FC Bayern Women have completed the signing of Vanessa Gilles. The 29-year-old Canadian international is moving to the Bavarian state capital from American top-flight side Angel City FC and has signed a contract with the Munich club valid until 30 June 2028. The centre-back has spent the past three seasons on loan at eight-time Champions League winners Olympique Lyonnais.
De Sá Fardilha: ‘Embody the club DNA’
Francisco De Sá Fardilha, FC Bayern Women technical director: “Vanessa is a player who always gives 110 percent on the pitch. That’s the kind of character that fits in perfectly with FC Bayern and our philosophy. She’s one of the best central defenders in the world as far as tackling and defending in the penalty area are concerned. She also has plenty of experience at the very highest level. Vanessa has won the Olympic Games with her country Canada and has also played in the Champions League final. In that respect, she’ll definitely help us in the big games, particularly in Europe. Vanessa is a player who will perfectly embody the DNA of the club as well as the ‘Mia san mia’ mentality. We’re very happy that she’s chosen to join FC Bayern.”
Looking forward to working together: Vanessa Gilles and Francisco De Sá Fardilha. | © FC Bayern
Gilles: ‘Looking forward to our future together’
Vanessa Gilles: “I’m very happy and proud to have signed for FC Bayren and am looking forward to our future together. Everyone knows Munich, everyone knows the history of this great club. I’m looking forward to working with a team that have represented high ambitions for many years. That’s a very good fit for my goals, be it at domestic level or in the Champions League. In addition, the family environment around the whole club impressed me a lot from the start. I want to provide security and stability in defence – my strengths lie particularly in the one-v-one duels. I’m also really excited about working with our new coach. I already know José from our time in Bordeaux.”
Opponents last year, hunting silverware together from next season: Pernille Harder & Vanessa Gilles. | © Imago
Olympic gold and double in France
Born on 11 March 1996 in Châteauguay, Canada, Gilles began her football career with Ottawa Capital United SC. During her studies at the University of Cincinnati, the centre-back played for Cincinnati Bearcats between 2014 and 2017. That was followed by a spell at West Ottawa SC in her homeland and at Cypriot top-flight club Apollon Limassol, with whom she won the national cup in 2018.
Between 2018 and 2021, Gilles laced her boots for French team Girondins Bordeaux, then in the top division, where she worked under incoming Bayern coach José Barcala. The 29-year-old then signed for Angel City in the US in January 2022, before being loaned out to Lyon in September of the same year. The Canadian won the league and cup double with the eight-time Champions League winners in 2023 as well as reaching the final of the UWCL in 2024, where Lyon were beaten by FC Barcelona.
Gilles made her debut for Canada’s national team on 10 November 2019 in a match against New Zealand. At the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, she won the gold medal with her country after a penalty shootout victory in the final against a Sweden team featuring Magdalena Eriksson.
On Monday, FC Bayern Women announced the signing of Dänin Stine Ballisager:
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