Born in Itaboraí, Rio de Janeiro, Emerson represented Botafogo as a youth.
He made his senior debut on 30 April 2015, starting in a 2–1 Copa do Brasil away win against Capivariano.
[1] On 7 May 2015 Emerson was definitely promoted to the first team in Série B,[2] but contributed with only one league match during the campaign, which ended in promotion as champions.
[3] Emerson became a regular starter in 2016, and scored his first senior goal on 28 February of that year, netting the equalizer through a direct free kick in a 1–1 draw at Vasco da Gama for the Campeonato Carioca championship.
[4] On 22 May he made his Série A debut, starting in a 1–1 away draw against Sport.