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Axel Tuanzebe

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Axel Tuanzebe
Tuanzebe playing for Manchester United in 2021
Personal information
Full name Axel Tuanzebe[1]
Date of birth (1997-11-14) 14 November 1997 (age 27)[2]
Place of birth Bunia, DR Congo
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[3]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Ipswich Town
Number 40
Youth career
2006–2015 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2023 Manchester United 19 (0)
2018 → Aston Villa (loan) 5 (0)
2018–2019 → Aston Villa (loan) 25 (0)
2021–2022 → Aston Villa (loan) 9 (0)
2022 → Napoli (loan) 1 (0)
2023 → Stoke City (loan) 4 (0)
2023– Ipswich Town 25 (0)
International career‡
2016 England U19 2 (0)
2016–2017 England U20 9 (0)
2017 England U21 1 (0)
2024– DR Congo 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:22, 30 September 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:38, 9 September 2024 (UTC)

Axel Tuanzebe (born 14 November 1997) is a Congolese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Ipswich Town and the DR Congo national team.

Tuanzebe is a graduate of the Manchester United youth system and won both the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year and Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year awards. He made his competitive debut in an FA Cup game against Wigan Athletic in January 2017. He has had three spells on loan at Aston Villa and helped them to win promotion to the Premier League in 2019. After spending time with Napoli in 2022 and Stoke City in 2023, he was released by Manchester United at the end of the 2022–23 season.

Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tuanzebe relocated to England at a young age and represented England at under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels, before opting to represent the DR Congo senior team in 2024.

Club career

[edit]

Manchester United

[edit]

Early years

[edit]
Tuanzebe playing for Manchester United in 2017

Tuanzebe was associated with the Manchester United academy from the age of eight.[4] He was captain of the Milk Cup winning youth side in 2014.[5] In May 2015, Tuanzebe won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award.[6] Academy coach Paul McGuinness noted that Tuanzebe was likely the first first-year scholar to captain the under-18 side since Gary Neville.[7]

On 31 October 2015, at the age of 17, Tuanzebe was named on the substitutes bench for a match against Crystal Palace in the Premier League, the first time he had been a member of a first-team matchday squad.[8][9]

2016–17 season

[edit]

On 29 January 2017, Tuanzebe made his Manchester United debut as a 68th-minute substitute, replacing Timothy Fosu-Mensah during a 4–0 FA Cup victory over Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford.[10] Four days later, he extended his contract at Manchester United until 2020, with the option of a further year.[11] On 7 May 2017, Tuanzebe started a senior match for the first time, in a 2–0 defeat against Arsenal in the Premier League.[12] He won the Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year award in May 2017.[13]

2017–18 season

[edit]

Tuanzebe made his first start of the season against Swansea City in the EFL Cup on 24 October 2017, playing a key part in the second goal of the 2–0 victory.[14] On 5 December 2017, he made his European debut in a 2–1 victory over CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Champions League.[15]

Loans to Aston Villa

[edit]

On 25 January 2018, Tuanzebe joined Championship side Aston Villa on loan for the remainder of the season.[16] However, due to injury problems and the form of preferred centre-backs James Chester and John Terry he was only able to make five appearances before returning to Manchester United.[17] In August 2018, after going on United's pre-season tour to the United States, he joined Aston Villa on loan again for the 2018–19 season.[18] On 27 May 2019, he played the full 90 minutes as Villa achieved promotion to the Premier League in the 2019 EFL Championship play-off final with a victory over Derby County in the final.[19]

2019–20 season

[edit]

In July 2019, Tuanzebe signed a new contract with Manchester United until June 2022, with an option for an additional year.[20] At 21 years old, he became the youngest player to captain United since Norman Whiteside in 1985, during an EFL Cup victory against Rochdale in September 2019.[21] Throughout the first two months of the 2019–20, Tuanzebe established himself as a starting centre back for Manchester United and was due to start the North West Derby in October but suffered a hip injury in the warm up.[22] He made his return in December's EFL Cup victory over Colchester United, but suffered a hamstring injury during the game ruling him out for the remainder of the season.[23]

2020–21 season

[edit]

On 20 October 2020, Tuanzebe started his first game in 10 months, after suffering an ankle injury in pre-season. The game was his UEFA Champions League debut in which Manchester United won 2–1 away against Paris Saint-Germain.[24] Tuanzebe received praise for his match performance, especially his defensive work against Kylian Mbappé and Neymar.[25][26][27] He started his first league game of the season on 27 January 2021, in a 2–1 home defeat to eventual bottom-finishers Sheffield United.[28] On 25 February, he scored what would have been his only goal for Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League against Real Sociedad. However, VAR ruled the goal put due to teammate Victor Lindelöf fouling an opponent during the corner.[29] Tuanzebe played all remaining Europa League games up until and including the final and was a rotation option in the Premier League making 19 appearances in total.

2021–22 season: Aston Villa & Napoli loans

[edit]

After a couple of displays for Manchester United in pre season friendlies, including a 4–2 away defeat at Queens Park Rangers, on 8 August 2021, Tuanzebe signed a new two-year contract with Manchester United, with the option of an extra year; that day, he also agreed to rejoin Aston Villa on loan for the 2021–22 season, his third loan spell with the club.[30][31] On 8 January 2022, Tuanzebe was recalled from his Aston Villa loan, and loaned to Serie A team Napoli.[32][33]

2022–23 season: Stoke City loan

[edit]

Tuanzebe suffered a further injury in the pre-season of 2022–23 season and did not return to training until January. On deadline day of the mid-season transfer window, he joined Stoke City on loan for the remainder of the season.[34] However, continued injury problems restricted him to only five appearances.[35]

Ipswich Town

[edit]

On 8 September 2023, Tuanzebe signed for EFL Championship side Ipswich Town on an initial 12-month contract.[36] On 3 June 2024, Ipswich announced they had extended his contract by 12 months.[37] In October 2024 he suffered an unusual injury when he cut his thumb while washing dishes, requiring surgery in order to save it.[38]

International career

[edit]

Tuanzebe is eligible to represent England or the Democratic Republic of the Congo at international level.[39] He has played youth international football for England at under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels.[40]

Tuanzebe began his international career in June 2016, when he made his first appearance for England at under-19 level, against Mexico.[41] He was a member of the England under-20 squad which won all three matches at the Four Nations tournament in October 2016.[42] Tuanzebe was withdrawn from selection for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup due to club commitments.[43]

On 10 November 2017, Tuanzebe made his debut for England at under-21 level, against Ukraine.[44]

In December 2023, Tuanzebe was pre-called up by the DR Congo national team for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.[45]

Tuanzebe made his debut for the DR Congo national team on 6 June 2024 in a World Cup qualifier against Senegal at the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium. He played the full match as the game ended in a 1–1 draw.[46]

Style of play

[edit]

Tuanzebe's preferred position is at centre-back, but he can also play as a right-back, and has featured as a holding midfielder.[47][48] His playing style has been compared to that of his former Manchester United teammate Eric Bailly and former Spain international Javi Martínez.[49] Tuanzebe's performance on his first-team debut in a friendly against Wigan Athletic in July 2016 led manager José Mourinho to remark, "10 minutes is enough! The potential is there, you see it immediately."[50]

Personal life

[edit]

Tuanzebe was born in Bunia, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[2] He immigrated to England with his family at the age of four.[51] He attended St Cuthbert's RC High School in Rochdale and captained the Year 7 football team to the final of the English National Schools Cup at Stamford Bridge in 2009.[52] In the same year, he was awarded Sports Boy of the Year by the Mayor of Rochdale.[52] He also represented his school in cross-country and triple-jump.[52] He is the younger brother of ex-Clitheroe striker Dimitri Tuanzebe.[53]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played 28 September 2024[2]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Manchester United 2015–16[54] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2016–17[55] Premier League 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
2017–18[56] Premier League 1 0 0 0 1 0 1[c] 0 0 0 3 0
2018–19[57] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2019–20[58] Premier League 5 0 0 0 2 0 3[d] 0 — 10 0
2020–21[2] Premier League 9 0 1 0 1 0 8[e] 0 — 19 0
2021–22[59] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2022–23[60] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 19 0 2 0 4 0 12 0 0 0 37 0
Aston Villa (loan) 2017–18[56] Championship 5 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 5 0
2018–19[57] Championship 25 0 0 0 2 0 — 3[f] 0 30 0
2021–22[59] Premier League 9 0 0 0 2 0 — — 11 0
Total 39 0 0 0 4 0 — 3 0 46 0
Napoli (loan) 2021–22[59] Serie A 1 0 1 0 — 0 0 — 2 0
Stoke City (loan) 2022–23[60] Championship 4 0 1 0 — — — 5 0
Ipswich Town 2023–24[61] Championship 19 0 2 1 1 0 — — 22 1
2024–25[62] Premier League 6 0 0 0 0 0 — — 6 0
Total 25 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 28 1
Career total 88 0 6 1 9 0 12 0 3 0 118 1
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup and Coppa Italia
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ Appearance in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, three appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ Appearances in Championship play-offs

International

[edit]
As of match played 9 September 2024[63]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
DR Congo 2024 3 0
Total 3 0

Honours

[edit]

Manchester United

Aston Villa

Ipswich Town

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Axel Tuanzebe at Soccerway. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  3. ^ Luckhurst, Samuel (29 January 2017). "Who is Axel Tuanzebe? Manchester United youngster in profile as he makes debut vs Wigan". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Axel Tuanzebe player profile page". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  5. ^ "4 Manchester United youngsters who look destined for the first team". FourFourTwo. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  6. ^ a b Mathieson, Stuart (19 May 2015). "David de Gea: I love Manchester United colleagues and fans are best in the world". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Who is Axel Tuanzebe? Profile of Manchester United youngster on loan with Aston Villa". Manchester Evening News. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  8. ^ Magowan, Alistair (31 October 2015). "Crystal Palace 0–0 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Manchester United manager Van Gaal explains why he named Tuanzebe in Crystal Palace squad". Manchester Evening News. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Manchester United 4–0 Wigan Athletic". BBC Sport. 29 January 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  11. ^ "Axel Tuanzebe signs new Manchester United contract". Sky Sports. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  12. ^ Lovett, Samuel (8 May 2017). "Manchester United's Axel Tuanzebe 'chuffed' after making full debut and taking on Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez". The Independent. London. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  13. ^ a b Luckhurst, Samuel (18 May 2017). "Manchester United player Ander Herrera wins Player of the Year award". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  14. ^ Pritchard, Dafydd (24 October 2017). "Swansea City 0–2 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  15. ^ Shamoon, Hafez. "Manchester United 2–1 CSKA Moscow". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  16. ^ "Villa sign Man Utd defender Tuanzebe". BBC Sport. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  17. ^ "Axel Tuanzebe: Aston Villa re-sign Manchester United defender on loan". BBC Sport. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  18. ^ "Manchester United centre-back Axel Tuanzebe joins Aston Villa on loan". Sky Sports. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  19. ^ a b Woodcock, Ian (27 May 2019). "Aston Villa 2–1 Derby County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  20. ^ "Manchester United: Andreas Pereira and Axel Tuanzebe sign new contracts". BBC Sport. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  21. ^ "Ole Gunnar Solskjaer explains why Axel Tuanzebe captained Manchester United". Manchester Evening News. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  22. ^ "Manchester United v Liverpool 20 October Premier League match report | Manchester United".
  23. ^ "Man Utd 3 Colchester 0". www.manutd.com.
  24. ^ "Match report: PSG 1 Man Utd 2". www.manutd.com.
  25. ^ "How Axel Tuanzebe delivered a flawless return to action against PSG | Manchester United".
  26. ^ "Why Axel Tuanzebe's performance in Paris should not come as a surprise". The Independent. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  27. ^ "A forgotten 22-year-old who hasn't played in nearly a year was the unlikely star as Manchester United produced a shock Champions League win over PSG". Business Insider.
  28. ^ "Match report: Manchester United 1 Sheffield Utd 2 | Manchester United".
  29. ^ "Report: United 0 Real Sociedad 0". www.manutd.com.
  30. ^ Robinson, Harry (8 August 2021). "Tuanzebe signs new deal and goes on loan". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  31. ^ "Aston Villa re-sign Tuanzebe on loan". BBC Sport. 8 August 2021.
  32. ^ "Il Napoli ufficializza l'arrivo di Tuanzebe con la formula del prestito". sscnapoli.it (in Italian). S.S.C. Napoli. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  33. ^ "New loan move for Tuanzebe". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  34. ^ "Tuanzebe makes it five". Stoke City. February 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  35. ^ "Easy Man United contract decision is complicated one for Stoke City". Stoke Sentinel. May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  36. ^ "Town sign Tuanzebe". Ipswich Town F.C. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  37. ^ FC, Ipswich Town (3 June 2024). "RETAINED LIST CONFIRMED". Ipswich Town FC. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  38. ^ Nick Ames (8 October 2024), Ipswich’s Axel Tuanzebe faces layoff after freak accident while washing up, The Guardian
  39. ^ "Bolasie & Abraham can fire Aston Villa back to the Premier League". ESPN. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  40. ^ "Axel Tuanzebe". besoccer.com. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  41. ^ Marshall, Adam (7 June 2016). "Tuanzebe primed for first international tournament with England". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  42. ^ "England Under-20s win mini-tournament after 2–0 win over USA". The Football Association. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  43. ^ "Man United's Axel Tuanzebe left out of England U20 World Cup squad". ESPN. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  44. ^ "Ukraine U21 0–2 England U21". BBC Sport. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  45. ^ "AFCON 2023 - PROVISIONAL SQUADS LIST" (PDF). p. 11.
  46. ^ "Senegal v DR Congo game report". ESPN. 6 June 2024.
  47. ^ Ducker, James (9 May 2017). "Axel Tuanzebe out of England U-20 squad as Mourinho wants him to play more for Man Utd". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  48. ^ Marshall, Adam (25 May 2017). "Axel Tuanzebe is coming of age at United". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  49. ^ Tighe, Sam (14 September 2016). "Manchester United's Axel Tuanzebe Has Hallmarks of Eric Bailly and Javi Martinez". Bleacher Report. Turner. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  50. ^ Bajkowski, Simon (16 July 2016). "Mourinho praises Manchester United youngster Tuanzebe for his EIGHT minutes against Wigan". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  51. ^ "Manchester United starlet Axel Tuanzebe out to prove he has come of age during Aston Villa loan". Express & Star. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  52. ^ a b c Luckhurst, Samuel (11 November 2015). "Manchester United youngster Axel Tuanzebe 'born for greatness'". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  53. ^ Luckhurst, Samuel (29 January 2017). "Who is Axel Tuanzebe? Manchester United youngster in profile". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  54. ^ "Games played by Axel Tuanzebe in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  55. ^ "Games played by Axel Tuanzebe in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  56. ^ a b "Games played by Axel Tuanzebe in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  57. ^ a b "Games played by Axel Tuanzebe in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  58. ^ "Games played by Axel Tuanzebe in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  59. ^ a b c "Games played by Axel Tuanzebe in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  60. ^ a b "Games played by Axel Tuanzebe in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  61. ^ "Games played by Axel Tuanzebe in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  62. ^ "Games played by Axel Tuanzebe in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  63. ^ "Axel Tuanzebe: Internationals". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  64. ^ McNulty, Phil (24 May 2017). "Ajax 0–2 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
    "Ajax v Manchester United – UEFA Europa League Final". Getty Images. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  65. ^ Stone, Simon (26 May 2021). "Villarreal 1–1 Manchester United (11–10 on pens): David de Gea spot kick saved in epic Europa League final shootout". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  66. ^ "We Are Premier League!". 4 May 2024.
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