Kerolin Nicoli: WSL Player Spotlight

Kerolin Nicoli is a twenty-five-year-old forward for Manchester City Women.

A versatile attacking force, she combines blistering pace her darting runs forward with technical flair and composure ahead of goal. Since moving to Manchester, she has made her mark in the frontline; she is a constant spark with her dribbling and creativity.

Already an established Brazil international, Kerolin brings proven quality to the wings and is set to be a key figure in City's title ambitions for the 2025/26 season.

A performance to remember

Despite stating on the substitute bench, Kerolin was called into action early against Tottenham Hotspur following Lauren Hemp's injury. Twenty-minutes in, she asserted her dominance in the game. Immediately, she brought energy and drive to Manchester City's attack.

Her direct running and sprints forward stretched Spur’s solid back line, which had proven difficult to break down in their opening Barclays Women’s Super League fixtures. Her introduction proved pivotal in maintaining City's attacking threat, a reminder of the depth and quality she adds to Andrée Jeglertz's side.

Statistically, her performance emerged as standout amongst her teammates: she recorded two shots, with one on target, and registered four touches inside the opposition’s penalty area. The Brazilian forward completed seven passes into the final third, linking up well with her attacking teammates to keep city on the front foot. Defensively, she contested six duels and won three, showing both her work rate and physical presence.

Following the full-time whistle, Jegerletz spoke about Kerolin and the other substitutes brought on to liven up the game. He had nothing but praise for the positive impact she had upon City’s dominant 5-0 win:

“Don't forget the ones who are coming into the game because there is also Kerolin, Jade Rose and Grace Clinton. Coombs coming in and scoring, so that will give us something for the team. It's important, not only the ones on the field starting the game, the ones coming in are bringing energy and that will be crucial for this team this year."

Next up

Kerolin's next challenge comes in Manchester City's upcoming clash with newly promoted, London City Lionesses this weekend. Having shown her impact off the bench against Tottenham, the Brazilian will look to build on that momentum and push for a bigger role in Andrée Jeglertz's plans.

Keep an eye on how she links up with City's other attacking options, whether she's deployed from the start or as an impact substitute, and how she adapts against compact, resilient defences. All focus will be on her consistency, and whether she is able to produce moments of magic when called upon.

Her ability to turn influence into end product could be crucial in city's pursuit of the WSL title, as she hopes to emerge in Jegerletz’s starting lineup throughout their 2025/26 campaign.