Ikoma-Loïs Openda (born 16 February 2000) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Ligue 1 club Lens and the Belgium national team.[3]
![]() Openda in 2019 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Ikoma-Loïs Openda[1] | ||
Date of birth | (2000-02-16) 16 February 2000 (age 22) | ||
Place of birth | Liège, Belgium | ||
Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Striker | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Lens | ||
Number | 11 | ||
Youth career | |||
2008–2011 | Patro Othee FC | ||
2011–2013 | RFC Liège | ||
2013–2015 | Standard Liège | ||
2015–2018 | Club Brugge | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2018–2022 | Club Brugge | 35 | (4) |
2020–2022 | → Vitesse (loan) | 66 | (28) |
2022– | Lens | 15 | (7) |
National team‡ | |||
2015 | Belgium U16 | 4 | (3) |
2016–2017 | Belgium U17 | 17 | (4) |
2017 | Belgium U18 | 6 | (1) |
2018–2019 | Belgium U19 | 10 | (7) |
2019– | Belgium U21 | 15 | (13) |
2022– | Belgium | 5 | (2) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:10, 12 November 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:55, 18 November 2022 (UTC) |
Openda played as a youth for Patro Othee FC and RFC Liège before joining the youth academy of Standard Liège.[4] In 2015, he moved to the academy of Club Brugge, where he made his senior debut on 10 August 2018 in the Belgian Pro League against Kortrijk. Openda replaced Jelle Vossen after 80 minutes.[5]
On 21 July 2020, Openda joined Dutch Eredivisie club Vitesse on a season-long loan deal.[6][7][4] He scored his first goal for the club on 3 October, in a 3–0 win over Heracles Almelo.[8] Vitesse reached the final of the KNVB Cup, but lost 1–2 to Ajax. Openda scored the only goal for the Arnhem-based team.[9][10] In June 2021, Openda rejoined Vitesse on loan for another season.[11]
On 6 July 2022, Lens announced the signing of Openda on a five year deal from Club Brugge.[12]
On 18 May 2022 Openda was named to the squad for the four 2022–23 UEFA Nations League matches on 3, 8, 10 and 13 June 2022 against Netherlands, Poland (twice) and Wales respectively. He played again against Wales in the UEFA Nations League on 13 September 2022.[13]
Openda was born in Belgium and is of Moroccan[14] and Congolese descent.[15]
Club Brugge
RC Lens – current squad | |
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Belgium squad – 2022 FIFA World Cup | ||
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