Christian Kabasele

Christian Kabasele (born 24 February 1991) is a Congolese-born Belgian professional footballer who currently plays as a defender for Watford in the EFL Championship.[2]

Christian Kabasele

Christian Kabasele playing for Ludogorets
Personal information
Full name	Christian Kabasele[1]
Date of birth	(1991-02-24) 24 February 1991
Place of birth	Lubumbashi, Zaire
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position(s)	Centre-back
Club information
Current team	Watford
Number	27
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2011	Eupen	9	(0)
2011	→ Mechelen (loan)	4	(1)
2011–2012	Ludogorets Razgrad	11	(3)
2012–2014	Eupen	41	(6)
2014–2016	Genk	76	(6)
2016–	Watford	90	(4)
National team^‡
2009	Belgium U18	1	(0)
2009–2010	Belgium U19	10	(5)
2010	Belgium U20	1	(0)
2011	Belgium U21	1	(0)
2016–	Belgium	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:41, 18 July 2020 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2018

Club career

Kabasele started his career with Eupen.

On 27 January 2011, Mechelen confirmed Kabasele has joined on loan until the end of the season.[3] He made his debut on 12 February in a 3–1 home win against Westerlo, coming on as a substitute for Jonathan Wilmet.[4] He scored his first league goal for Mechelen in a 2–1 away victory against Lierse on 8 April.[5]

On 22 August 2011, Kabasele joined Bulgarian club Ludogorets Razgrad on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[6][7] On 19 November 2011, he opened his account for Ludogorets, scoring a last-minute goal in a 2–0 home win over Kaliakra Kavarna in an A PFG match.[8]

On 16 August 2012, Kabasele rejoined his first team Eupen on a two-year contract.[9]

On 1 July 2016 he signed for Premier League side Watford for a reported £5.8 million.[10][11] He scored his first goal for Watford in a 3–1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion on 3 December 2016.[12]

In April 2019 Kabasele (and Watford team-mates Adrian Mariappa and Troy Deeney) were subjected to racist comments on social media.[13]

International career

Kabasele was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but moved to Belgium at a young age.[14] Kabasele was named as part of the senior Belgium squad for UEFA Euro 2016.[15] He made his debut for the national team in a friendly against the Netherlands on 9 November 2016.

In May 2018 he was named in Belgium's preliminary squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.[16] However, he did not make the final 23.[17]

Career statistics

As of match played 18 July 2020[18]

Club	Season	League		Cup		Europe		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Eupen	2008–09	3	0	0	0	—		3	0
	2009–10	1	0	0	0	—		1	0
	2010–11	3	0	2	0	—		5	0
	Total	7	0	2	0	0	0	9	0
Mechelen	2010–11	4	1	0	0	—		4	1
	Total	4	1	0	0	0	0	4	1
Ludogorets Razgrad	2011–12	11	3	3	3	—		14	6
	Total	11	3	3	3	0	0	14	6
Eupen	2012–13	26	4	1	0	—		27	4
	2013–14	26	2	4	0	—		30	2
	Total	52	6	5	0	0	0	57	6
Genk	2014–15	34	2	1	0	—		35	2
	2015–16	42	4	4	1	—		46	5
	Total	76	6	5	1	0	0	81	7
Watford	2016–17	16	2	2	1	—		18	3
	2017–18	28	2	1	0	—		29	2
	2018–19	21	0	2[lower-alpha 1]	0	—		23	0
	2019–20	25	0	2[lower-alpha 2]	0	—		27	0
	Total	90	4	7	1	0	0	97	5
Career total		240	20	22	5	0	0	262	25

1. One appearance in FA Cup and one appearance in Carabao Cup
2. Two appearances in EFL Cup

Honours

Ludogorets Razgrad

• Bulgarian A Group: 2011–12
• Bulgarian Cup: 2011–12

Watford

• FA Cup runner-up: 2018–19[19]

References

1. "Squads for 2016/17 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
2. "KRC Genk squad". krcgenk.be. Archived from the original on 2014-01-03.
3. "KV Mechelen finds solution for striker problem" (in Dutch). sporza.be. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
4. "KV Mechelen 3–1 Westerlo". footballzz.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
5. "Lierse 1–2 KV Mechelen". footballzz.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
6. "Лудогорец взе младежки национал на Белгия" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. Archived from the original on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
7. "Belgian national youth player in Ludogorets' offense". ludogorets.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-26. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
8. "Christian Kabasele match log". soccerway.com. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
9. "Christian Kabasele" (in German). as-eupen.be. Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
10. "Troy Deeney, Isaac Success & Christian Kabasele agree Watford deals". BBC Sport. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
11. "Watford confirm transfer of Christian Kabasele from Genk". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
12. "West Brom 3–1 Watford". BBC Sport. 3 December 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
13. "Troy Deeney: Watford captain receives alleged racist abuse on social media". BBC Sport. 8 April 2019.
14. http://www.wdsport.co.uk/2016/08/christian-kabasele-justifies-his-fathers-decision-to-uproot-and-leave-congo/
15. "Euro 2016: Full squads for every country". BBC Sport. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
16. 2018 "World Cup 2018: Belgium announce initial 28-man squad for Russia" Check |url= value (help).
17. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/amp/football/44353673
18. "Christian Kabasele". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
19. McNulty, Phil (18 May 2019). "Manchester City 6–0 Watford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 May 2019.

External links

• Belgium stats at Belgian FA
• Christian Kabasele at Soccerway