1. Overview
Gabriel Davi Gomes Sara is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Süper Lig club Galatasaray. His career began in Brazil with São Paulo FC, where he made his professional debut in 2017. After a successful tenure with São Paulo, he transferred to EFL Championship club Norwich City in 2022, where he quickly became a key player, earning the club's Player of the Season award and being named in the EFL Championship Team of the Season. In 2024, Sara moved to Turkish giants Galatasaray, where he has continued to demonstrate his vision, passing skills, and goal-scoring ability, contributing significantly to the team's early success.
2. Personal Information
Gabriel Davi Gomes Sara was born on June 26, 1999, in Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil. He is a Brazilian national. Standing at 70 in (177 cm), Sara primarily plays as a midfielder and is known for his proficiency with his left foot.
3. Career
Gabriel Sara's professional football career spans clubs in Brazil, England, and Turkey, marked by consistent performance and significant contributions to his teams.
3.1. São Paulo FC
Sara made his professional debut for São Paulo on December 3, 2017, in a Brazilian Championship match against Bahia, which ended in a 1-1 draw. He remained with the club until 2022, during which he accumulated a total of 120 appearances and scored 17 goals across various competitions. His tenure at São Paulo included winning the Campeonato Paulista in 2021.
3.2. Norwich City
On July 15, 2022, Sara transferred to EFL Championship club Norwich City. The transfer fee was agreed at 6.00 M GBP plus add-ons, and Sara signed a contract extending until 2026. He made his debut for Norwich on August 6, 2022, as a substitute in a 1-1 draw against Wigan Athletic. Sara scored his first goal for Norwich in a 3-2 loss to Preston North End, and followed up with another goal three weeks later in a 3-1 victory over Stoke City at Carrow Road.
He continued his scoring form, netting in a 3-1 win against Hull City on February 14, 2023, and then in back-to-back games: a 2-0 win over Cardiff City and a decisive winning goal in a 3-2 away victory against play-off contenders Millwall. His impressive performances were recognized when he won the Barry Butler Memorial Trophy for Norwich City's Player of the Season in 2023. In the early stages of the 2023-24 season, Sara's contribution of one goal and two assists in August earned him the EFL Championship Player of the Month award. He proved crucial in Norwich's bid for a play-off spot, scoring a vital late goal against Preston. In April 2024, Sara was named in the EFL Championship Team of the Season at the EFL Awards and also in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2023-24 Championship season.
3.3. Galatasaray
On August 4, 2024, Sara signed a five-year contract with Turkish club Galatasaray, choosing to wear jersey number 20. He has made a strong start for Galatasaray, consistently performing across various competitions. In the Süper Lig, he has been a regular starter under manager Okan Buruk. His exceptional vision and passing skills have significantly strengthened the midfield, and he has been directly involved in both goal-scoring and playmaking. His contributions have been instrumental in maintaining Galatasaray's position at the top of the league, demonstrating a clear influence in crucial matches. On September 21, 2024, Sara scored the third goal in a 1-3 away victory over Fenerbahçe in The Intercontinental Derby.
4. Statistics
Gabriel Sara's career statistics across various clubs, seasons, and competitions are detailed below.
| Club | Season | League | State league | National cup | League cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| São Paulo | 2017 | Série A | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2019 | Série A | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2020 | Série A | 33 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | - | 4 | 1 | 37 | 6 | ||
| 2021 | Série A | 36 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 2 | - | 5 | 0 | 54 | 10 | ||
| 2022 | Série A | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | 15 | 1 | ||
| Total | 77 | 9 | 20 | 5 | 12 | 2 | - | 11 | 1 | 120 | 17 | |||
| Norwich City | 2022-23 | Championship | 40 | 7 | - | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 43 | 7 | ||
| 2023-24 | Championship | 45 | 13 | - | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - | 50 | 14 | |||
| Total | 85 | 20 | - | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | - | 93 | 21 | ||||
| Galatasaray | 2024-25 | Süper Lig | 21 | 2 | - | 1 | 0 | - | 11 | 0 | 33 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 183 | 31 | 22 | 6 | 14 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 246 | 40 | ||
5. Honours
Gabriel Sara has earned several team and individual honours throughout his professional career.
5.1. Club Honours
- Campeonato Paulista: 2021 (with São Paulo)
5.2. Individual Honours
- Norwich City Player of the Season: 2022-23
- EFL Championship Player of the Month: August 2023
- EFL Championship Team of the Season: 2023-24
- PFA Team of the Year: 2023-24 Championship
6. External links
- [https://www.canaries.co.uk/player/gabriel-sara Profile at Norwich City F.C. website]
- [https://int.soccerway.com/players/gabriel-davi-gomes-sara/490701 Gabriel Sara at Soccerway]