Emerson Aparecido Leite de Souza Junior (born 14 January 1999), known as Emerson Royal or simply Emerson, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a right-back or centre-back for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Flamengo and the Brazil national team.
Emerson was born in São Paulo and was raised in Americana. He got his nickname "Royal" as his uncle said he resembled the mascot of the Royal-branded gelatin dessert sold in Brazil.
Emerson joined Ponte Preta's youth setup in 2014, after notably representing Palmeiras, São Paulo and Grêmio. After appearing as an unused substitute in some matches of the 2016 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, he made his senior debut on 22 February 2017, replacing injured Artur in a 2âÂÂ2 Campeonato Paulista away draw against Linense. Despite being booked and conceding a penalty, he was given his first start three days later, in a 1âÂÂ0 home defeat of São Bernardo.
Emerson made his Série A debut on 5 November 2017, replacing injured John Kleber in a 2âÂÂ0 loss at Bahia. He contributed with three league appearances during the campaign, as his side suffered relegation.
Promoted to the first team ahead of the 2018 season, Emerson became a regular starter for Macaca, making 14 appearances in the 2018 Campeonato Paulista. On 2 April 2018, he scored his first professional goal, the winning one in the Campeonato Paulista do Interior final against Mirassol.
On 27 April 2018, Emerson signed a five-year deal with Atlético Mineiro, for a rumoured fee of R$5 million. As a part of the deal, Danilo Barcelos moved in the opposite direction on loan.
Emerson made his debut for the club on 19 May 2018, shortly after turning 19, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1âÂÂ0 win over rivals Cruzeiro. Initially a backup to Patric, he ended the year with 23 league appearances. He scored his first goal in the top tier on 30 September, netting his team's third in a 5âÂÂ2 home routing of Sport.
On 31 January 2019, Atlético announced the transfer of Emerson to Barcelona, effective as of July 2019, for â¬12.7 million. The deal consisted of a joint financial operation between Barcelona and fellow La Liga side Real Betis, in which each club paid half of the transfer fee and retained a percentage of Emerson's economic rights. He was to become a Betis player in July 2019, with Barcelona holding the option of reacquiring him for â¬6 million in 2021. Emerson initially joined Betis on loan from Atlético for the remainder of the 2018âÂÂ19 season, during which period he made seven appearances for the club. He then became a regular starter for the Andalusians, and scored his first goal abroad on 27 September 2019, but in a 1âÂÂ5 loss to Villarreal. He scored 3 goals and added 6 assists that season in 34 appearances for Betis, only missing 3 La Liga games.
On 2 June 2021, Barcelona exercised their option to bring back Emerson for three seasons by paying Betis â¬9 million.
On the final day of the 2021 summer transfer window, Tottenham signed Emerson on a five-year deal for a reported ã25.8 million transfer fee. His debut was in the Premier League away to Crystal Palace which Tottenham lost 3âÂÂ0 on 11 September. On 3 April 2022, he scored his first goal for Tottenham in a 5âÂÂ1 home win against Newcastle United. On October 1, 2022, during the second half of Tottenham's Premier League away game against Arsenal, Royal received a straight red card for his tackle on Gabriel Martinelli. The team went on to lose 3âÂÂ1 in the North London derby. On 28 March 2023, the club announced he would undergo surgery on a knee injury he sustained on international duty with Brazil. On August 13, 2023, Emerson Royal scored a drilled shot from outside the box to secure a 2âÂÂ2 draw against Brentford on the opening game of the 2023âÂÂ24 Premier League season. Due to a large amount of injuries at the club, Emerson filled in as a starter at left-back and centre-back as well as his natural right-back position throughout the first half of the season, widely impressing with his displays. On 22 January 2024, it was reported that Tottenham Hotspur had rejected a ã20 million bid from Saudi club Al-Nassr for Emerson.
On 12 August 2024, Emerson joined Italian Serie A club AC Milan on a four-year deal. Emerson came off the bench to make his debut in the 2âÂÂ1 away defeat to Parma.
On 26 July 2025, Emerson joined Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Flamengo and signed a three year contract with the club.
Emerson was called up to the Brazil under-20 team for the 2017 Toulon Tournament. He was the first-choice right-back at the 2019 South American U-20 Championship and the 2019 Toulon Tournament, having won the latter with Brazil's under-23 side.
Emerson made his senior international debut for Brazil on 19 November 2019, coming off the bench in a 3âÂÂ0 victory over South Korea.
On 11 June 2021, Emerson was called up by manager Tite for the 2021 Copa América. He made his tournament debut on 17 June, playing the last six minutes in a 4âÂÂ0 thrashing of Peru in Brazil's second group match. Ten days later, he was given his first start as he played the full match in a 1âÂÂ1 draw in their final group stage match against Ecuador. On 10 July, he played in the final, after coming on in the 76th minute in their 0âÂÂ1 defeat against Argentina.
AC Milan
Flamengo
Brazil U23
Brazil
Individual