Youssouf Mulumbu

Youssouf Mulumbu (born 25 January 1987) is a Congolese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder.

Youssouf Mulumbu
Mulumbu playing for West Bromwich Albion in 2013
Personal information
Full name Youssouf Mulumbu[1]
Date of birth (1987-01-25) 25 January 1987
Place of birth Kinshasa, Zaire
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Saint-Éloi Lupopo
Youth career
2004–2006 Paris Saint-Germain
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2009 Paris Saint-Germain B 50 (1)
2006–2009 Paris Saint-Germain 13 (0)
2007–2008 → Amiens (loan) 23 (1)
2009 → West Bromwich Albion (loan) 6 (0)
2009–2015 West Bromwich Albion 191 (15)
2015–2017 Norwich City 20 (0)
2017–2018 Kilmarnock 18 (1)
2018–2019 Celtic 1 (0)
2019 → Kilmarnock (loan) 7 (1)
2020–2021 Kilmarnock 18 (0)
2021–2022 Saint-Éloi Lupopo 37 (16)
Total 384 (35)
International career
2007 France U20 1 (0)
2007 France U21 2 (0)
2008– DR Congo 45 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mulumbu came through Paris Saint-Germain's youth academy. He began playing for Paris Saint-Germain B in 2004 and was promoted to the first-team in 2006. He was sent on two loan deals to Amiens and West Bromwich Albion, respectively, ultimately signing a permanent deal with the latter. He played there several years, winning the club's player of the year award for 2011. In 2015, he moved to newly-promoted Premier League club Norwich City, and he played for Scottish clubs Celtic and Kilmarnock between 2017 and 2021. Afterwards, he returned to Congo to play for Saint-Éloi Lupopo.In 2023 he signed for French team US Orleans.

Born in Kinshasa, Zaire, but growing up in France, Mulumbu represented France at various youth levels, before making his international debut in 2008 aged 21. He shortly withdrew from the national team citing a "lack of professionalism" in 2009. He returned in 2012, and helped the team finish in third place during the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Club career

Paris Saint-Germain

Mulumbu moved to France from Zaire at young age with his family, and grew up in the town of Épinay-sous-Sénart, a suburb of Paris. He began playing for the Paris Saint-Germain Academy at age 13.[3] On 22 October 2006, he made his Ligue 1 debut under head coach Guy Lacombe, at 19 years and 10 months in a match against Auxerre.[4] He signed his first professional contract with Paris Saint-Germain on 13 November 2006.[5]

During the 2007–08 season, he was on loan at Amiens in Ligue 2, scoring once in 29 appearances.[6]

West Bromwich Albion

It was reported by the French media on 26 January 2009 that he joined Premier League team West Bromwich Albion on a trial basis. On 2 February 2009, the January transfer deadline day, he joined them on loan with a view to a permanent deal at the end of the season. Mulumbu's first term at The Hawthorns was interrupted by injuries and he had to wait until April to make his Premier League debut, coming on as a sub in a 2–2 draw at Portsmouth. He signed for West Brom permanently on a one-year contract for a fee of £175,000 on 10 July 2009.[7]

He was named West Brom's Player of the Year by both the club and the fans at the end of the season, and signed his third contract extension in 13 months on 25 July 2011, tying himself to the club until 2015 (with the option of an extra year).[8]

On 15 March 2014, Mulumbu scored a crucial winner for West Brom in a 2–1 victory against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium, giving Pepe Mel his first win as head coach.[9]

Norwich City

In June 2015, it was announced that Mulumbu would sign on a free-transfer for newly promoted Norwich City on 1 July 2015.[10]

On 3 August 2015, Norwich announced that Mulumbu suffered a broken metatarsal in a friendly against Brentford which would require surgery and sideline him for several weeks, ruling him out of the start of the season.[11] He would finally make his debut on 27 October in a League Cup game against Everton, which Norwich lost on penalties after a 1–1 draw.[12] He made his Premier League debut a few days later on 31 October in a 2–1 defeat to Manchester City.[13] However, with Jonny Howson, Alexander Tettey and Graham Dorrans preferred in the centre of midfield, Mulumbu would ultimately be confined to only five league starts and two appearances as a substitute in the 2015–16 season, plus one appearance in the FA Cup, and the season would end with Norwich relegated back to the Championship.

Mulumbu remained with Norwich for the 2016–17 season but again found his opportunities for first team action restricted. His last appearance for Norwich came on 11 February 2017 in a 5–1 win over Nottingham Forest.[14] On 2 May, it was announced that Mulumbu was one of seven players who would be released by Norwich when their contracts expired at the end of the season.[15]

Kilmarnock

On 22 November 2017, it was announced that Mulumbu had signed for Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock until the end of the 2017–18 season.[16] Mulumbu reunited with manager Steve Clarke, who had also managed him at West Bromwich.[16] He scored his first goal for Kilmarnock in a 1–0 win against Celtic on 3 February 2018.[17] On 13 July 2018, Clarke said that Mulumbu had left Kilmarnock and was not expected to return to the club.[18]

Celtic

On 31 August 2018, Mulumbu signed a two-year deal with Celtic.[19] Mulumbu was loaned back to Kilmarnock on 31 January 2019, until the end of the 2018–19 season,[20] and played 12 times in his second spell with the Ayrshire club.[21] In June 2019, Mulumbu left Celtic after the club activated a break clause in his contract.[21] Mulumbu had made three appearances for the Glasgow side.[21]

Return to Kilmarnock

After a year out of football, Mulumbu trained with Kilmarnock during August 2020.[22] On 28 August, he made his return to the club on a six-month deal.[23] On 11 January 2021, Mulumbu agreed a contract extension to remain at the club until the end of the 2020–21 season.[24] He left Kilmarnock in May 2021 to move to France.[25]

Saint-Éloi Lupopo

On 31 July 2021, Mulumbu signed a one-year contract with Saint-Éloi Lupopo, marking his return to Congo.[26] He left the club as his contract expired in August 2022, after finishing third in the national championship and putting in strong performances as a key player in the team.[27]

International career

Mulumbu was formerly a member of the France under-20 and under-21 teams. He earned his first cap for Congo DR national football team against Algeria on 26 March 2008. In 2009, Mulumbu decided to boycott international football after he claimed his national team lacked professionalism. On 23 September 2011, he retired from international duties, quoting "numerous problems we were facing with some authorities within the DR Congo Football Federation".[28] However, in July 2012, he decided to revoke this decision, and made himself available for the Congo DR national football team once again.[28]

Personal life

Mulumbu was born in Kinshasa, Zaire. He is a Muslim.[29]


Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[30][31][32]
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Paris Saint-Germain B 2004–05 CFA 61–––61
2005–06 CFA 210–––210
2006–07 CFA 120–––120
2007–08 CFA 00–––00
2008–09 CFA 110–––110
Total 501–––501
Paris Saint-Germain 2006–07 Ligue 1 120000000120
2007–08 Ligue 1 1000000010
2008–09 Ligue 1 0000002[lower-alpha 3]020
Total 130000020150
Amiens SC (loan) 2007–08 Ligue 2 2310000–231
West Bromwich Albion 2008–09 Premier League 600000–60
2009–10 Championship 4034020–463
2010–11 Premier League 3470000–347
2011–12 Premier League 3511000–361
2012–13 Premier League 2820020–302
2013–14 Premier League 3720010–382
2014–15 Premier League 1701030–210
Total 197156080–21115
Norwich City 2015–16 Premier League 701010–90
2016–17 Championship 13000101[lower-alpha 4]0150
Total 200102010240
Kilmarnock 2017–18 Scottish Premiership 1812000–201
Celtic 2018–19 Scottish Premiership 1000002[lower-alpha 5]030
Kilmarnock (loan) 2018–19 Scottish Premiership 1012000–121
Kilmarnock 2020–21 Scottish Premiership 1602020–200
Saint-Éloi Lupopo 2021–22 Linafoot 37163716
Career total 385351301205041535
  1. Includes Coupe de France, FA Cup, Scottish FA Cup
  2. Includes Coupe de la Ligue, Football League Cup, Scottish League Cup
  3. Appearances in UEFA Cup
  4. Appearance for Norwich City under-23s in EFL Trophy
  5. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

Honours

DR Congo

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. p. 296. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  2. "Premier League Player Profile Youssouf Mulumbu". Premier League. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  3. "Youssouf Mulumbu". Skyrock (in French). 25 January 2006.
  4. "Auxerre vs. PSG – 22 October 2006 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  5. "PSG prodigy claims contract reward". UEFA.com. 14 November 2006.
  6. "Congo DR – Y. Mulumbu – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  7. "Mulumbu pens permanent WBA deal". BBC Sport. 10 July 2009. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  8. "Mulumbu signs new West Brom deal". BBC Sport. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  9. Lovejoy, Joe (15 March 2014). "West Brom delight after Youssouf Mulumbu's late winner at Swansea". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  10. "Youssouf Mulumbu to join City". Norwich City FC. 22 June 2015.
  11. "Norwich's Youssouf Mulumbu sidelined with broken foot". ESPN FC. ESPN Sports Media. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  12. "Everton 1–1 Norwich City (4–3 pens)". BBC Sport. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  13. "Manchester City 2–1 Norwich City". BBC Sport. 31 October 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  14. "Norwich City 5–1 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  15. "Seven Senior Players Set to Leave". Canaries.co.uk. Norwich City FC. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  16. "Youssouf Mulumbu joins Killie until end of the season". Kilmarnock FC. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  17. "Kilmarnock 1-0 Celtic". BBC Sport. 3 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  18. "Kilmarnock: Youssouf Mulumbu not expected back, says manager Steve Clarke". BBC Sport. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  19. "Youssouf Mulumbu signs for Celtic on a two-year deal". Celtic FC. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  20. Bienkowski, Stefan (31 January 2019). "Youssouf Mulumbu: Celtic midfielder to return to Kilmarnock on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  21. "Youssouf Mulumbu to decide future after Congo duty as Celtic cut short deal". BBC Sport. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  22. "Youssouf Mulumbu close to third spell at Kilmarnock". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  23. "Youssouf Mulumbu seals return to Killie". kilmarnockfc.co.uk. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  24. "Youssouf Mulumbu agrees contract extension". Kilmarnock FC. 11 January 2021.
  25. "Kilmarnock: Youssouf Mulumbu leaves Rugby Park ahead of Dundee play-off". BBC Sport. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  26. Mabuka, Dennis (31 July 2021). "Mulumbu: FC Saint Eloi Lupopo sign former PSG midfielder | Goal.com". Goal.com.
  27. "DRC: End of contract for Youssouf Mulumbu at Lupopo". Sport News Africa. 24 August 2022. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  28. "Mulumbu agrees to return to DR Congo fold". BBC Sport. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  29. Din, Tusdiq (23 August 2011). "Fasting and football. How do top-flight Muslims cope?". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  30. "Youssouf Mulumbu". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  31. "Youssouf Mulumbu". National Teams. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  32. "Youssouf Mulumbu". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  33. "DR Congo Nations Cup squad finalised". BBC Sport.
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