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.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 21 February 2000 | ||
| 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 | 24 | (7) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2017–2018 | Sweden U19 | 10 | (0) |
| 2019–2022 | Sweden U21 | 11 | (2) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 October 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:55, 11 June 2022 (UTC) | |||
Club career
editSunderland
editMbunga 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
editOn 27 March 2021, Mbunga-Kimpioka joined National League side Torquay United on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.[7]
AIK
editOn 31 March 2022, Mbunga Kimpioka joined Allsvenskan side AIK for an undisclosed fee.[8]
Luzern
editOn 23 January 2023, Mbunga Kimpioka moved to Luzern in Switzerland on loan with an option to buy.[9]
St Johnstone
editOn 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
editBorn in Sweden, Mbunga Kimpioka is of Congolese and Angolan descent.[12]
Honours
editSunderland
References
edit- ^ "Benjamin Mbunga Kimpioka till Skottland". AIK Fotboll (in Swedish).
- ^ "Sunderland 0 Stoke City U21 0". Sky Sports. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ Benjamin Mbunga Kimpioka at Soccerway
- ^ "Sunderland vs Peterborough". BBC Sport. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- ^ "Sunderland v Carlisle". Chronicle Live. 10 October 2018.
- ^ "Sunderland 1-1 Coventry City". 23 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "Benji Kimpioka joins United on loan". Torquay United FC. 27 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ "Departure: Kimpioka joins AIK Fotboll". Sunderland AFC. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
- ^ "BENJAMIN KIMPIOKA PER SOFORT ZUM FC LUZERN" (in German). FC Luzern. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
- ^ "Benjamin Mbunga Kimpioka till Skottland". AIK Fotboll. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ "St Johnstone sink County in long-awaited away win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Nye U21-stjärnan om Netflixsuccén: "Kameror överallt..."". aftonbladet.se (in Swedish).
- ^ Pilnick, Brent (14 March 2021). "Sunderland 1–0 Tranmere Rovers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 March 2021.