Vanessa Brigitte Gilles (born March 11, 1996) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a centre-back for Frauen-Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Canada national team.
Early career Originally a tennis player, in her teenage years, Gilles quit the sport to switch to soccer. After briefly attempting to play as a goalkeeper, she became a defender. She played for FC Capital United in Ottawa, Ontario, winning a league title in 2013. At the 2013 Canada Summer Games, she won a bronze medal with Team Ontario.
College career Gilles then attended the University of Cincinnati in the United States, playing for the Cincinnati Bearcats from 2014 to 2017. She was named 2015 American Athletic Conference Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Tournament and, in 2016, became the first Bearcats women's athlete to earn all-conference first team accolades in both the preseason and postseason in American Athletic Conference history. In 2017, she was named American Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year. When she won an Olympic gold medal in 2021, she became the fifth athlete in Bearcats history to do so.
Club career West Ottawa SC In May 2017, Gilles joined League1 Ontario side West Ottawa SC. She scored two goals in nine appearances in the regular season, and was selected to the 2017 League1 Ontario All-Star third team. She was also selected to represent League1 Ontario in the All-Star game against the Team Ontario squad competing in the 2017 Canada Games.
Apollon Limassol In January 2018, Gilles signed a short-term contract with Cypriot First Division side Apollon Limassol. She made her professional debut for the club on January 14, starting in a 1–1 draw with Anorthosis Famagusta. She scored 10 goals in 11 appearances for the club in the regular season, and made three appearances in the Cypriot Women's Cup tournament, helping Apollon Limassol win the final against Pyrgos Limassol on penalties.
Bordeaux In July 2018, Gilles signed a two-year contract with Division 1 Féminine side Girondins de Bordeaux. In May 2020, she signed a two-year extension with Bordeaux.
Angel City FC After 3.5 years at Bordeaux, Gilles transferred to expansion NWSL club Angel City FC for an undisclosed fee. She signed a contract for 2022 with an option for 2023. On April 29, 2022, in Angel City's first NWSL match, Gilles scored the first goal in Angel City history to secure a 2–1 victory against North Carolina Courage.
Lyon (loan) In September 2022, Gilles signed for Lyon on a season-long loan. Her loan was later extended until June 2025.
On December 20, 2024, Vanessa Gilles has been named the 2024 Canadian Women’s Player of the Year, earning the honor for the first time in her career.
Bayern Munich On May 20, 2025, Gilles signed with Frauen-Bundesliga club Bayern Munich on a three-year contract through June 30, 2028. Having scored three goals in her opening six matches in all competitions with the club, on October 1, 2025, it was announced that she had suffered a lower leg muscular injury which would keep her "sidelined for several weeks."
International career Although born in Quebec, Gilles was eligible to play for France as her father was born in Paris. In November 2018, Gilles was called into the France U23 camp, and played for Les Bleues in a 5–2 victory against Belgium.
Canada On January 18, 2019, she made her unofficial debut for Canada in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Switzerland. On November 10, she made her official debut in a 3–0 victory against New Zealand at the 2019 Yongchuan International Tournament.
She was named to the Canadian national team for the 2020 Summer Olympics. She scored the decisive penalty shootout goal for Canada in the quarterfinals against Brazil. Although her penalty shootout attempt in the final of the tournament against Sweden hit the crossbar, Canada won the game and she would earn her first Olympic gold medal. She was named to the roster for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Gilles was called up to the Canada squad for the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship, where Canada finished as runners-up.
Gilles was called up to the 23-player Canada squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Gilles was called up to the Canada squad for the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup, which Canada finished as semifinalists.
Gilles was a member of the Canadian national team for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Personal life On March 20, 2019, Gilles spoke at the United Nations in New York City, as part of the 63rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
For the first twelve years of her life, her family lived in Shanghai, before returning to Canada to live in Ottawa. She graduated high school from École secondaire publique Louis-Riel and then graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati with a major in criminal justice and a minor in IT.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsWest Ottawa SC2017League1 Ontario92———92Apollon Limassol2017–18Cypriot First Division111030——1410Girondins de Bordeaux2018–19D1 Féminine20110——2112019–20D1 Féminine16030——1902020–21D1 Féminine19110——2012021–22D1 Féminine1020042—144Total654504200746Angel City FC2022NWSL71—0061132Lyon (loan)2022–23Première Ligue1333061—2242023–24Première Ligue18321113103272024–25Première Ligue145005200197Total451151226106214Bayern Munich2025–26Frauen-Bundesliga1435070102732026–27Frauen-Bundesliga4312100065Total186628010338Career total155331933488121645
International
Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gilles goal. + List of international goals scored by Vanessa Gilles No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 February 20, 2022 Carrow Road, Norwich, England 1–0 1–0 2022 Arnold Clark Cup 2 April 9, 2022 BC Place, Vancouver, Canada 2–0 2–0 Friendly 3 February 19, 2023 Geodis Park, Nashville, United States 1–0 2–0 2023 SheBelieves Cup 4 April 6, 2024 Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, United States 1–0 1–1 2024 SheBelieves Cup 5 July 28, 2024 Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne, France 2–1 2–1 2024 Summer Olympics 6 July 31, 2024 Stade de Nice, Nice, France 1–0 1–0 7 December 3, 2024 Pinatar Arena, San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain 4–1 5–1 Friendly 8 February 22, 2025 1–0 2–0 2025 Pinatar Cup 9 March 1, 2026 Geodis Park, Nashville, United States 1–0 4–1 2026 SheBelieves Cup 10 April 14, 2026 Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá, Brazil 2–1 3–1 2026 FIFA Series 11 3–1
Honours Apollon Limassol Cypriot Women's Cup: 2017–18
Lyon Première Ligue: 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25 Coupe de France Féminine: 2022–23 Trophée des Championnes: 2023 UEFA Women's Champions League runner-up: 2023–24
Bayern Munich Bundesliga: 2025–26 DFB-Pokal: 2025–26 DFB-Supercup Frauen: 2025
Canada Summer Olympics: 2021 Individual
Canada Soccer Player of the year: 2024 & 2025 CONCACAF W Championship Best XI: 2022 UNFP Première Ligue team of the year: 2024–25 LFFP Première Ligue team of the season: 2024–25 League1 Ontario All-Star Third Team: 2017
References
External links Profile at the FC Bayern Munich website Vanessa Gilles at University of Cincinnati
Vanessa Gilles at Cyprus Football Association