Joel Mumbongo

Joel Ngebany Mumbongo (born 9 January 1999) is a Swedish footballer who plays as a striker for Accrington Stanley on loan from Premier League club Burnley.

Club Career

Youth career

Mumbongo was born in Stockholm, Sweden to parents of Congolese descent, Jonathan and Marie. He has a younger sister Charite who plays elite handball for Kungalv HK. He spent his early days in Biskopsgarden before the family moved to Nodinge-Nol when he was 10 years-old. He started playing youth football for Lundby IF, IF Warta and Nodinge SK. At the age of twelve he used to train with Gothenburg club Orgryte IS after his parents had contacted the youth coach requesting for a trial. As his father worked abroad regularly, the responsibility laid with Mumbongo to make the hour-long bus journey. He was also a gifted sprinter during his teenage years and was ranked as one of the best in his region. Whilst at Orgryte a number of European clubs were beginning to show an interest in Mumbongo. English Premier League side Chelsea contacted his father with the offer of taking Mumbongo on trial, but the trial never materialised. At the age of 15 he went on trial at Manchester City after a Swedish scout had recommended him and was included in an under-16 squad for a tournament in Salzburg. He scored a few goals despite not starting every match but the interest stalled. He subsequently had a short trial at Everton but Mumbongo's father decided that it would be best for his son to finish his studies and play for a top flight club in Sweden. At the age of 16, in the summer of 2015, he left Orgryte to join Hacken. He continued his development in the youth side earning international honours and attracted interest from English clubs again, going on trial with Stoke City and Southampton.

Early career

He never made a first team appearance for Hacken despite making the bench twice in the Allsvenskan and training with the side. He decided to drop down two divisions in February 2018 so he cou