Xavier Mbuyamba

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Xavier Mbuyamba
Personal information
Full name Xavier Tshimanga Kamaluba Ntite Mukendi Mpoyi Mbuyamba[1]
Date of birth (2001-12-31) 31 December 2001 (age 22)
Place of birth Maastricht, Netherlands
Height 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Position(s)
Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Volendam
Number 31
Youth career
0000–2012 VV Scharn
2012–2018 MVV Maastricht
2019–2020 Barcelona
2020–2022 Chelsea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2019 MVV Maastricht 11 (0)
2022– Volendam 35 (5)
International career
2019 Netherlands U19 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:59, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

Xavier Mbuyamba (born 31 December 2001) is a Dutch professional

centre-back for Eredivisie club Volendam
.

Mbuyamba made his professional debut for MVV Maastricht in 2018 and became the club's youngest-ever debutant, before moving to FC Barcelona the following year. After a season in Spain, he joined Premier League side Chelsea where he has continued his progression with the club's development side. He left Chelsea on a permanent deal on September 1, 2022 to join Eredivisie side, FC Volendam. He is also a Dutch youth international and has represented the Netherlands U19 team since 2019, although he remains eligible to represent DR Congo through descent.

Club career

MVV Maastricht

Early life and career

Mbuyamba was born in

Real Madrid. Mbuyamba was later invited to trial with Chelsea and was only prevented a move to London due to the club's transfer ban at the time, before electing instead to sign his first professional contract with Barcelona.[2]

Barcelona

Having previously only signed a youth agreement with Maastricht, Mbuyamba turned down a three-year professional contract offer from the club in 2019 in favour of a move to

Barcelona B's 2–0 win against Ejea in January 2020.[2][6][7][8]

Chelsea

After reaching an agreement for his release from Barcelona in June, Mbuyamba joined

Volendam

On 1 September 2022, Mbuyamba returned to the Netherlands to join newly-promoted, Volendam on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[13][14]

International career

Mbuyamba is a Dutch youth international and made his debut for the

DR Congo through descent as his father was born in the African country.[15][16]

Style of play

Mbuyamba is a tall, athletic right-footed central defender who enjoys playing with the ball at his feet and is equally as strong in the air.[12] Due to his height, physical stature, aerial presence and proficiency on the ball, the latter of which has been accredited to his development at La Masia, he has often been compared to countryman Virgil van Dijk during the early stages of his career.[8] While ordinarily a centre-back by trade, he also possesses the versatility to slot in at right-back and was used on occasion in this role at Maastricht and Barcelona.[8]

Career statistics

As of match played 16 April 2023[17]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
MVV Maastricht 2018–19 Eerste Divisie 11 0 0 0 11 0
Total 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
Chelsea U23
2021–22 4[c] 0 4 0
Volendam 2022–23 Eredivisie 23 3 0 0 23 3
Career total 34 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 38 3
  1. ^ Includes KNVB Cup, FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes League/EFL Cup
  3. ^ Appearance in the EFL Trophy

References

  1. ^ "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Kinsella, Nizaar (10 August 2021). "Xavier Mbuyamba: Chelsea leading race for 'new Van Dijk' after Barcelona exit". Goal. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Jeannot Mbuyamba player profile VV Scharn". Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Game Report by Soccerway". Soccerway. 9 November 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Droomtransfer: MVV'er Mbuyamba naar FC Barcelona" (in Dutch). VTBL. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Xavier Mbuyamba profile". UEFA. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Barça B 2-0 Ejea: Hard work gets its reward". FC Barcelona. 25 January 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  8. ^ a b c Ouzia, Malik (12 April 2021). "Who is Xavier Mbuyamba? Chelsea FC defender dubbed 'the next Virgil van Dijk' makes debut... and scores!". Evening Standard. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  9. ^ a b Wilson, Amie (20 August 2020). "Breaking: Chelsea confirm signing of Xavier Mbuyamba from Barcelona". Football London. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Chelsea transfer news: Izzy Brown joins Sheffield Wednesday on loan". Chelsea F.C. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  11. ^ Debono, Matt (20 November 2020). "Xavier Mbuyamba: 'Hunger to succeed has never been so big' after long-term knee injury". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Xavier Mbuyamba Chelsea Academy Profile". Chelsea F.C. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Young defender moves on". Chelsea F.C. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  14. ^ "Chelsea-talent Xavier Mbuyamba kiest voor plan van FC Volendam". FC Volendam. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  15. ^ Buckerfield, Kurt (19 May 2020). "10 Young European Stars With African Roots". Soccer Laduma. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  16. ^ Kennedy, Ross (13 April 2021). "Who is Xavier Mbuyamba? Things to know about the young Dutch defender". 90 Min. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  17. ^ "X. Mbuyamba". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 September 2021.

External links