Jeremy Mpobi Ngakia (born 7 September 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a right-back for EFL Championship club Watford.

Jeremy Ngakia
Personal information
Full name Jeremy Mpobi Ngakia[1]
Date of birth (2000-09-07) 7 September 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Deptford, London, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.84 m)[2]
Position(s) Right back
Team information
Current team
Watford
Number 2
Youth career
Ballers Football Academy
2014–2019 West Ham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 West Ham United 5 (0)
2020– Watford 71 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 August 2024

Career

edit

Youth career

edit

Born in Deptford, south London, Ngakia had a trial with Chelsea's academy before joining West Ham United at the age of 14 after being scouted by West Ham academy goalkeeping coach Jerome John after being recommended by Surrey Quays-based youth club Ballers Football Academy.[3][4] Ngakia made his under-18 debut for West Ham during the 2016–17 season and later made his under-23 debut in February 2018.[5]

West Ham United

edit

On 29 January 2020, Ngakia made his debut for West Ham in a 2–0 Premier League loss against Liverpool.[6]

In June 2020, with his contract due to finish at the end of the month, Ngakia turned down the offer of an extension leaving him available on a free transfer when his current contract ends.[7] West Ham later confirmed his departure at the end of June 2020.[8] Ngakia's last appearance for West Ham was the 2–0 Premier League defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 20 June 2020 with West Ham still having seven games remaining in their 2019–20 campaign.[9]

Watford

edit

Ngakia signed for Championship side Watford on 14 August 2020 on a four-year contract.[10] He made his debut on the opening day of the 2020–21 season, 11 September 2020, in a 1–0 home win against Middlesbrough.[11] On 23 May 2024, the club announced he had signed a three-year extension.[12]

Personal life

edit

Born in England, Ngakia is of Congolese descent.[13]

Career statistics

edit
As of match played 17 August 2024[14]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
West Ham United 2019–20 Premier League 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Total 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Watford 2020–21 Championship 25 0 1 0 0 0 26 0
2021–22 Premier League 16 0 1 0 2 0 19 0
2022–23 Championship 14 0 0 0 0 0 14 0
2023–24 Championship 14 0 0 0 1 0 15 0
2024–25 Championship 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 71 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 76 0
Career total 76 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 81 0

References

edit
  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Watford" (PDF). English Football League. p. 73. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Jeremy Ngakia". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  3. ^ Inkersole, Sam (29 January 2020). "Who is Jeremy Ngakia? The teenager thrown in for West Ham debut vs Liverpool". footballlondon.
  4. ^ "'Spurs changed full-back three times' – Ngakia: from wing to right-back to star?". The Athletic. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Jeremy Ngakia". West Ham United F.C. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  6. ^ "West Ham United 0–2 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  7. ^ Steinberg, Jacob (7 June 2020). "West Ham's Jeremy Ngakia will not sign deal to see out Premier League season". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
  8. ^ "West Ham: Pablo Zabaleta, Carlos Sanchez and Jeremy Ngakia to leave on 30 June". BBC Sport. 25 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Jeremy Ngakia set to link up with Watford after leaving West Ham". The Guardian. 31 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Jeremy Ngakia: Watford sign right-back following his release by West Ham United". BBC Sport. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Cathcart header gets battling Hornets off to a winning start". Watford Observer. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  12. ^ "Watford: Jeremy Ngakia signs new deal as Jake Livermore among trio released". BBC Sport. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Angleterre : Jeremy Ngakia, ce jeune congolais qui gagne du terrain à West Ham" (in French). 2 March 2020.
  14. ^ Jeremy Ngakia at Soccerway