Kundai Leroy Jeremiah Benyu (born 12 December 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for ÍBV. Born in England, he represents Zimbabwe at international level.
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Kundai Leroy Jeremiah Benyu[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1997-12-12) 12 December 1997 (age 24)[2] | ||
Place of birth | Camden Town, England | ||
Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | ÍBV | ||
Youth career | |||
2007–2016 | Ipswich Town | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2016–2017 | Ipswich Town | 0 | (0) |
2016–2017 | → Aldershot Town (loan) | 23 | (5) |
2017–2020 | Celtic | 1 | (0) |
2017–2018 | → Oldham Athletic (loan) | 4 | (0) |
2019 | → Helsingborg (loan) | 10 | (1) |
2020–2021 | Wealdstone | 12 | (0) |
2021 | Vestri | 16 | (0) |
2022– | ÍBV | 2 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2017– | Zimbabwe | 5 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 August 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 January 2022 |
Benyu was born to Zimbabwean parents on 12 December 1997 in Camden Town, London. He grew up in Harlow, Essex.[3]
Benyu joined Ipswich Town at the age of nine,[3] signing his first professional contract after turning 17.[4]
On 7 December 2016, Benyu joined Aldershot Town on a one-month loan deal.[5] The loan was subsequently extended several times, allowing Benyu to finish the 2016–17 season with the National League side.[6][7][8][9]
On 29 June 2017, it was announced that Benyu had signed a four-year contract with Celtic.[10] The midfielder scored on his first appearance for the club's development squad, in a pre-season friendly against East Kilbride.[11] Benyu made his competitive debut in Celtic's 4–0 victory over Linfield at Celtic Park.[12]
On 6 January 2018, Benyu joined Oldham Athletic on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season.[13] He made his league debut for the club on 13 January 2018 in a 1–1 home draw with Rotherham United. He was subbed off in the 74th minute, and replaced by Aaron Amadi-Holloway.[14]
Benyu joined Swedish club Helsingborg on a season-long loan in February 2019.[15]
Benyu signed for Wealdstone on 2 October 2020.[16] On 19 February 2021, Benyu departed by mutual consent after making twelve league appearances for the club.[17]
In February 2021, he has moved to Icelandic 1. deild side Vestri.[18] In May 2022, he moved up a division to join Besta-deild karla side ÍBV.[19]
Benyu's impressive performances for Aldershot Town earned him international recognition, receiving a call-up from Zimbabwe for their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia.[20]
He made his full international Zimbabwe debut in a 1–0 defeat to Lesotho in Maseru on 8 November 2017.[21]
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Ipswich Town | 2014–15 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2015–16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
2016–17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Aldershot Town (loan) | 2016–17 | National League | 22 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 25 | 5 | |
Celtic | 2017–18 | Scottish Premiership | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 4 | 0 |
2018–19 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2019–20 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
Oldham Athletic (loan) | 2017–18 | League One | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Helsingborg (loan) | 2019 | Allsvenskan | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | |
Wealdstone | 2020–21 | National League | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
Vestri | 2021 | 1. deild karla | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
Career total | 25 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 73 | 6 |
Zimbabwe squad – 2021 Africa Cup of Nations | ||
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