Isaac Mbenza

Isaac Mbenza

Mbenza in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Isaac Mbenza[1]
Date of birth	(1996-03-08) 8 March 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth	Saint-Denis, France
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Charleroi
Number	7
Youth career
2005-2011	ROFC Stockel [nl]
2011-2012	FC Brussels
2012-2013	KV Mechelen
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2013–2016	Valenciennes B	30	(3)
2015–2016	Valenciennes	48	(7)
2016–2017	Standard Liège	21	(1)
2017–2019	Montpellier	54	(11)
2018–2019	→ Huddersfield Town (loan)	22	(1)
2019–2021	Huddersfield Town	41	(5)
2020	→ Amiens SC (loan)	3	(0)
2021–2022	Qatar SC	10	(0)
2022–	Charleroi	59	(5)
International career
2013	Belgium U17	2	(0)
2015	Belgium U19	1	(0)
2017–2019	Belgium U21	16	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 March 2024

Isaac Mbenza (born 8 March 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Belgian Pro League club Charleroi. Born in France and eligible to represent DR Congo and Belgium, he has represented the latter at several youth levels.

Personal life

Mbenza was born in France and is of Congolese descent, and emigrated to Belgium at 5.[2][3][4]

Club career

Mbenza started playing at ROFC Stockel [nl] at the age of 9 before moving on at the age of 15 to FC Brussels for a season, followed by another season at KV Mechelen before his move to Valenciennes FC.[4]

Montpellier

On 31 January 2017, Mbenza signed for French club Montpellier.[5][6]

Huddersfield Town

On 9 August 2018, Mbenza moved to Premier League club Huddersfield Town on a season-long loan with the obligation of a transfer in the summer of 2019.[7]

He made his debut as a 68th minute substitute in a goalless draw with Cardiff City on 25 August 2018.[7] On 5 May 2019, he scored his only goal in the 2018–19 season, coming as a 60th minute equaliser in the 1–1 draw with Manchester United.[8]

Following Huddersfield's relegation to the EFL Championship, Mbenza's loan was made permanent on 9 July 2019 until the end of 2020–21 season, with the club having the option of a further season.[9]

He only made 6 appearances for Huddersfield in the 2019–20 season, and departed on loan to Amiens on 3 February 2020 for the remainder of the season.[10]

He featured more under the manager, Carlos Corberàn, who had been appointed in advance of 2020–21 season. He made 37 appearances scoring 5 goals, with 3 coming direct from free kicks in games against Birmingham City,[11] Sheffield Wednesday[12] and Middlesbrough.[13]

On 11 May 2021, Huddersfield exercised their option to extend Mbenza's contract up to the end of the 2021–22 season.[14] But on 6 September, his contract was terminated.[15]

Charleroi

On 14 March 2022, Mbenza signed a three-month contract with Charleroi, with an option to extend.[16]

Career statistics

As of match played on 1 October 2019[17]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Valenciennes B	2013–14	CFA 2	10	1	—		—		—		10	1
	2014–15		18	2	—		—		—		18	2
	2015–16		2	0	—		—		—		2	0
	Total		30	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	30	3
Valenciennes	2014–15	Ligue 2	13	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	1
	2015–16		35	6	2	0	1	0	0	0	38	6
	Total		48	7	2	0	1	0	0	0	51	7
Standard Liège	2016–17	Belgian First Division A	21	1	0	0	—		6	0	27	1
Montpellier	2016–17	Ligue 1	16	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	16	3
	2017–18		38	8	3	1	2	1	0	0	43	10
	Total		54	11	3	1	2	1	0	0	59	13
Huddersfield	2018–19	Premier League	22	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	24	1
	2019–20	Championship	5	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	6	0
	Total		27	1	1	0	2	0	0	0	30	1
Career total			170	23	6	1	5	1	6	0	187	25

References

1. "2018/19 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
2. "Découverte: Isaac Mbenza belgo-congolais de Standard de Liège !". 14 December 2016.
3. "België of Congo: Nationale belofte heeft zijn beslissing gemaakt". 26 March 2017.
4. "ISAAC MBENZA: MY LIFE IN WEST YORKSHIRE". Huddersfield Ton. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
5. "Isaac Mbenza to Montpellier". Standard Liège. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
6. "Isaac Mbenza nouveou Pailladin" (in French). Montpellier HSC. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
7. "Huddersfield sign winger Mbenza on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
8. "Man Utd miss out on top four after draw". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
9. "TRANSFER: MBENZA JOINS TOWN PERMANENTLY". www.htafc.com. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
10. "CONFIRMED: MBENZA LOAN TO AMIENS APPROVED". www.htafc.com. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
11. "Blues score late to beat Huddersfield". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
12. "Terriers beat Owls in Yorkshire derby". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
13. "Boro come from behind to beat Terriers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
14. "RETAINED LIST CONFIRMED". www.htafc.com. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
15. "ISAAC MBENZA DEPARTS HUDDERSFIELD TOWN". Huddersfield Town A.F.C. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
16. "ISAAC MBENZA DÉBARQUE AU SPORTING !" (Press release) (in French). Charleroi. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
17. Isaac Mbenza at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 March 2018.

External links

• Isaac Mbenza at Soccerway
• Isaac Mbenza at the Royal Belgian Football Association
• Isaac Mbenza at WorldFootball.net