third division, who acted as Académica's farm team. Released in summer 2011, he moved to Estoril Praia|Estoril] of Segunda Liga, contributing 20 scoreless appearances in his first season as the club returned to the Primeira Liga after seven years.
Gerso made his debut in Portugal's top flight on 17 August 2012, playing 30 minutes in a 2–1 away loss against Olhanense. He continued to be played almost exclusively as a substitute in the following campaigns by manager Marco Silva.
For 2014–15, Gerso was loaned to Moreirense of the same league. After returning from Moreirense, he played 30 league matches as a starter during the 2015–16 season. Prior to the 2016–17 season, he left Estoril, moving to another Primeira Liga club Belenenses.

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. On 17 May, he scored his first hat-trick in a 3–0 win over Seattle Sounders FC at Children's Mercy Park. While playing for Kansas City for four years, he helped the club win the 2017 U.S. Open Cup. He rejected an offer for a new deal at the end of the 2020 season, and was released.

Career in South Korea

On 16 February 2021, Gerso joined K League 1 club Jeju United. In 2022, he received an annual salary of ₩1.7 billion, becoming the highest-paid player at the K League 1. After playing for Jeju for two years, he transferred to Incheon United of the same league on a free transfer.
During the 2023 [K League 1|2023 season], he showed top-class speed, and had ten goals and nine assists at all competitions. That year, he was evaluated as Incheon's key player, and was the club's only player to be selected for the K League Best XI. In 2024, he struggled to avoid the club's relegation despite an injury, but eventually faced it. Under his steady contribution, Incheon won the next year's K League 2, being promoted to the first division directly. He was named the K League 2 Most Valuable Player at the end of the season.

Honours

Estoril
Sporting Kansas City
Incheon United
Individual