Shim Mheuka
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Shim Mheuka
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|fullname = Shumaira Zion Mheuka{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/4243590|title=2024/25 Updated Premier League squad lists|date=7 February 2025|access-date=25 March 2025|website=Premier League}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2007|10|20|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/shumaira-mheuka/|title=Shim Mheuka|publisher=WorldFootball.net|accessdate=29 October 2022}}
|birth_place = Birmingham, England
|height = 1.83m
|currentclub = Chelsea
|clubnumber = 76
|position = Forward
|youthyears1 = 2017–2022
|youthclubs1 = Brighton & Hove Albion
|youthyears2 = 2022–2024
|youthclubs2 = Chelsea
|years1 = 2024–
|clubs1 = Chelsea
|caps1 = 1
|goals1 = 0
|nationalyears1 = 2022
|nationalteam1 = England U15
|nationalcaps1 = 4
|nationalgoals1 = 2
|nationalyears2 = 2022–2023
|nationalteam2 = England U16
|nationalcaps2 = 12
|nationalgoals2 = 4
|nationalyears3 = 2023–
|nationalteam3 = England U17
|nationalcaps3 = 10
|nationalgoals3 = 6
|nationalyears4 = 2024–
|nationalteam4 = England U18
|nationalcaps4 = 2
|nationalgoals4 = 0
|nationalyears5 = 2024–
|nationalteam5 = England U19
|nationalcaps5 = 15
|nationalgoals5 = 3
|club-update = 22:38, 25 February 2025 (UTC)
|ntupdate = 09:22, 21 June 2025 (UTC)
}}
Shumaira Zion "Shim" Mheuka (born 20 October 2007) is an English footballer who plays as a forward for {{English football updater|Chelsea}} club Chelsea.
Club career
Born in England to Zimbabwean parents, Mheuka joined Brighton & Hove Albion at the age of nine.{{cite web|url=https://soca263updates.com/?p=2961|title=Who Is Shumaira Mheuka? 15-Year-Old Zimbabwean English Starlet Signed By Chelsea|date=11 July 2022|accessdate=29 October 2022|website=soca263updates.com}} He progressed through Brighton & Hove Albion's academy, making his under-18 debut at just fourteen years old.{{cite web|url=https://hararelive.com/2022/07/chelsea-signs-a-teen-from-mutare-shumaira-mheuka/|title=Chelsea signs a teen from Mutare, Shumaira Mheuka|date=22 July 2022|accessdate=29 October 2022|website=hararelive.com |author1=Janga }}
In July 2022, Mheuka signed with fellow Premier League club Chelsea.{{cite web|url=https://nehandaradio.com/2022/07/15/zim-teenager-shumaira-mheuka-signs-for-chelsea-developmental-side/|title=Zim teenager Shumaira Mheuka signs for Chelsea developmental side|first=Tafadzwa|last=Chigandiwa|date=15 July 2022|accessdate=29 October 2022|website=nehandaradio.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.caughtoffside.com/2022/08/10/photo-chelsea-complete-the-signing-of-one-of-the-most-exciting-strikers-in-youth-football/|title=Photo: Chelsea complete the signing of "one of the most exciting strikers" in youth football|first=Lucien|last=Silverberg|date=10 August 2022|accessdate=29 October 2022|website=caughtoffside.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=44428|title=Chelsea complete signing of talented African striker for youth team|first=Ifeanyi|last=Emmanuel|date=10 August 2022|accessdate=29 October 2022|website=allnigeriasoccer.com}} He made his debut for Chelsea's under-18 team in a 2–1 win over West Bromwich Albion in October 2022.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/10/29/england/premier-academy-league/west-bromwich-albion-fc-under-18-academy/chelsea-fc-under-18-academy/3896089/|title=West Bromwich Albion U18 1-2 Chelsea U18|access-date=29 October 2022|website=Soccerway}}
On 12 December 2024, Mheuka made his first-team debut for Chelsea, coming on as a second-half substitute in their UEFA Conference League tie against Astana in Kazakhstan.{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |title=Astana vs Chelsea |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaconferenceleague/match/2042302--astana-vs-chelsea/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=UEFA |language=en}} His Premier League début came on 25 February 2025 as a late substitute against Southampton.
On 6 March 2025, Mheuka made history as the youngest player to start for Chelsea in a European competition in a 2–1 away victory over Copenhagen.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-07 |title=Chelsea youngster makes history in the UEFA Conference League |url=https://theprideoflondon.com/chelsea-youngster-makes-history-in-the-uefa-conference-league- |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=The Pride of London |language=en-us}}
International career
Mheuka has represented England at under-15 and under-16 level. He remains eligible to represent Zimbabwe at international level.
On 6 September 2023, Mheuka made his England U17 debut and scored during a 3–2 defeat to Portugal at the Pinatar Arena.{{Cite web|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Sep/06/england-mens-under-17s-portugal-report-20230906|website=EnglandFootball.com|accessdate=7 September 2023|date=6 September 2023|first=Frank|last=Smith|title=Report: England MU17s 2-3 Portugal}} He was included in the squad for the 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and scored during the last group game against Spain.{{Cite web|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/May/27/england-mu17s-spain-EURO-match-report-20242705|website=EnglandFootball.com|accessdate=6 June 2024|date=27 May 2024|first=Thomas|last=Gibson|title=Report: England MU17s 3-1 Spain}} He also started in their quarter-final elimination against Italy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/nwaneri-goal-england-u17-italy-euros-b1161215.html|website=Evening Standard|accessdate=6 June 2024|date=31 May 2024|first=Jonathan|last=Gorrie|title=Ethan Nwaneri stunner not enough as England U17 beaten on penalties by Italy}}
On 4 September 2024, Mheuka made his England U18 debut during a 2–2 draw with Portugal at the Lafarge Foot Avenir.{{Cite web|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Sep/04/england-mens-under-18s-v-portugal-match-report-20240409|website=EnglandFootball.com|accessdate=10 September 2024|date=4 September 2024|first=Adam|last=Drury|title=Report: England MU18s 2-2 Portugal}}
On 9 October 2024, Mheuka made his U19 debut during a 2–1 defeat to Portugal in Marbella.{{cite web|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/oct/09/england-under-19s-v-portugal-match-report-marbella-20240910|website=England Football|accessdate=10 October 2024|title=Report: England Under-19s 1-2 Portugal|first=Zac|last=Vassell|date=9 October 2024}} He was a member of England's squad at the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.{{cite news |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2025/Jun/20/england-mu19s-netherlands-EURO-match-report-20252006|title=England MU19s squad named for UEFA U19 EURO Finals|first=Nicholas|last=Veevers|website=EnglandFootball.com|date=19 May 2025|access-date=21 June 2025}}
Personal life
=Family=
His father, Malcolm, was born in Dangamvura, Mutare, Zimbabwe, and played as an attacking midfielder for the Zimbabwe Saints and Circle Cement in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League. His younger brother, Tendah, plays for the academy of Brighton & Hove Albion.
=Sponsorship=
Mheuka is sponsored by German sportswear manufacturer Adidas.
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 8 May 2025}}{{Soccerway|shim-mheuka/814082}}
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea U21
|colspan="3"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|Appearances in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| Chelsea
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Conference League}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
{{Chelsea F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mheuka, Shim}}
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:English people of Zimbabwean descent
Category:Sportspeople of Zimbabwean descent
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players
Category:Black British sportsmen
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)