Paul Kalambayi

Paul Mbwebwe Mbiya-Kalambayi (born 9 July 1999) is an English professional football central defender who plays for AFC Wimbledon.

Paul Kalambayi
Kalambayi after an AFC Wimbledon U18 match in 2016.
Personal information
Full name Paul Mbwebwe Mbiya-Kalambayi[1]
Date of birth (1999-07-09) 9 July 1999
Place of birth Dulwich, England
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Playing position(s) Central defender
Club information
Current team
 AFC Wimbledon
Number 30
Youth career
Dulwich Village
Evolution Sports & Health Academy
0000–2015 Brentford
2015–2016 AFC Wimbledon
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016– AFC Wimbledon 32 (0)
2018 → Tonbridge Angels (loan) 7 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:21, 23 June 2020 (UTC)

Career

AFC Wimbledon

Early years (2015–2018)

After spells with Dulwich Village, Evolution Sports & Health Academy and Brentford,[3] Kalambayi joined the academy at League Two club AFC Wimbledon in 2015.[4] Despite being age 16, his rate of development saw him feature for the Development Squad before the end of 2015 and he was rewarded his first professional contract in February 2016.[4][5] During the remainder of the 2015–16 season, Kalambayi was an unused substitute on two occasions with the first team squad.[2] After the Dons' promotion to League One for the 2016–17 season, he was named in the first team squad list and was an unused substitute during two of the season's matches.[2][6]

Kalambayi received his first call-up of the 2017–18 season as a substitute for an EFL Trophy group stage match versus Barnet and made his senior debut when he replaced Callum Kennedy after 66 minutes of the 4–3 victory.[7] He made one further EFL Trophy appearance during the season and spent a month on loan at Isthmian League Premier Division club Tonbridge Angels.[7][8]

Breakthrough (2018–present)

Kalambayi was named as the Development Squad captain for the 2018–19 season and his EFL debut came with a start in a 2–1 defeat to Portsmouth on New Year's Day 2019.[9][10] The match kicked off a run of five consecutive starting appearances before manager Wally Downes imposed a rest break on him.[11][12] Kalambayi made 19 appearances during the 2018–19 season and helped the Dons preserve their League One status on the final day.[10][13] He signed a new contract in June 2019 and was a near ever-present during the first four months of the 2019–20 season,[14][15] before rupturing ankle ligaments.[16]

Personal life

Kalambayi attended The Charter School.[17]

Career statistics
As of match played 7 March 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
AFC Wimbledon 2015–16[18] League Two 0000000000
2016–17[19] League One 0000000000
2017–18[7] 0000002[lower-alpha 1]020
2018–19[10] 17010001[lower-alpha 1]0190
2019–20[15] 15020103[lower-alpha 1]0210
Total 320301060420
Tonbridge Angels (loan) 2017–18[20] Isthmian League Premier Division 40———40
Career total 360301060460
  1. Appearances in EFL Trophy

References
  1. "EFL CLUB LIST OF REGISTERED PLAYERS AS AT 20th MAY 2017" (PDF). p. 43. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  2. Paul Kalambayi at Soccerway. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  3. "Evolution Sports & Health Academy – Academy Players Produced". Evolution Sports & Health Academy. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  4. Slavin, Chris. "Paul commits to the club". Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  5. "Paul set to face Southend". Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  6. "Squad numbers for 2016/17". Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  7. "Games played by Paul Kalambayi in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  8. "Young Dons Defender Becomes An Angel For A Month – Pitchero Non-League". Pitchero Non-League. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  9. "Coaching tips had Paul ready for surprise call-up". www.afcwimbledon.co.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  10. "Games played by Paul Kalambayi in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  11. "Paul Kalambayi Player Profile – ESPN FC". www.espnfc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  12. "AFC Wimbledon set to hand new deal to impressive teen centre-back". South London News. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  13. "Bradford City 0–0 AFC Wimbledon: Dons survive after goalless draw". BBC Sport. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  14. "Home-grown Dons defender rewarded with new contract". AFC Wimbledon. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  15. "Games played by Paul Kalambayi in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  16. "Glyn backs young team to rise to the challenge against Oxford". www.afcwimbledon.co.uk. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  17. "Best ever GCSE results". www.charter.southwark.sch.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  18. "Games played by Paul Kalambayi in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  19. "Games played by Paul Kalambayi in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  20. "Paul Kalambayi – Angels First Team – Tonbridge Angels". www.tonbridgeangelsonline.co.uk. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
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