When she was a little girl, Kerolin Nicoli Israel Ferraz searched for female role models but found few. Growing up in Bauru, a city in the interior of São Paulo, she wanted to be a footballer. Her idols were men, and two of them stood out: Ronaldinho and Neymar, both products of Brazilian football who would one day wear the blaugrana shirt of Barcelona. Today, at 26, Nicoli cannot hide her emotion: she has joined the club of her childhood heroes.
"When I found out that Barça were interested in me, I couldn’t believe it. Until I spoke to my agent," Nicoli said after living her first hours in Barcelona and signing a contract that ties her to the club until 2030. The deal was closed at the office of president Joan Laporta. "It was a dream, an opportunity that presents itself in life, and perhaps there would be no other. I had to seize it," she added.
The transfer is historic. Barcelona have paid Manchester City €1.2 million, plus variables linked to her future individual performance, making Nicoli the most expensive signing in the history of the club’s women’s section. The club wanted a replacement for Salma Paralluelo, and after Nicoli’s standout season at City, they moved quickly to secure her services. The Brazilian had to push for the move, as she was under contract with Manchester City until 2028. Her determination to become a Barcelona player was unwavering, and the Catalan club responded by breaking their transfer record to bring her to the Camp Nou.
Before even playing a match in blaugrana, Nicoli has already made history. Her arrival echoes the impact of Ronaldinho, who in 2003 sparked a virtuous cycle that regenerated Barcelona both on and off the pitch, and Neymar, whose transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 for €222 million shook the entire football industry. Both Brazilian stars saw their careers decline after leaving Camp Nou, but Nicoli is determined to write a different story. She is not just following in their footsteps; she is forging her own path in a women’s game that has grown exponentially over the past decade.
"I am very grateful for the effort that Barcelona has made for me to be here, and I want to repay it," Nicoli said, alluding to the transfer fee. For her, that price tag does not bring extra pressure. She insists that what reigns supreme in her mind is "excitement" at the prospect of wearing the blaugrana shirt. Her admiration for Barcelona’s style of play is not new. She previously spent a brief period in Spain with Madrid CFF from April to December 2021, where she coincided with Vicky López, and she has followed the team’s evolution closely ever since.
Nicoli knows several of her new teammates personally. She mentioned Patri Guijarro, Aitana Bonmatí, and Ewa Pajor as players she already knew, and she expressed particular curiosity about Kika Nazareth. "She seems very fun," Nicoli said, adding with a smile that they will surely understand each other better than anyone else when speaking Portuguese. The Brazilian is eager to integrate into a squad that has dominated Spanish and European football in recent years, winning multiple Champions League titles and producing the last women’s Ballon d’Or winners.
The timing of her move is also significant. The 2026 season will culminate in the Women’s World Cup, to be held in Brazil, her home country. That tournament represents a long-held dream for Nicoli and a chance to shine on the biggest stage while representing her nation on home soil. She hopes that her time at Barcelona will prepare her both physically and mentally for that moment, and she is already thinking about the opportunity to combine club success with international glory.
Beyond team trophies, Nicoli has individual goals. She aspires to be named the best female footballer in the world. "There are many things to do, and others are not under my control," she explained. "But coming to Barcelona will make me a better player and a better person. The last Ballon d’Or winners have been from Barcelona, and maybe that will bring me closer to the objective. You never know." Her words reflect the ambition that has driven her career from a young age.
Born in Bauru, a city known for producing talented athletes, Nicoli developed her skills in the streets and youth teams of São Paulo. She rose through the ranks of Brazilian club football before making her first move abroad, a short stint in Spain that gave her a taste of the fast-paced European game. She then joined Manchester City in January 2025, where she impressed with her pace, technical ability, and versatility across the forward line. Her performances in the English league quickly attracted attention, and Barcelona knew they had found the ideal player to fill the void left by Salma Paralluelo.
The record fee paid by Barcelona reflects a broader trend in women’s football, where transfer prices and player salaries have risen sharply as the sport gains global visibility. Clubs are increasingly willing to invest heavily in top talent, and Nicoli’s signing is a clear signal that Barcelona intend to maintain their dominance at both the domestic and European levels. For Nicoli, it is also a personal milestone: the girl from Bauru who once idolized Ronaldinho and Neymar is now a club-record signing at the same institution where those legends made history.
Her first days in Barcelona have been filled with meetings, medical tests, and the beginning of training sessions with her new teammates. The coaching staff has been impressed by her dedication and hunger to prove herself. Nicoli knows that the expectations are high, but she welcomes them. She wants to repay Barcelona’s faith with goals, assists, and titles. "I want to give everything on the pitch," she said. "The fans can expect a player who fights for every ball, who respects the history of this club, and who dreams of winning as much as possible."
As she settles into her new life in Catalonia, Nicoli is aware that she is carrying the hopes of many young girls who, like her once did, look for role models in football. She understands the responsibility that comes with being a visible figure in a sport that is still developing its female structures. "I want to be an inspiration for the next generation," she said. "If I can show that a girl from Bauru can make it to Barcelona, then maybe other girls will believe that they can do it too."
The road ahead is long, but the Brazilian forward is ready. She joins a team that plays the beautiful game she has always admired, a style that suits her natural talent. With the support of her new teammates and the guidance of a proven coaching staff, Nicoli has every chance to thrive. Her story is just beginning, and if she follows the example of her idols, she knows that success at Barcelona can elevate her career to heights she has only dreamed of.
Source: elperiodico News