Albert-Mboyo Sambi Lokonga (born 22 October 1999) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Arsenal and the Belgium national team. Sambi Lokonga came through Anderlecht's youth academy and made his senior debut with the club in 2017.
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Albert-Mboyo Sambi Lokonga[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1999-10-22) 22 October 1999 (age 23) | ||
Place of birth | Verviers, Liège, Belgium | ||
Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Arsenal | ||
Number | 23 | ||
Youth career | |||
2010–2017 | Anderlecht | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2017–2021 | Anderlecht | 69 | (3) |
2021– | Arsenal | 25 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2016 | Belgium U17 | 1 | (0) |
2018 | Belgium U19 | 1 | (0) |
2019–2020 | Belgium U21 | 6 | (2) |
2021– | Belgium | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:10, 1 October 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:55, 2 September 2021 (UTC) |
Having first joined their youth academy in 2010,[2] Sambi Lokonga signed his first professional contract with Anderlecht on 10 November 2017.[3] He made his professional debut for Anderlecht in a 1–0 Belgian First Division A win over Eupen on 22 December 2017.[4] In November 2019, Sambi Lokonga extended his contract with the club until 2023. On 27 September 2020, he scored the first goal of his senior career as Anderlecht drew 1–1 with Eupen.[5]
On 19 July 2021, Sambi Lokonga signed a long-term contract with English club Arsenal after completing an approximately £17.2 million transfer, subject to the completion of regulatory processes.[6][7][8] Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was impressed with Sambi Lokonga, citing his intelligence and maturity for a young player.[8] Sambi Lokonga made his debut in a 2−0 away loss against Brentford.[9]
Having previously played for Belgium at Belgium U17, Belgium U19 and Belgium U21 levels,[10] Sambi Lokonga was called up to the senior Belgium squad in March 2021.[11] He made his debut on 2 September 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against Estonia, a 5–2 away victory. He substituted Eden Hazard in the 74th minute.[12]
Sambi Lokonga was involved in the Amazon Original sports docuseries All or Nothing: Arsenal, which documented the club by spending time with the coaching staff and players behind the scenes both on and off the field throughout their 2021–22 season.[13][14]
Sambi Lokonga was born in Belgium and is of Congolese descent, and his brother Paul-José M'Poku is also a professional footballer.[15] He grew up in Verviers.[2]
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Anderlecht | 2017–18[16] | Belgian Pro League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
2018–19[16] | Belgian Pro League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |||
2019–20[16] | Belgian Pro League | 23 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 26 | 0 | ||||
2020–21[16] | Belgian Pro League | 33 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 37 | 3 | ||||
Total | 69 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 3 | ||
Arsenal | 2021–22 | Premier League | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 0 | ||
2022–23 | Premier League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | ||
Total | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0 | ||
Career total | 94 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 115 | 3 |
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
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Belgium | 2021 | 1 | 0 |
Total | 1 | 0 |
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Arsenal F.C. – current squad | |
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