Humble beginnings
Emersonn – full name Emersonn Correia da Silva – was born in Atílio Vivacqua, situated in Brazil’s south east coastal state of Espírito Santo.
“My parents had me very young when they were still students,” he explains.
“Their classmates organised a baby shower. They both wanted to choose the first name, so they drew lots and my mother drew Emerson with two n's.
“They were were property caretakers. They cultivated coffee. At one time, they also raised livestock. We have always worked with our hands. We worked a lot but we didn't have much money.”
Emersonn was born the same year as Manchester City's Savinho (2004) and played alongside him for Brazil's Under-15s. (Image: PA)
Catching the eye
Emersonn’s football career started at Athletico Paranaense, more than 7,000 miles from home in the southern city of Curitiba
At the age of 16, he got tongues wagging with some fine displays in the Brazilian U17 Championship (think FA Youth Cup).
After bagging eight goals in four matches, a report from Spanish sports outlet AS Daily enthused: “He's a physically powerful striker who dominates every individual duel. Unstoppable on the run and dominant in the air.
“So far, he hasn't found a rival who can stop him. His genetic predisposition, combined with his clinical finishing, makes him a lethal attacker. He's right-footed but also very adept with his left and can appear on either flank. Furthermore, he's intelligent at getting behind the opposing defence.”
Emersonn will become the first ever Brazilian to play for Ipswich. (Image: Richard Calver)
Turning pro
By this time, Emersonn had represented Brazil at Under-15 level and trained with the U17s. Athletico Paranaense, a top flight club, moved quickly to hand him a three-year professional deal and soon needed him around the first team when Matheus Babi suffered a serious knee injury.
“The plan is to incorporate him gradually so as not to burn him out," stated a report from Bola VIP. "He's a promising player from the youth academy, but he's only had one training session with the first team.”
A big set back
In October 2022, just three months past his 18th birthday, Emersonn’s progress was abruptly halted when he tore his ACL.
Twenty months later, he made his first team debut when coming on as a sub in a 1-0 win at Vitória. He went on to start games against Goianiense and Bahia, playing as a right winger, and ended the 2024 season with 375 senior minutes under his belt.
“It was very tough,” he said, reflecting on that major injury. “I wouldn't wish that on any player. But it made me more mature, it made me grow up.
“Until my injury, I had always played winger. I had to learn new things. Before, I constantly provoked my opponent. Now, I have to play defensively. I really like this change. I'm closer to my goal.”
Emersonn played alongside fellow Brazilian Romulo (right) at both Athletico Paranaense and Göztepe. (Image: PA)
Moving to Europe
In January 2025, Turkish club Göztepe signed Emersonn on a four-and-a-half year contract with the option of a further 12 months.
Sporting director Ivan Mance said: "He is a very young player with great potential for development. We believe that in the coming period he will adapt to our playing style and soon be another remarkable young player who will make our fans proud and happy.”
Emersonn, who joined countrymen Djalma Silva, Heliton and Romulo at the Gürsel Aksel Stadium, said: "I am very happy to be here. I know some players from my home country, and I've learned a lot about the club from them. I can't wait to compete in this shirt and contribute to the club's goals."
He went on to make two starts and 12 sub appearances in the second half of the campaign as Stanimir Stoilov’s side finished seventh in the Süper Lig and reached the semi-finals of the Turkish Cup. His one goal, a three-yard tap in, sealed a 4-1 home win against Basaksehir.
After the benefit of a pre-season, he pushed his way further into the picture at the start of the following campaign. A goal and assist off the bench, both following driving runs, sealed a 3-0 opening day win at Rizespor. He then he started a 2-0 victory at Fatih Karagumruk, winning a headed flick on in the build up to the opener.
Emersonn played under Carles Martinez Novell at Toulouse. The Spanish manager is now in charge of Bayer Leverkusen. (Image: PA)
French fancy
That good start to the 2025/26 season led to French club Toulouse signing Emersonn for €3.2m (£2.73m) on summer transfer deadline day.
“They watched my last match in Turkey and I had played my part very well,” he revealed. “They studied my profile and, even though I didn't score many goals because I wasn't a regular starter, they believed in me.”
Emersson subsequently endured a difficult debut at Auxerre, but not long after proved the super sub in a dramatic turnaround at Lyon, forcing an own goal before scoring a dramatic late winner. It was a thumping header, at a corner, netted deep into stoppage time.
“I was very tense before my debut match,” he recalls. “I barely slept the night before. At the start of the match, I was running everywhere and my legs quickly became very heavy. I don't know what happened. I wanted to run, but my body wouldn't cooperate. (So to get that goal against Lyon) was incredible and an enormous relief.”
The Brazilian ended up making 19 starts and nine sub appearances for a side that finished 10th in Ligue 1 and reached the quarter-finals of the Coupe De France. He provided six goals and two assists across all competitions.
Spanish head coach Carles Martínez Novell subsequently left to take charge at Bayer Leverkusen.
Emersonn names Real Madrid and France star Kylian Mbappe as an inspiration. (Image: PA)
Language barrier
A report on the Ligue 1 official website from June last year states: “Language remains his biggest challenge. Emersonn speaks neither French, English nor Spanish (Portuguese is the native language of Brazil), relying on gestures and football’s universal language to connect with team mates. Yet his commitment and energy have already made an impression in the dressing room.”
It's understood Emersson's English has improved significantly since then.
Style of play
There’s no getting away from it, Emersonn has not been prolific during his embryonic senior career so far. He’s never been a regular starter, in fairness, but nine goals from 5,108 minutes of action still equates to one every six full matches.
Of those nine goals, however, there’s good variety. Two headers. A couple after driving runs in off the right with some smart footwork (check out his deadlock breaking strike at Marseille last November). The most recent, against Gary O’Neil’s Strasbourg in May, was a well timed dart in behind and cool one-v-one finish.
Finishing technique looks like it can be further polished. It’s worth remembering that Liam Delap arrived at Ipswich without a particularly inspiring goal scoring record before bagging 12 in his debut Premier League campaign.
Being a modern striker is, of course, about much more than scoring goals.
“I am the trigger for the press,” said Emersonn, who says Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe are his idols.
“Generally, it's not me who's going to get the ball. But I'm going to force them to play a long ball so that my teammates can recover that first ball.”
Toulouse coach Carles Martinez Novell said of Emersonn: “He attacks the box well, makes runs in behind and hurts defences. He still needs to work on his concentration, but in terms of attitude, he’s there.”
A 6ft 1in player with a fine leap, the stats show he dominates in the air. Highlights reels suggest some of his best work come with his back to goal, dropping into space, holding off defenders and bringing others into play. It’s been reported that he produced more sprints that any other Toulouse player last season.
You need supreme athletes in the Premier League. Emersonn certainly looks like he has the athletic profile required. Whether he can adapt culturally, tactically and technically remains to be seen.
Gary O'Neil saw several players, including Matheus Cunha, lose their heads towards the end of his spell at Wolves.Ipswich Town manager Gary O'Neil worked with Brazilian star Matheus Cunha at Wolves. (Image: PA)
Town’s first Brazilian
Ipswich have had several South American players over the years, but Emersonn will become the first Brazilian (bar Alan) to represent the club.
Town’s much bolstered recruitment team, led by Mick Court, now has an Americas scout (José Mayorga) and European scout (Peter Braund).
New Town boss Gary O’Neil said at his unveiling: "I've worked with so many different nationalities now. At Wolves, there were Brazilians (Joao Gomes, Pedro Lima, Matheus Cunha) and (Hwang) Hee-Chan (from South Korea). I go to France (Strasbourg) and there's loads of the French-African boys, loads of South Americans.
“So I have a good understanding of how to get the best out of people, not just from domestic leagues, but from people from all around the world. It's a strength of mine, the connection that I can make with the players, and that's going to be important for us here.”