Willy Kambwala
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Willy Kambwala Ndengushi[1] | ||
Date of birth | 25 August 2004 | ||
Place of birth | Kinshasa, DR Congo[1] | ||
Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Manchester United | ||
Number | 53 | ||
Youth career | |||
2012–2013 | Elan Chevilly Larue | ||
2013–2018 | Les Ulis | ||
2018–2020 | Sochaux | ||
2020–2023 | Manchester United | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2023– | Manchester United | 8 | (0) |
International career | |||
France U16 | |||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:28, 12 May 2024 (UTC) |
Willy Kambwala Ndengushi (born 25 August 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Manchester United. Born in DR Congo, he has represented France at youth level.
Club career[edit]
Early career[edit]
Born in Kinshasa, DR Congo, Kambwala and his family moved to France when he was five.[2] He was raised in Les Ulis, Essonne, and started his career with Elan Chevilly Larue and Les Ulis, before joining the academy of Sochaux in 2018.
Manchester United[edit]
Kambwala was linked with a move to English sides Liverpool and Manchester United in July 2020.[3] He made the move to Manchester United in October 2020, signing on transfer deadline day.[4] He suffered an eleven-month injury layoff only weeks into his spell in Manchester, returning to action in September 2021, playing in an 8–2 away win against Birmingham City's under-18 team.[5]
He signed a professional contract with Manchester United the following month.[6][7][8] Kambwala made his senior debut for United in December 2023, starting in a Premier League match against West Ham United.[9] With several first-team defenders sidelined through injuries, Kambwala made his second professional start on April 7, 2024, in a Premier League game against Liverpool that ended in a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford. He won 100% of his ground duels and completed an impressive 29 passes in the match.[10]
International career[edit]
Kambwala is eligible to represent both France and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[11] He has captained the French under-16 side.[12]
Career statistics[edit]
- As of match played 12 May 2024[13]
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Manchester United U21 | 2023–24 | — | — | — | — | — | 3[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||
Manchester United | 2023–24 | Premier League | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | |
Career total | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
- ^ Appearances in the EFL Trophy
Honours[edit]
Manchester United
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Willy Kambwala at WorldFootball.net
- ^ Mechenoua, Marc (19 October 2020). "PSG-MU : des Ulis à Manchester, le grand bond de Willy Kambwala" [PSG-MU: from Ulis to Manchester, the great leap of Willy Kambwala]. leparisien.fr (in French). Retrieved 18 February 2023. (subscription required)
- ^ "Transferts : Manchester United s'intéresse à Willy Kambwala (Sochaux)" [Transfers: Manchester United interested in Willy Kambwala (Sochaux)]. lequipe.fr (in French). 5 July 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ Clayton, Freddie (8 October 2020). "Who is Willy Kambwala - the French wonderkid signed by Manchester United". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ Smith, George (21 September 2021). "Manchester United youngster sends message after returning from long-term injury lay-off". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ Fay, Richard (9 October 2021). "Manchester United defender Willy Kambwala reacts to signing first professional contract". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ Schuler, Michel (9 October 2021). "A 17 ans l'ex-Sochalien Willy Kambwala signe son premier contrat pro avec Manchester United" [At 17, ex-Sochalien Willy Kambwala signs his first professional contract with Manchester United]. estrepublicain.fr (in French). Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ Tanzi, Loïc (29 December 2021). "Willy Kambwala, cet espoir Français qui a quitté Sochaux pour Manchester United" [Willy Kambwala, this French hope who left Sochaux for Manchester United]. rmcsport.bfmtv.com (in French). Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ "Premier League: West Ham v Man Utd - Kambwala makes debut". BBC Sport. 23 December 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "Kambwala: I am proud to represent United | Manchester United". www.manutd.com. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ Jomni, A. (19 October 2021). "Découverte: Willy Kambwala, la nouvelle pépite congolaise de Manchester United" [Discovery: Willy Kambwala, Manchester United's new Congolese nugget]. foot-africa.com (in French). Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ Martin, Richard (25 December 2023). "Who is Willy Kambwala? The France youth international who Man Utd have thrown into the deep end". goal.com. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
- ^ Willy Kambwala at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Manchester City 1–2 Manchester United: Line-ups". BBC Sport. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
External links[edit]
- Profile at the Manchester United F.C. website
- Willy Kambwala at the French Football Federation (in French)
- Willy Kambwala – UEFA competition record (archive)
- 2004 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Kinshasa
- Democratic Republic of the Congo men's footballers
- French men's footballers
- Men's association football defenders
- CO Les Ulis players
- FC Sochaux-Montbéliard players
- Manchester United F.C. players
- Premier League players
- France men's youth international footballers
- Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate men's footballers
- French expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in England
- Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate sportspeople in England
- French expatriate sportspeople in England
- French sportspeople of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent
- Black French sportspeople