Yeni Atito N'Gbakoto (born 23 January 1992) is a professional footballer who plays for Danish Superliga club Vejle Boldklub. Born in France, he plays for the DR Congo national team internationally. He primarily plays as a winger, but is capable of playing as a striker.
 Ngbakoto with Western Sydney Wanderers in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Yeni Atito N'Gbakoto[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 23 January 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Croix, France | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Vejle | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2001–2007 | SCC Besançon | ||
| 2007–2009 | Metz | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2016 | Metz | 185 | (44) |
| 2016–2018 | Queens Park Rangers | 31 | (3) |
| 2018–2021 | Guingamp | 73 | (14) |
| 2021–2022 | Panathinaikos | 14 | (0) |
| 2021 | Panathinaikos B | 2 | (0) |
| 2022 | Nancy | 14 | (3) |
| 2022–2023 | Western Sydney | 18 | (4) |
| 2023– | Vejle | 17 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2008–2009 | France U17 | 32 | (6) |
| 2009–2010 | France U18 | 12 | (4) |
| 2017– | DR Congo | 2 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 April 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 June 2017 | |||
He is a former France youth international having earned caps at under-17 and under-18 level.
He is known for his speed, technical ability, and strength, which compensates for his small stature.[2]
Club career edit
Metz edit
Born in Croix, Ngbakoto began his football career at SC Clemenceau in the commune of Besançon. He excelled in the club's youth academy and eventually secured a move to the youth academy of professional club Metz. While at the academy, he developed gracefully becoming one of the club's most sought after products. During his time at the academy, he drew interest from English clubs Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur and Spanish club Barcelona.[3] Ngbakoto's play with the club's under-16 team saw him earn a call up to the France under-17 team by coach Philippe Bergeroo. On 25 June 2009, he agreed to his first professional contract signing a five-year deal until June 2014.[4] Following the agreement, he was promoted to the senior team and assigned the number 15 shirt in preparation for the 2009–10 season.
Ngbakoto began the season playing on the club's amateur team in the Championnat de France amateur 2, the fifth level of French football, scoring on his debut in the team's opening match against CA Pontarlier on 15 August 2009. He consistently appeared in the amateur team for the next four months, adding another goal in a 1–0 victory over Thionville, before earning a call up to the senior team by manager Yvon Pouliquen for the club's Coupe de la Ligue match against Lyon on 13 January 2010. Ngbakoto made his professional debut in the match appearing as a substitute in the 83rd minute for Julien Cardy. Metz lost the match 3–0.[5] He was relegated back to the amateur division shortly after and finished the campaign with 16 appearances and eight goals as the Metz reserve team were crowned champions of the league finishing with 107 points.
For the 2010–11 season, Ngbakoto was reassigned the number 23 shirt by new manager Dominique Bijotat. He made league debut on 27 August 2010 in a league match against AC Ajaccio, which ended 0–0. He started the match and played 90 minutes before being substituted out in injury time.[6] On 18 December, he scored his first professional goal in a 3–0 victory over L'Entente SSG in the Coupe de France.[7]
Queens Park Rangers edit
Ngbakoto signed for English club Queens Park Rangers on 7 August 2016.[8] He scored on his debut for the club against Swindon Town in an EFL Cup tie on 10 August 2016.[9]
Guingamp edit
On 3 January 2018, Ngbakoto signed for French Ligue 1 club Guingamp for an undisclosed fee.[10] He was assigned the number 12 shirt.[11]
Panathinaikos edit
On 1 February 2021, Greek club Panathinaikos have signed DR Congo international Yeni Ngbakoto. Ngbakoto, who was born in France but has played twice for his national team, has signed an 18-month deal which according to Greek media will earn him €400 000.[12]
Nancy edit
On 31 January 2022, Ngbakoto signed with Nancy in Ligue 2 until the end of the season.[13]
Western Sydney Wanderers edit
On 23 June 2022, Ngbakoto joined A-League Men club Western Sydney Wanderers.[14]
In May 2023, it was announced that Ngbakoto was leaving the club at the end of his contract.[15]
Vejle Boldklub edit
On 1 September 2023, Ngbakoto joined Danish Superliga club Vejle Boldklub on a deal until June 2025.[16]
International career edit
Ngbakoto was born in France and is of Congolese and Ivorian descent. Ngbakoto has earned international youth caps with the under-17 and under-18 teams. With the under-17s, he was a regular appearing in 14 matches scoring four goals with his first two coming in a tournament in Austria against Slovakia and the hosts. Ngbakoto scored both his other goals in the qualification process for the 2009 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship. He scored one in the first qualifying round against Scotland[17] and the other in the Elite Round against Belarus converting a penalty.[18] The team later suffered group stage elimination in the tournament with Ngbakoto appearing in all three matches.
With the under-18s, Ngbakoto earned his first appearance in the yearly SBS Cup, held in Japan, against Mexico. He was one of the few underage players for France at the tournament. In the tournament, he scored his only two goals so far against the Shizuoka national team in the second group stage match and the hosts Japan in the final group stage match.
Ngbakoto was called up to the DR Congo national team in March 2017, eligible through heritage.[19] He made his first appearance in a 2–1 friendly loss to Kenya on 26 March 2017.[20][21]
Career statistics edit
Club edit
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Australia[a] | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Metz | 2009–10 | Ligue 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2010–11 | 22 | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | 26 | 4 | |||
| 2011–12 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 24 | 0 | |||
| 2012–13 | Championnat National | 38 | 11 | 5 | 3 | — | 43 | 14 | ||
| 2013–14 | Ligue 2 | 37 | 14 | 2 | 0 | — | 39 | 14 | ||
| 2014–15 | Ligue 1 | 30 | 5 | 5 | 1 | — | 35 | 6 | ||
| 2015–16 | Ligue 2 | 38 | 12 | 4 | 3 | — | 42 | 15 | ||
| Total | 185 | 44 | 25 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 210 | 53 | ||
| Queens Park Rangers | 2016–17 | Championship | 26 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 28 | 4 | |
| 2017–18 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 7 | 1 | |||
| Total | 31 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 5 | ||
| Guingamp | 2017–18 | Ligue 1 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | 17 | 5 | |
| 2018–19 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 2 | — | 19 | 3 | |||
| 2019–20 | Ligue 2 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | 23 | 4 | ||
| 2020–21 | 21 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | 22 | 5 | |||
| Total | 73 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 17 | ||
| Panathinaikos | 2020–21 | Superleague Greece | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | |
| Panathinaikos B | 2021–22 | Super League Greece 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Nancy | 2021–22 | Ligue 2 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 14 | 3 | |
| Western Sydney Wanderers | 2022–23 | A-League Men | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 4 |
| Vejle | 2023–24 | Danish Superliga | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 10 | 4 | |
| Career total | 345 | 70 | 41 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 387 | 86 | ||
International edit
- As of match played 5 June 2017
- Scores and results list DR Congo's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ngbakoto goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 June 2017 | Sports Center of FAR, Rabat, Morocco | 2 |  Botswana |
2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
Honours edit
Guingamp
- Coupe de la Ligue runner-up: 2018–19[24]
Notes edit
- ^ Appearance in the 2022–23 A-League Men finals series.
References edit
- ^ "Retained List 2016-17" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ "Yeni N'Gbakoto signe pour 5 ans". Espoirs du Football. 25 June 2009. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
- ^ "The Premier League today". The Times Online. 24 April 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
- ^ "Premier contrat pour Ngbakoto". FC Metz. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
- ^ "Lyon v. Metz Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel. 13 January 2010. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
- ^ "Ajaccio v. Metz Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel. 27 August 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
- ^ "Coupe de France, 8ème tour". FC Metz. 18 December 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
- ^ "Yeni Ngbakoto: QPR sign Metz forward for an undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- ^ "QPR 2-2 Swindon". BBC Sport. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- ^ "Ngbakoto leaves QPR for Guingamp". English. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
- ^ "Mercato : Yeni Ngbakoto est Guingampais ! - En Avant de Guingamp". En Avant de Guingamp (in French). 3 January 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
- ^ "Στα πράσινα ο Ενγκμπακοτό". www.pao.gr (in Greek). 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ "Ngbakoto en attaque" (Press release) (in French). Nancy. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ "Wanderers secure N'gbakoto". wswanderersfc.com.au. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ "Wanderers confirm four Isuzu UTE A-League departures". Western Sydney Wanderers. 24 May 2023.
- ^ Vejle Boldklub har Yeni N'Gbakoto på plads som klubbens nye angriber, vejle-boldklub.dk, 2 September 2023
- ^ "Scotland v. France Match Report". Union of European Football Associations. 1 October 2008. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
- ^ "France v. Belarus Match Report". Union of European Football Associations. 24 March 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
- ^ "QPR attacker Yeni Ngbakoto looks back on Saturday's 5-1 victory against Rotherham United". Queens Park Rangers. 20 March 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017.
Ngbakoto is thriving under Holloway and the man himself is eager to go from strength-to-strength following the international break, where he'll link up with Congo for the very first time.
- ^ "Léopards : La RDC chute 2-1 en amical face au Kenya". 26 March 2017.
- ^ "Kenya v Congo DR". BBC Sport.
- ^ Yeni Ngbakoto at L'Équipe Football (in French)
- ^ Yeni Ngbakoto at Soccerway. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ Kezzouf, Youmni (31 March 2019). "Strasbourg remporte la Coupe de la Ligue aux tirs au but". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 5 November 2023.
External links edit
- Yeni N'Gbakoto profile at fcmetz.com
- Yeni Ngbakoto – French league stats at LFP – also available in French (archived)
