Luke Mbete
{{short description|English footballer (born 2003)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Luke Mbete
| image = ManCity20240722-038.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Mbete training with Manchester City in 2024
| full_name = Luke Mbete-Tabu{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/2247219|title=2021/22 Premier League squads confirmed|work=Premier League|date=10 September 2021|access-date=23 September 2021}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|09|18|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/luke-mbete-tabu-266400/|title=Luke Mbete-Tabu |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |access-date=3 November 2021}}
| birth_place = Westminster, England
| height = 1.85m
| position = Defender
| currentclub = Manchester City
| clubnumber = 79
| youthyears1 = 2012–2016
| youthclubs1 = Brentford
| youthyears2 = 2016–2021
| youthclubs2 = Manchester City
| years1 = 2021–
| clubs1 = Manchester City
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2022–2023
| clubs2 = → Huddersfield Town (loan)
| caps2 = 6
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2023
| clubs3 = → Bolton Wanderers (loan)
| caps3 = 8
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2023–2024
| clubs4 = → Den Bosch (loan)
| caps4 = 23
| goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2024–2025
| clubs5 = → Northampton Town (loan)
| caps5 = 13
| goals5 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2017
| nationalteam1 = England U15
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2018
| nationalteam2 = England U16
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2021–
| nationalteam3 = England U19
| nationalcaps3 = 2
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2023–
| nationalteam4 = England U20
| nationalcaps4 = 1
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| nationalyears5 = 2022–
| nationalteam5 = England U21
| nationalcaps5 = 2
| nationalgoals5 = 0
| club-update = 07:32, 4 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 19:59, 25 March 2023 (UTC)
}}
Luke Mbete-Tabu (born 18 September 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back or centre-back for {{English football updater|ManchesC}} club Manchester City.
Early life
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2025}}
Luke Mbete was born in Westminster, England to Congolese parents. He has 3 siblings and is a twin. He has a fervent passion for football, and it showed evidently as he partook in football matches during primary school and secondary school. He attended Our Lady of Grace Primary School and St Gregory's Catholic Science College in Harrow, England.
Club career
Born in London,{{cite news|title=Who is Luke Mbete?|url=https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/who-is-luke-mbete-63745283|first=Neil|last=Leigh|publisher=Manchester City F.C.|date=1 January 2021|access-date=23 September 2021}} Mbete joined Brentford as a child.{{cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-luke-mbete-profile-19418652|title=Luke Mbete adds to Man City growing confidence about their defence|author=Simon Bajkowski|date=8 December 2020|publisher=Manchester Evening News|accessdate=23 September 2021}} When they closed their academy in 2016 he joined Manchester City. In November 2020 he started for the City side that defeated Chelsea in the final of the FA Youth Cup.{{cite news|title=Man City 3-2 Chelsea RECAP and highlights from FA Youth Cup final as McAtee, Rogers and Palmer score|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-youth-cup-highlights-19207980|first=Simon|last=Bajkowski|publisher=Manchester Evening News|date=2 November 2020|access-date=23 September 2021}} On 21 September 2021, he made his professional debut when he was named in the starting line up for Manchester City's EFL Cup tie against Wycombe Wanderers.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58553818|publisher=BBC Sport|date=21 September 2021|accessdate=21 September 2021|title=Manchester City v Wycombe Wanderers}}
Mbete was loaned to Huddersfield Town for the 2022–23 season.{{Cite news |title=Loan: Luke Mbete joins from Man City! |work=Huddersfield Town |url=https://www.htafc.com/news/2022/september/loan-luke-mbete-joins-from-man-city |access-date=1 September 2022}} However, the loan was cut short and on 31 January 2023, he joined Bolton Wanderers on loan for the remainder of the season.{{Cite news |title=Whites Land Luke |work=bwfc.co.uk |url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2023/january/whites-land-luke/ |access-date=31 January 2023}} On 14 February, he scored his first goal in senior football, scoring the second goal in a 5–0 win over Milton Keynes Dons.{{cite web |title=Bolton Wanderers 5-0 Milton Keynes Dons |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64549561|website=BBC Sport |access-date=14 February 2023 |language=en |date=14 February 2023}} On 2 April, Bolton won 4–0 against Plymouth Argyle in the 2023 EFL Trophy final{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65088981|title=Bolton Wanderers 4-0 Plymouth Argyle|work=BBC Sport }} He did not make the match day squad, though still received a medal as he had played in the semi-final.[https://twitter.com/WildbrookCRE/status/1642764276321402885 @WildbrookCRE are proud sponsors of Luke Mbete, now a winner of the Papa Johns Trophy with @OfficialBWFC Well done #bwfc @PapaJohnsTrophy]
On 26 August 2023, Mbete moved on a season-long loan to Den Bosch in the Netherlands.{{cite web|publisher=FC Den Bosch|url=https://www.fcdenbosch.nl/luke-mbete-op-huurbasis-naar-fc-den-bosch/|title=LUKE MBETE OP HUURBASIS NAAR FC DEN BOSCH|trans-title=LUKE MBETE ON LOAN BASIS TO FC DEN BOSCH|date=26 August 2023|access-date=27 August 2023|language=nl}}
On 12 August 2024, he signed for Northampton Town on another season-long loan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/2024/august/12/luke-mbete-signs/|title=NORTHAMPTON TOWN SIGN LUKE MBETE ON LOAN FROM MANCHESTER CITY|first=Gareth|last=Willsher|date=12 August 2024|website=ntfc.co.uk}} His season was hampered by a hamstring injury sustained whilst playing against Bolton Wanderers on 1 October. He returned to first team action on 22 March 2025 against Blackpool.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}}
International career
Born in England, Mbete is of Congolese descent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/01/05/report-leeds-want-to-raid-manchester-city-for-luke-mbete/|title=Report: Leeds want to raid Manchester City for Luke Mbete|first=Olly|last=Dawes|date=5 January 2021|website=HITC}} He has represented England at youth level.{{cite news|title=England MU19s come from behind to draw in Germany|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2021/Sep/06/20210906-England-Under-19s-Germany-Match-Report|first=Frank|last=Smith|publisher=England Football|date=6 September 2021|access-date=23 September 2021}}
On 16 September 2022, Mbete received his first call up to the England U21 squad.{{cite news|title=England men's Under-21 squad for games with Italy and Germany|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2022/Sep/16/england-mens-under-21-squad-named-for-italy-germany-20220916|first=Frank|last=Smith|publisher=England Football|date=16 September 2022|access-date=16 September 2022}} He made his debut as a 90th minute substitute for Taylor Harwood-Bellis during the 2–0 win over Italy in Pescara on 22 September.{{cite news|title=Report: Italy 0-2 England MU21s|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2022/Sep/22/england-mu21s-italy-match-stream-report-20222209|first=Ben|last=Hart|publisher=England Football|date=22 September 2022|access-date=26 September 2022}}
On 25 March 2023, Mbete made his debut for the England U20 team during a 4–2 win over USA in Marbella.{{cite news|title=Report: England MU20s 4-2 USA|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Mar/25/england-mu20s-USA-match-report-20232503|first=Rebecca|last=Lewin|publisher=England Football|date=25 March 2023|access-date=25 March 2023}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 3 May 2025}}
| 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 !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Manchester City U21
|2020–21{{Soccerbase season|133491|2020|name=Luke Mbete|access-date=23 September 2021}} |colspan="3"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 3{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||||
| 2021–22{{soccerbase season|133491|2021|access-date=23 September 2021}}
|colspan="3"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||5||0||5||0 | ||||||||||||
| Manchester City
|0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=UXL|Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Huddersfield Town (loan)
|2022–23{{soccerbase season|133491|2022|access-date=12 July 2025}} |6 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 6 | 0 | |||||
| Bolton Wanderers (loan)
|8 | 1 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 1{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 9 | 1 | ||||
| Den Bosch (loan)
|2023–24{{soccerbase season|133491|2023|access-date=12 July 2025}} |23 | 2 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 24 | 2 | ||||
| Northampton Town (loan)
|2024–25{{soccerbase season|133491|2024|access-date=12 July 2025}} |League One |13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 14 | 0 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!49||2||2||0||2||0||1||0||6||0||60||2 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
;Bolton Wanderers
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|603118}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mbete, Luke}}
Category:Footballers from the City of Westminster
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:English people of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent
Category:Sportspeople of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent
Category:Manchester City F.C. players
Category:Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players
Category:Bolton Wanderers F.C. players
Category:Eerste Divisie players
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Black British sportsmen
Category:21st-century Black British people
Category:English Football League players
Category:English expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands