Anthony Limbombe
{{short description|Belgian footballer (born 1994)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Anthony Limbombe
| fullname = Anthony Limbombe Ekango
| image =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|7|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Mechelen, Belgium
| height = 1.77 m
| currentclub = Beveren
| clubnumber = 10
| youthyears1 = 2000–2005
| youthclubs1 = Mechelen
| youthyears2 = 2005–2010
| youthclubs2 = Genk
| years1 = 2010–2014
| clubs1 = Genk
| caps1 = 51
| goals1 = 2
| years2 = 2014
| clubs2 = → Lierse (loan)
| caps2 = 6
| goals2 = 2
| years3 = 2014–2016
| clubs3 = NEC
| caps3 = 65
| goals3 = 21
| years4 = 2016–2018
| clubs4 = Club Brugge
| caps4 = 42
| goals4 = 6
| years5 = 2018–2022
| clubs5 = Nantes
| caps5 = 33
| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2019
| clubs6 = → Standard Liège (loan)
| caps6 = 6
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2022
| clubs7 = Nantes II
| caps7 = 1
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2022–2023
| clubs8 = Almere City
| caps8 = 40
| goals8 = 8
| years9 = 2023–
| clubs9 = Beveren
| caps9 = 36
| goals9 = 7
| nationalyears1 = 2009–2010
| nationalteam1 = Belgium U16
| nationalcaps1 = 11
| nationalgoals1 = 4
| nationalyears2 = 2010
| nationalteam2 = Belgium U17
| nationalcaps2 = 8
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2012–2013
| nationalteam3 = Belgium U19
| nationalcaps3 = 6
| nationalgoals3 = 2
| nationalyears4 = 2018
| nationalteam4 = Belgium
| nationalcaps4 = 1
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| club-update = 16 January 2025
}}
Anthony Limbombe Ekango (born 15 July 1994) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a winger or forward for Challenger Pro League club Beveren.{{cite news|title=Anthony Limbombe|url=http://www.nec-nijmegen.nl/selectie/overzicht/160336_anthony-limbombe|access-date=30 August 2014|newspaper=NEC Nijmegen|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141122104650/http://www.nec-nijmegen.nl/selectie/overzicht/160336_anthony-limbombe|archive-date=22 November 2014|url-status=dead}}
Club career
=Racing Genk=
Born in Mechelen, Limbombe began his youth career with Mechelen in 2000. In 2005, he joined Belgian Pro League side Racing Genk. He made his first team debut at the age of 16 in a 3–1 victory at Lokeren on 18 September 2010.{{cite news|title=Genk 3–1 Lokeren|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2010/09/18/belgium/pro-league/krc-genk/sporting-lokeren-oost-vlaanderen/942700/|access-date=28 July 2011|newspaper=Soccerway.com}} He also played for Genk in the Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. During his career with Racing Genk he won the Belgian Pro League in 2010–11 season, and he also won the Belgian Super Cup in 2011, in total he scored 2 goals in 62 League appearances.
For the second half of the 2013–14 season, Limbombe was sent on loan to Lierse SK where he scored 2 goals in 7 games.
=NEC Nijmegen=
On 30 August 2014, he signed with Eerste Divisie side N.E.C on a three-year deal with the option of a fourth year. He impressed in his first season at the club, scoring 14 goals and providing numerous assists in his debut season at the club, helping N.E.C. win the Eerste Divisie as champions and gain promotion to Eredivisie.
On 12 August 2015, Limbombe played for N.E.C. against Excelsior in the opening day of the 2015–16 Eredivisie season in a 1–0 victory.{{cite news|publisher= Sky Sports | date= 12 August 2015 | access-date= 12 August 2015 | title= NEC 1–0 Excelsior | url=http://www.skysports.com/football/nec-vs-excelsior/339193}} A day later, NEC rejected a £1.5 million bid from English side Leeds United for Limbombe.{{cite news|publisher= Leeds United Official site | date= 13 August 2015 | access-date= 13 August 2015 | title= Leeds United consider next move after £1.5m bid for Belgian winger rejected| url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-lufc-news/leeds-united-consider-next-move-after-1-5m-bid-for-belgian-winger-rejected-1-7407098}} On 22 August, the club announced that Limbombe had been left out of the squad against Ajax due to deeming him 'insufficiently focused' after the interest linking him with Leeds United.{{cite news|publisher= NEC Nijmegen Official site | date= 22 August 2015 | access-date= 22 August 2015 | title= Limbombe buiten selectie bij N.E.C. – Ajax| url=http://www.nec-nijmegen.nl/home/11572_limbombe-buiten-selectie-bij-n-e-c-ajax}} However, on 1 September, Leeds ended their interest in Limbombe after failing to up the bid, signing winger Jordan Botaka from Dutch Club Excelsior instead.{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-lufc-news/leeds-united-botaka-delight-at-joining-whites-1-7439291|access-date =2 September 2015|date=2 September 2015|publisher=Yorkshire Evening Post|title=Leeds United: Botaka delight at joining Whites}}
After impressing during the 2015–16 season, scoring 7 goals and gaining 7 assists in the Eredivisie, on 1 June 2016, Limbombe amid further interest again from English side Leeds United, handed in a transfer request at NEC.{{cite news|url=http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/675946/Leeds-United-Transfer-News-Anthony-Limbombe-Transfer-Request-NEC-Dutch-Eredivisie|access-date =1 June 2016|date=1 June 2016|publisher=Sunday Express|title=Leeds £1m target hands in transfer request: Agent reveals 'interest from England'}} However, Leeds were again unable to agree on a fee with N.E.C for the player.{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-target-limbombe-set-to-join-brugge-1-8028495|access-date =22 July 2016|date=26 July 2018|publisher=Yorkshire Evening Post|title=Leeds United target Limbombe set to join Brugge}}
=Club Brugge=
On 23 July 2016, Limbombe returned to Belgium to join Club Brugge on a four-year deal for a fee around the margin of £2 million.{{Cite news |title=Limbombe heading to Club Brugge |url=http://www.football-oranje.com/limbombe-heading-club-brugge/ |publisher=Football Oranje |date=23 July 2016 |access-date=27 July 2016}}
=Nantes=
On 23 August 2018, Limbombe joined French side Nantes on a five-year deal for a fee around the margin of €7 million.{{Cite news |title=Transferts : Anthony Limbombé signe au FC Nantes (officiel) |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Transferts-anthony-limbombe-signe-au-fc-nantes-officiel/933001 |publisher=L'Équipe |date=23 August 2018 |access-date=23 August 2018}}
== Loan to Standard Liège ==
On 26 June 2019, Limbombe joined Belgian side Standard Liège on a one-year loan. His new club secured an option to sign him permanently.{{cite web |title=Anthony Limbombe speelt volgend seizoen in het shirt van Standard |url=https://sporza.be/nl/2019/06/26/limbombe-standard/ |website=sporza |access-date=27 June 2019 |language=nl |date=26 June 2019}} After scoring in his first match for the club, he suffered a knee injury in October.{{cite news |title=Anthony Limbombe revient officiellement à Nantes |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Anthony-limbombe-revient-officiellement-a-nantes/1092064 |access-date=19 January 2020 |work=L'Équipe |date=20 December 2019 |language=fr}} In December 2019, it was announced that Limbombe's loan at Standard Liège would be cut short and that he would return to Nantes in January.
== Return to Nantes ==
Limbombe made no appearances on the field for Nantes in the 2020–21 and 2021–22 season. On 4 April 2022, his contract was terminated by mutual consent.{{cite press release|publisher=FC Nantes|url=https://www.fcnantes.com/articles/article2809.php?num=39710|title=ANTHONY LIMBOMBE QUITTE LE FC NANTES|date=4 April 2022|access-date=4 April 2022|language=fr}}
=Almere City=
On 26 June 2022, Limbombe signed a two-year contract with Eerste Divisie club Almere City.{{cite web |title=Almere City FC verrast met Nederlandse terugkeer Anthony Limbombe |url=https://almerecity.nl/almere-city-1/almere-city-fc-haalt-anthony-limbombe-terug-naar-nederland/ |website=Almere City FC |access-date=4 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626173816/https://almerecity.nl/almere-city-1/almere-city-fc-haalt-anthony-limbombe-terug-naar-nederland/ |archive-date=26 June 2022 |language=nl |date=26 June 2022 |url-status=live}}
=Beveren=
On 6 September 2023, Limbombe moved to Beveren on a two-season contract.{{cite web|publisher=Beveren|url=https://www.skbeveren.be/2023/09/welkom-anthony/|title=WELKOM OP DE FREETHIEL, ANTHONY LIMBOMBE!|trans-title=WELCOME TO THE FREETHIEL, ANTHONY LIMBOMBE!|date=6 September 2023|access-date=9 September 2023|language=nl}}
International career
Limbombe was born in Belgium to Congolese parents, and is eligible to represent either nation.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ducorsports.com/between-finding-his-roots-and-playing-overseas-could-anthony-limbombe-choose-to-represent-dr-congo/ |title=Between Finding His Roots and Playing Overseas, Could Anthony Limbombe Choose to Represent DR Congo? | Ducor Sports |access-date=31 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331173447/http://www.ducorsports.com/between-finding-his-roots-and-playing-overseas-could-anthony-limbombe-choose-to-represent-dr-congo/ |archive-date=31 March 2018 |url-status=dead }} He represented Belgium at U16 international level and has played at Belgium U17 level. In 2012, he was capped for Belgium U19's.
He was named in the Roberto Martinez Belgian squad for the friendly against Saudi Arabia in Brussels on 27 March 2018.{{Cite web |url=https://www.aol.co.uk/sport/2018/03/16/limbombe-gets-first-belgium-call-nainggolan-back-in-the-squad |title=Limbombe gets first Belgium call, Nainggolan back in the squad - AOL UK Sport |access-date=20 March 2018 |archive-date=21 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321063426/https://www.aol.co.uk/sport/2018/03/16/limbombe-gets-first-belgium-call-nainggolan-back-in-the-squad/ |url-status=dead }} He made his debut in a 4–0 win against Saudi Arabia, as he was subbed in at half-time.{{Cite web|url=http://static.belgianfootball.be/project/publiek/rencinter/en/wed_9912.htm|title = Internationale wedstrijden - KBVB}}
Personal life
Anthony is the older brother of the footballer Bryan and the younger brother of the footballer Stallone Limbombe.{{cite web|url=http://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20161103_02554626|title=Antwerp-manager Bico geeft speler draai om de oren|last=lvdw|date=4 November 2016 }}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 16 December 2023}}{{cite web |title=Anthony Limbombe » Club matches |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/anthony-limbombe/2/ |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=23 August 2018}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Belgian Cup, KNVB Cup, Coupe de France}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Coupe de la Ligue}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|Genk
|11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=BCH|Appearances in Belgian Pro League Championship playoff}} | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12
|Pro League |17 | 1 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 4{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | 7{{efn|name=BCH}} | 0 | 30 | 2 | ||
| 2012–13
|Pro League |8 | 1 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 3{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 1{{efn|name=BCH}} | 0 | 16 | 2 | ||
| 2013–14
|Pro League |15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 5{{efn|name=UEL}} | 1 | 1{{efn|name=BSC|Appearances in Belgian Super Cup}} | 0 | 24 | 1 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!51 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 86 | 5 | |
| rowspan="1"|Lierse (loan)
|Pro League |6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name=BCH2|Appearances in Belgian Pro League Europa League playoff}} | 0 | 7 | 2 | |||
| rowspan="3"|NEC Nijmegen
|33 | 14 | 3 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 16 | ||||
| 2015–16
|32 | 7 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 7 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!65 | 21 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 23 | |
| rowspan="3"|Club Brugge
|15 | 0 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 0 | 8{{efn|name=BCH}} | 0 | 29 | 1 | ||
| 2017–18
|First Division A |27 | 6 | 5 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | 5{{efn|name=BCH}} | 0 | 39 | 6 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!42 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 68 | 7 | |
| rowspan="5"|Nantes
|29 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 33 | 3 | |||
| 2019–20
|Ligue 1 |4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 1 | |||
| 2020–21
|Ligue 1 |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2021–22
|Ligue 1 |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!33 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 38 | 4 | |||
| Standard Liège (loan)
|2019–20{{efn|name=COV|Season curtailed due to COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium}} |First Division A |6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||
| Nantes II
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|Almere City
|Eerste Divisie |31 | 6 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 6{{efn|name=PO|Appearances in Eredivisie promotion/relegation playoffs}} | 2 | 39 | 8 | |||
| 2023–24
|Eredivisie |3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | |||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!34 | 6 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 2 | 42 | 8 | |||
| Beveren
|12 | 4 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 15 | 4 | ||||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!250 | 44 | 33 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 32 | 2 | 334 | 54 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Racing Genk
NEC
Individual
- Ebony Shoe: 2018{{cite web|url=https://www.firstorderhistorians.com/2018/05/15/and-yet-a-prize-for-a-club-player-ebony-shoe-goes-to-anthony-limbombe/|title=And yet a prize for a Club player: Ebony Shoe goes to Anthony Limbombe|publisher=First Order Historians|access-date=12 July 2019|archive-date=10 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210153553/https://www.firstorderhistorians.com/2018/05/15/and-yet-a-prize-for-a-club-player-ebony-shoe-goes-to-anthony-limbombe/|url-status=dead}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|anthony-limbombe/154152}}
- {{UEFA}}
- {{RBFA player|PH_6008}}
{{S.K. Beveren squad}}
{{Ebony Shoe}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Limbombe, Anthony}}
Category:Footballers from Mechelen
Category:Belgian men's footballers
Category:Belgium men's international footballers
Category:Belgium men's youth international footballers
Category:Belgian sportspeople of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:K.V. Mechelen players
Category:Club Brugge KV players
Category:Standard Liège players
Category:Almere City FC players
Category:Belgian Pro League players
Category:Eerste Divisie players
Category:Championnat National 2 players
Category:Belgian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands
Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France