Benjamin Mbunga Kimpioka

Benjamin Mbunga Kingpioka
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-02-21) 21 February 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Uppsala, Sweden
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 St Johnstone
Number 29
Youth career
–2011 Knivsta IK
2012–2016 IK Sirius
2016–2018 Sunderland
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2022 Sunderland 10 (2)
2021 → Torquay United (loan) 8 (0)
2021 → Southend United (loan) 2 (0)
2022–2024 AIK 16 (1)
2023 → Luzern (loan) 6 (1)
2024– St Johnstone 31 (8)
International career‡
2017–2018 Sweden U19 10 (0)
2019–2022 Sweden U21 11 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 December 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:55, 11 June 2022 (UTC)

Benjamin Mbunga Kimpioka (born 21 February 2000) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone.[1] He is able to play as a winger or striker.

Club career

Sunderland

Mbunga Kimpioka signed for Sunderland from Swedish side IK Sirius as an academy player on 1 July 2016. He made his first team debut for Sunderland as a substitute in an EFL Trophy tie against Stoke City U21s on 4 September 2018.[2] He made his league debut on 2 October 2018 in an EFL League One match against Peterborough United,[3] coming on in the 92nd minute for Jerome Sinclair.[4] He scored just 123 seconds into his third appearance; an EFL Trophy victory over Carlisle United on 10 October 2018.[5] Kimpioka scored his first league goal on 23 November 2019, a 90th-minute equaliser, in a 1–1 home draw against Coventry.[6] After a brief period away from the club, Kimpioka agreed a new 1-year deal with an option of a further year.

Torquay United

On 27 March 2021, Mbunga-Kimpioka joined National League side Torquay United on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.[7]

AIK

On 31 March 2022, Mbunga Kimpioka joined Allsvenskan side AIK for an undisclosed fee.[8]

Luzern

On 23 January 2023, Mbunga Kimpioka moved to Luzern in Switzerland on loan with an option to buy.[9]

St Johnstone

On 2 January 2024, Mbunga Kimpioka joined Scottish side St Johnstone for an undisclosed fee.[10] He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–0 victory away to Ross County in the Scottish Premiership on 3 February 2024.[11]

Personal life

Born in Sweden, Mbunga Kimpioka is of Congolese and Angolan descent.[12]

Honours

Sunderland

References

  1. ^ "Benjamin Mbunga Kimpioka till Skottland". AIK Fotboll (in Swedish).
  2. ^ "Sunderland 0 Stoke City U21 0". Sky Sports. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  3. ^ Benjamin Mbunga Kimpioka at Soccerway
  4. ^ "Sunderland vs Peterborough". BBC Sport. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  5. ^ "Sunderland v Carlisle". Chronicle Live. 10 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Sunderland 1-1 Coventry City". 23 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  7. ^ "Benji Kimpioka joins United on loan". Torquay United FC. 27 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Departure: Kimpioka joins AIK Fotboll". Sunderland AFC. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  9. ^ "BENJAMIN KIMPIOKA PER SOFORT ZUM FC LUZERN" (in German). FC Luzern. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Benjamin Mbunga Kimpioka till Skottland". AIK Fotboll. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  11. ^ "St Johnstone sink County in long-awaited away win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Nye U21-stjärnan om Netflixsuccén: "Kameror överallt..."". aftonbladet.se (in Swedish).
  13. ^ Pilnick, Brent (14 March 2021). "Sunderland 1–0 Tranmere Rovers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 March 2021.