Khanya Leshabela

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Khanya Leshabela

| image =

| fullname = Thakgalo Khanya Leshabela{{Cite web |date=26 June 2020 |title=Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/1697050 |access-date=14 March 2021 |website=premierleague.com |publisher=Premier League}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|9|18|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2019/pdf/FWYC_2019_SquadLists.pdf |title=FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: South Africa |publisher=FIFA |page=20 |date=13 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206013743/https://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2019/pdf/FWYC_2019_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=6 February 2020}}

| birth_place = Soshanguve, South Africa

| height = 1.75 m{{Cite web |title=Khanya Leshabela |url=https://www.lcfc.com/players/23784/Thakgalo-Leshabela/profile |access-date=20 March 2021 |website=www.lcfc.com |publisher=Leicester City F.C.}}

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = Bedford Town

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2008–2009

| youthclubs1 = Parklands Tigers

| youthyears2 = 2009–2013

| youthclubs2 = Gregory Celtics

| youthyears3 = 2013–2021

| youthclubs3 = Leicester City

| years1 = 2021–2023

| clubs1 = Leicester City

| caps1 = 1

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2021–2022

| clubs2 = → Shrewsbury Town (loan)

| caps2 = 3

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2022–2023

| clubs3 = → Crewe Alexandra (loan)

| caps3 = 10

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2024

| clubs4 = Cape Town City

| caps4 = 8

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2024

| clubs5 = Enfield Town

| caps5 = 10

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2024–2025

| clubs6 = Spalding United

| caps6 = 12

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2025–

| clubs7 = Bedford Town

| caps7 = 0

| goals7 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2019

| nationalteam1 = South Africa U20

| nationalcaps1 = 3

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update = 22 March 2025

}}

Thakgalo Khanya Leshabela (born 18 September 1999) is a South African soccer player who plays as a midfielder for {{English football updater|BedfordT}} club Bedford Town.{{Soccerway|thakgalo-khanya-leshabela/453317}}

Born in Soshanguve, South Africa, Leshabela grew up in Northampton, England. He started his career at Leicester City where he signed his first professional contract in January 2019 before making his Premier League debut in March 2021.

Early life

Leshabela was born in the township of Soshanguve, near Pretoria, though his parents were originally from Limpopo.{{Cite web |last=Sobayeni |first=Prince |date=21 April 2020 |title=The journey: Khanya Leshabela goes from strength to strength |url=https://www.farpost.co.za/19253/ |access-date=20 March 2021 |website=FARPost |archive-date=16 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316122158/https://www.farpost.co.za/19253/ |url-status=dead }} At the age of 2, Leshabela moved from South Africa to Northampton, England. He was educated at Northampton Academy.{{Cite tweet |author=N'pton Academy PE |user=northacadPE |number=1375152769263407110 |title=Massive congratulations to former @northacad student Thakgalo (Khanya) Leshabela who made his Premier League debut for @LCFC in their 5–0 win over @SheffieldUnited Hopefully the start of many more!!... }}

Club career

He began his career with the academies of Parklands Tigers and Gregory Celtics, before moving to Leicester City in 2013. He signed a three-and-a-half-year professional contract with the club in January 2019.{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Zain |date=9 January 2019 |title=South Africans react to Leshabela's Leicester contract |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/extra-time-south-africans-react-to-leshabelas-leicester-contract-/1j7l2ieb42h4z1h37y58skm93m |access-date=20 March 2021 |website=Goal}} Leshabela made his Premier League debut with Leicester as an 81st-minute substitute during a 5–0 victory against Sheffield United on 14 March 2021.{{Cite news |last=Poole |first=Harry |date=14 March 2021 |title=Iheanacho scores hat-trick against sorry Blades |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56247534 |access-date=20 March 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Appolis |first=Dylan |date=15 March 2021 |title=SA youngster Khanya Leshabela makes EPL debut for Leicester |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/watch-sa-youngster-khanya-leshabela-makes-epl-debut-for-leicester |access-date=20 March 2021 |website=FourFourTwo}} Following his debut, manager Brendan Rodgers praised Leshabela, stating that "he's a young player who has worked very hard", adding that "he has got qualities and he came into the game and showed a nice confidence".{{Cite web |last=Gillion |first=Baden |date=16 March 2021 |title='He has got qualities' – Brendan Rodgers praises SA youngster after Leicester City debut |url=https://www.news24.com/sport/soccer/englishpremiership/he-has-got-qualities-brendan-rodgers-praises-sa-youngster-after-leicester-city-debut-20210315 |access-date=20 March 2021 |website=News24}}

On 19 August 2021, Leshabela joined EFL League One club Shrewsbury Town on a season-long loan.{{cite news |title=Youngster Leshabela In Shrewsbury Loan |url=https://www.lcfc.com/news/2223760 |access-date=19 August 2021 |work=Leicester City Football Club |date=19 August 2021}} He made his League One debut on 21 August 2021 as a 71st-minute substitute during a 0–3 defeat against Plymouth Argyle.{{cite news |title=Shrewsbury Town 0–3 Plymouth Argyle |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58209818 |access-date=21 August 2021 |work=BBC Sport |date=21 August 2021}} After struggling for game time, manager Steve Cotterill said that Leshabela's loan had been a 'punt' and his position at the club would be reassessed in the January transfer window.{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=Lewis |title=Steve Cotterill: Khanya Leshabela Leicester loan was a 'punt' for Shrewsbury Town |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2021/09/22/steve-cotterill-khanya-leshabela-leicester-loan-was-a-punt-for-shrewsbury-town/ |access-date=31 December 2021 |work=Shropshire Star |date=22 September 2021}} On 27 January 2022, his loan spell was terminated.{{cite news |title=Khanya Leshabela returns to Leicester City |url=https://www.shrewsburytown.com/news/2022/january/khanya-leshabela-returns-to-leicester-city/ |access-date=27 January 2022 |work=Shrewsbury Town |date=27 January 2022}}

On 26 July 2022, Leshabela joined EFL League Two club Crewe Alexandra on a six-month loan deal,{{cite web|url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2022/july/leicester-midfielder-kahnya-leshabela-signs-loan-deal/|title=Leicester Midfielder Khanya Leshabela Signs Loan Deal|website=www.crewealex.net|date=26 July 2022|accessdate=26 July 2022}} and made a substitute appearance in Crewe's opening game of the 2022–23 season, a 2–1 victory over Rochdale at Spotland on 30 July 2022.{{cite news |title=Rochdale 1-2 Crewe Alexandra |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62275052 |access-date=30 July 2022 |work=BBC Sport |date=30 July 2022}} He made his first Crewe start on 9 August 2022, playing in an EFL League Cup first round defeat at Grimsby Town.{{cite news |title=Grimsby Town 4-0 Crewe Alexandra |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62388013 |access-date=9 August 2022 |work=BBC Sport |date=9 August 2022}}

In February 2024, Leshabela returned to his native South Africa to sign for Cape Town City.{{cite news |last1=Buckerfield |first1=Kurt |title=Official: CT City Sign Former Leicester City Player |url=https://www.snl24.com/soccerladuma/local/premiership/cape-town-city-fc/official-ct-city-sign-former-leicester-city-midfielder-khanya-leshabela-20240219 |access-date=21 February 2024 |work=SNL24 |date=19 February 2024}} He made his debut in the against SuperSport United.{{cite news|title= Cape Town City set to lose Brice Ambina to European market|author=Molefe, Mazola|date=21 February 2024|url=https://www.sabcsport.com/soccer/news/cape-town-city-set-to-lose-brice-ambina-to-european-market|publisher=SABC Sport|access-date=16 March 2024}}

In August 2024, Leshabela returned to England, joining National League South side Enfield Town.{{cite web|url=https://etfc.london/four-new-recruits/|title=Four New Recruits|website=etfc.london|date=2 August 2024|accessdate=4 August 2024}} In March 2025, he joined Southern League Premier Division Central side Bedford Town following a spell with Spalding United.{{cite web|url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bedfordtownfootballclub/news/club-update--21st-march-2907920.html|title=Club Update - 21st March|publisher=Bedford Town F.C.|date=21 March 2025|accessdate=22 March 2025}}

International career

Leshabela has represented South Africa at under-20 level, having played at the 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.{{Cite web |last=Ditlhobolo |first=Austin |date=14 March 2021 |title=South African starlet Leshabela makes Premier League debut for Leicester City |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/south-african-starlet-leshabela-makes-premier-league-debut/f43zpzuuyrt71w9x9o3524y59 |access-date=20 March 2021 |website=Goal}}

Style of play

Leshabela plays primarily as a winger but can also play as an attacking midfielder.{{Cite web |last=Blackwell |first=Jordan |date=8 January 2019 |title=Who is Khanya Leshabela? Lowdown on City youngster |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-is-khanya-leshabela-leicester-2266303 |access-date=20 March 2021 |website=LeicestershireLive}} In August 2019, Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers praised Leshabela, stating that "he's dynamic, he is physical, he has good fitness, a nice touch of the ball and he has an understanding of how to play the game tactically, which is very important."{{Cite web |last=Blackwell |first=Jordan |date=10 August 2019 |title=City starlets should be ready for first-team call-ups – Rodgers |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-starlets-should-ready-3186812 |access-date=20 March 2021 |website=LeicestershireLive}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !rowspan="2"\|Division !colspan="2"\|League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|League Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="4"\|Leicester City U21	2017–18{{soccerbase season\|107781\|2017\|access-date=31 July 2022}}\|
\|0	0	0	0	0	0	1{{efn\|name=FLT\|Appearances in the Football League Trophy}}	0	1	0
2018–19{{soccerbase season\|107781\|2018\|access-date=31 July 2022}}\|
\|0	0	0	0	0	0	2{{efn\|name=FLT}}	0	2	0
2019–20{{soccerbase season\|107781\|2019\|access-date=31 July 2022}}\|
\|0	0	0	0	0	0	6{{efn\|name=FLT}}	0	6	0
2020–21{{soccerbase season\|107781\|2020\|access-date=31 July 2022}}\|
\|0	0	0	0	0	0	3{{efn\|name=FLT}}	0	3	0
rowspan="2"\|Leicester City	2020–21	Premier League	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
colspan="2"\|Total !1	0	0	0	0	0	12	0	13	0
Shrewsbury Town (loan)	2021–22{{soccerbase season\|107781\|2021\|access-date=31 July 2022}}	League One	3	0	2	0	1	0	3{{efn\|name=FLT}}	0	9	0
Crewe Alexandra (loan)	2022–23{{soccerbase season\|107781\|2022\|access-date=31 July 2022}}	League Two	10	0	0	0	1	0	2{{efn\|name=FLT}}	0	13	0
colspan="3"\|Total !14	0	2	0	2	0	17	0	35	0