Kazenga LuaLua
{{Short description|Congolese footballer}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Kazenga LuaLua
| image = Kazenga Lua Lua.jpg
| image_size = 150
| caption = LuaLua with Brighton & Hove Albion in 2011
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|12|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = Kinshasa, Zaire
| height = {{height|m=1.80|precision=0}}
| position = Winger
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2005–2007
| youthclubs1 = Newcastle United
| years1 = 2007–2011
| clubs1 = Newcastle United
| caps1 = 8
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2009
| clubs2 = → Doncaster Rovers (loan)
| caps2 = 4
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2010
| clubs3 = → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan)
| caps3 = 11
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2010
| clubs4 = → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan)
| caps4 = 11
| goals4 = 4
| years5 = 2011
| clubs5 = → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan)
| caps5 = 9
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2011–2018
| clubs6 = Brighton & Hove Albion
| caps6 = 127
| goals6 = 13
| years7 = 2017
| clubs7 = → Queens Park Rangers (loan)
| caps7 = 11
| goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2017
| clubs8 = → Queens Park Rangers (loan)
| caps8 = 8
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2018
| clubs9 = Sunderland
| caps9 = 6
| goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2018–2019
| clubs10 = Luton Town
| caps10 = 22
| goals10 = 2
| years11 = 2019–2021
| clubs11 = Luton Town
| caps11 = 52
| goals11 = 5
| years12 = 2021–2022
| clubs12 = Gençlerbirliği
| caps12 = 23
| goals12 = 1
| years13 = 2022–2023
| clubs13 = Levadiakos
| caps13 = 23
| goals13 = 0
| years14 = 2024
| clubs14 = Charlton Athletic
| caps14 = 4
| goals14 = 0
| years15 = 2024–2025
| clubs15 = Hartlepool United
| caps15 = 7
| goals15 = 0
| club-update = 14:17, 29 January 2025 (UTC)
}}
Kazenga LuaLua (born 10 December 1990) is an English–Congolese{{cite web |url=http://www.seagulls.co.uk/team/player-profile/kazenga-lualua/30 |title=Player Profiles |access-date=29 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905232302/http://www.seagulls.co.uk/team/player-profile/kazenga-lualua/30 |archive-date=5 September 2015}} professional footballer who plays as a winger.
Career
=Newcastle United and loan spells=
Born in Kinshasa, LuaLua moved to England shortly after his birth. He moved to Newcastle as a youngster, as his older brother Lomana LuaLua was signed by Newcastle United. Kazenga progressed in Newcastle's youth academy, and played for the reserve team. He was called up to the senior squad for the first time for the FA Cup third-round game against Birmingham City on 6 January 2007. At just 16 years and 27 days old, LuaLua would have been the youngest player to play for Newcastle: the record is currently held by Steve Watson.{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/archive/england/players/WatsonSteve.html |title=Steve Watson Soccernet profile |publisher=ESPN |date=16 July 2002 |access-date=28 January 2008 |archive-date=22 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622015536/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/archive/england/players/WatsonSteve.html |url-status=dead }}
He was part of the Newcastle youth team that reached the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup in the 2005–06 season. LuaLua finally made his first-team debut on 6 January 2008, coming on in the 74th minute of an FA Cup third-round game against Stoke City as a substitute for Damien Duff.{{cite web |url=http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1208093,00.html |title=Sam Speaks: Cup Kids A Big Bonus |author=Craig Hope |date=7 January 2008 |access-date=12 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110101021/http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1208093,00.html |archive-date=10 January 2008 |url-status=dead}}
LuaLua made his Premier League debut on 19 January 2008, coming on as a substitute again for Duff at St James' Park in a match against Bolton Wanderers and went on to make several appearances for the first team later that season.
==Loan to Doncaster Rovers==
In January 2009 LuaLua signed for Doncaster Rovers of the Championship on loan until the end of the season.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/doncaster/7966010.stm |title=Doncaster sign Premier League duo |work=BBC News |date=26 March 2009 |access-date=5 January 2010}} All four of his appearances game in the league where the Yorkshire club finished 14th of the 2008–09 Championship season.
==Loan to Brighton & Hove Albion==
On 9 February 2010, LuaLua joined League One side Brighton & Hove Albion on loan, initially for one month.{{cite web |url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/argusgeneralsportsnews/4996395.Albion_sign_Toon_talent/ |title=Albion sign Toon talent |publisher=The Argus |date=9 February 2010 |access-date=9 February 2010}} LuaLua was recommended to Brighton manager Gus Poyet by Dennis Wise.{{cite web |url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Newcastle-star-joins-Brighton-on-loan-article317779.html |title=Newcastle star joins Brighton on loan |publisher=Mirrorfootball.co.uk |date=9 February 2010 |access-date=9 February 2010}} LuaLua rejoined Brighton on loan for four months on 30 August 2010. He then made his debut back at Brighton on 11 September 2010 and made it one to remember scoring a rocket 25-yard free kick in style and celebrating with his famous double backflip.{{cite web |url=http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0,,10433~2139406,00.html |title=Poyet's Delighted by LuaLua Return |publisher=Seagulls.co.uk |date=30 August 2010 |access-date=30 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901110609/http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0,,10433~2139406,00.html|archive-date=1 September 2010|url-status=dead}} He won the Football League Young Player of the Month in October 2010.[http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0,,10433~2226853,00.html LuaLua FL Young Player For October] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123124518/http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0,,10433~2226853,00.html |date=23 November 2010 }} Brighton and Hove Albion Official Website, 22 November 2010 On 13 November LuaLua broke his leg playing against Hartlepool United in a League One game.{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/9190453.stm |title=Brighton & Hove Albion rocked by Kazenga LuaLua injury |work=BBC News |date=15 November 2010 |access-date=30 November 2010}} LuaLua shortly returned to Newcastle to make his recovery, and expressed his hope that he may play again in the 2010–11 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20101115/lualua-suffers-broken-leg_2281670_2220799 |title=LuaLua Suffers Broken Leg |publisher=Newcastle United F.C. |date=15 November 2010 |access-date=30 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119043331/http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20101115/lualua-suffers-broken-leg_2281670_2220799 |archive-date=19 November 2010}} Gus Poyet stated that LuaLua played a key part in Brighton's promotion to the Championship.
==Back to Newcastle after injury==
LuaLua remained at Newcastle for treatment and made his first Premier League appearance of the season in a 2–2 draw with Chelsea on the penultimate week of the season. It was LuaLua's dangerous run and cut inside around Branislav Ivanović which won Newcastle the corner leading to their late equaliser.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9483801.stm |title=Chelsea 2–2 Newcastle |website=BBC Sport |date=15 May 2011 |access-date=15 May 2011}}
=Brighton & Hove Albion=
LuaLua rejoined Brighton on a six-month loan with a view to a permanent deal on 16 July 2011.{{cite news |title=Seagulls swoop for LuaLua |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12875_7041012,00.html |publisher=Sky Sports |date=16 July 2011 |access-date=16 July 2011}} He signed a permanent deal with Brighton for an undisclosed fee on 21 November 2011.{{cite news |title=Brighton & Hove Albion complete Kazenga LuaLua signing |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/9644186.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=21 November 2011 |access-date=21 November 2011}} LuaLua scored his first goal as a permanent Brighton player on 14 February 2012, a long-range free kick that tied a home match against Millwall 2–2. LuaLua's goal came two minutes before the end and salvaged a point for Brighton. The next Sunday, LuaLua scored a free-kick into the Kop End at Anfield in the FA Cup, against Liverpool as Brighton lost 6–1. With competition from fellow wingers Craig Noone, Will Buckley and Vicente, LuaLua swapped between starting and coming off the bench as an impact substitute in the following weeks.
LuaLua featured regularly for Brighton in the 2014–15 season, making 38 appearances in all competitions and scoring four goals.
On 7 August 2015, LuaLua scored the opening goal of the 2015–16 Football League Championship, which eventually was the winning goal against Nottingham Forest.{{cite web |title=Brighton defeat Nottingham in the season opener |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33729037 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=8 August 2015 |date=7 August 2015}}
LuaLua made a total of 22 appearances in all competitions for Brighton in the 2015–16 season, scoring four goals.
LuaLua found opportunities limited at Brighton in the 2016–17 season as the south coast club secured promotion to the Premier League, only featuring for the Seagulls five times throughout the first half of the season in all competitions, and he did not make a senior appearance for the club after the month of August.
==Queens Park Rangers (loan)==
On 10 January 2017, LuaLua joined Queens Park Rangers on loan until the end of the 2016/2017 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38572102 |title=Kazenga LuaLua: QPR sign Brighton winger on loan until end of season |website=BBC Sport |date=10 January 2017 |access-date=11 January 2017}} LuaLua scored one goal in 11 games throughout his loan spell, a backheel against Preston North End.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39011771 |title=Preston North End 2–1 Queens Park Rangers |website=BBC Sport |date=25 February 2017 |access-date=11 August 2017}}
After Brighton's promotion to the Premier League, LuaLua was deemed surplus to requirements, and as such he re-joined QPR on a second loan spell until January 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/club-news/qpr-sign-kazenga-lualua-on-loan/ |title=QPR sign Kazenga LuaLua on loan |publisher=Queens Park Rangers F.C. |date=11 August 2017 |access-date=11 August 2017}} The loan move was terminated on 1 December 2017, with LuaLua making eight league appearances for the R's in his second spell at the club.{{cite news |title=LuaLua returns to Brighton |url=https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/club-news/lualua-returns-to-brighton/ |access-date=1 December 2017 |publisher=QPR Official Site |date=1 December 2017}}
=Sunderland=
On 25 January 2018, Brighton and LuaLua reached a mutual agreement to terminate his contract, with it having been set to expire in the summer of 2018.{{Cite news |url=https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/2018/january/lualua-leaves-albion/ |title=LUALUA LEAVES ALBION |publisher=Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club |date=25 January 2018}} He subsequently joined Sunderland on a free transfer, signing a short term contract with the Black Cats until the end of the 2017–18 season.{{Cite news |url=https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/2018/january/black-cats-sign-lualua |publisher=Sunderland Association Football Club |title=Sunderland sign LuaLua |date=25 January 2018}} At the end of the 2017–18 season, following Sunderland's relegation, he was released by the club.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44398312 |title=Sunderland sell Fabio Borini to AC Milan and release several others |date=7 June 2018 |access-date=7 June 2018 |website=BBC Sport}}
=Luton Town=
On 26 September 2018, LuaLua signed for Luton Town on a contract until the end of the 2018–19 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45657299 |title=Kazenga LuaLua: Luton Town sign former Brighton and Newcastle winger |website=BBC Sport |date=26 September 2018 |access-date=11 July 2020}} He scored his first goal for Luton in a 3–0 EFL Trophy victory over Milton Keynes Dons on 9 October. His first league goal for the club was a 94th-minute equaliser in a 2–2 away draw with Walsall on 29 December to complete a second half comeback from 2–0 down and extend the club's unbeaten league run to 12 matches.{{cite news |url=https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/sport/football/lualua-strikes-earn-luton-last-gasp-leveller-saddlers-166888 |title=LuaLua strikes to earn Luton a last-gasp leveller at Saddlers |newspaper=Luton Today |date=29 December 2018 |access-date=11 July 2020}} LuaLua made 22 league appearances and scored two goals as Luton were promoted to the Championship as League One champions.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48074729 |title=Luton Town 3–1 Oxford United: Hatters clinch League One title with victory |website=BBC Sport |date=4 May 2019 |access-date=11 July 2020}} He left the club at the end of the season after failing to agree a new contract.{{cite news |url=https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/sport/football/international-football/disappointment-lualua-he-reveals-luton-exit-957503 |title=Disappointment for LuaLua as he reveals Luton exit |first=Mike |last=Simmonds |newspaper=Luton Today |date=6 July 2019 |access-date=11 July 2020}}
LuaLua rejoined Luton on 22 July 2019 after signing a contract of undisclosed length.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49072905 |title=Kazenga LuaLua: Luton Town re-sign winger |website=BBC Sport |date=22 July 2019 |access-date=22 July 2019}} His first match of the 2019–20 season came in a 3–1 home win over Ipswich Town in the first round of the EFL Cup on 13 August, in which he was substituted at half-time.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49245271 |title=Luton Town 3–1 Ipswich Town: Hatters too strong for Tractor Boys |website=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2019 |access-date=13 August 2019}} LuaLua scored the only goal of the game away against fellow relegation threatened Hull City on the second to last game of the season, securing 3 points in attempt to escape the drop.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53371805|title=Hull City 0-1 Luton Town: Grant McCann praying for 'miracle' after Kazenga LuaLua boosts Hatters' chances - BBC Sport|website=BBC Sport |date=18 July 2020|access-date=18 July 2020}} He came on as a sub in the last game of the season in a 3–2 victory over Blackburn Rovers helping The Hatters see out the match and avoid relegation.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53412700|title=Luton Town 3-2 Blackburn Rovers: Nathan Jones' Hatters win to avoid relegation - BBC Sport|website=BBC Sport |date=22 July 2020|access-date=22 July 2020}}
LuaLua was released at the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2020–21 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57286554|title=Luton Town release Kazenga LuaLua and George Moncur at the end of their deals |date=28 May 2021|access-date=3 September 2021}}
=Gençlerbirliği S.K.=
After becoming a free agent, LuaLua signed for TFF First League side Gençlerbirliği on the 10 July 2021.{{cite news |url=https://twitter.com/kirmizikara/status/14137829827338321f|title=A signing ceremony was held for our new signings Kazenga LuaLua and Aaron Tshibola. (Translated from Turkish)|date=10 July 2021|access-date=3 September 2021}}
=Charlton Athletic=
Having spent a year-and-a-half at Greek side, Levadiakos, LuaLua, joined Charlton Athletic on a free transfer on 15 March 2024 on a short-term contract until the end of the 2023–24 season.{{cite news |title=Kazenga LuaLua is an Addick |url=https://www.charltonafc.com/news/kazenga-lualua-addick |access-date=8 March 2024 |publisher=Charlton Athletic F.C. |date=15 March 2024}} His Charlton debut came the following day in a 1–1 away draw against Fleetwood Town.
On 3 May 2024, it was confirmed that LuaLua would leave Charlton Athletic when his contract expired.{{Cite news |title=2023/24 END-OF-SEASON SQUAD UPDATE |url=https://www.charltonafc.com/news/202324-end-season-squad-update|publisher=Charlton Athletic Official Site |date=3 May 2024 |access-date=3 May 2024}} He made four appearances in total for the League One side.
=Hartlepool United=
On 15 November 2024, LuaLua joined National League side Hartlepool United. {{cite web|url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/kazenga-lualua-becomes-a-poolie/|title=Kazenga LuaLua becomes a Poolie|website=www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk|date=15 November 2024|accessdate=15 November 2024}} He departed the club upon the expiration of his short-term contract in January 2025. {{cite web|url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/bondswell-lualua-depart/|title=Bondswell & LuaLua depart Pools|website=www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk|date=28 January 2025|accessdate=29 January 2025}}
Personal life
He is the younger brother of DR Congo international striker Lomana Trésor LuaLua. He is also the cousin of striker Trésor Kandol and former Everton midfielder Yannick Bolasie.
Career statistics
{{updated|25 January 2025}}
{{notelist}}
Honours
Brighton & Hove Albion
- Football League One: 2010–11{{cite book |editor1-first=Glenda |editor1-last=Rollin |editor2-first=Jack |editor2-last=Rollin |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2011–2012 |year=2011 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-0-7553-6231-8 |pages=39, 104–105}}
Luton Town
- EFL League One: 2018–19{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=1645 |title=League One: 2018/19: Current table |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=5 May 2019}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1628&teamTabs=stats&season_id=151 |title=Luton: Squad details: 2018/19 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=5 May 2019}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.lutontown.co.uk/teams/first-team/forward/kazenga-lua-lua/ Profile] at the Luton Town F.C. website
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:LuaLua, Kazenga}}
Category:Footballers from Kinshasa
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo men's footballers
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Newcastle United F.C. players
Category:Doncaster Rovers F.C. players
Category:Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players
Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. players
Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players
Category:Luton Town F.C. players
Category:Gençlerbirliği S.K. footballers
Category:Levadiakos F.C. players
Category:Charlton Athletic F.C. players
Category:Hartlepool United F.C. players
Category:Premier League players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Super League Greece players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo emigrants to England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate sportspeople in Turkey
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo expatriate sportspeople in Greece
Category:21st-century Democratic Republic of the Congo sportsmen