Yeni Ngbakoto

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Yeni Ngbakoto

| image = Yeni Ngbakoto 2022.png

| caption = Ngbakoto with Western Sydney Wanderers in 2022

| full_name = Yeni Atito N'Gbakoto{{cite web|title=Retained List 2016-17|url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/efl-released-and-retained-list---2016-17.pdf|publisher=English Football League|access-date=13 June 2017}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|1|23|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Croix, France

| height = 1.73 m

| position = Winger

| currentclub = Vejle

| clubnumber = 7

| youthyears1 = 2001–2007

| youthclubs1 = SCC Besançon

| youthyears2 = 2007–2009

| youthclubs2 = Metz

| years1 = 2009–2016

| clubs1 = Metz

| caps1 = 185

| goals1 = 44

| years2 = 2016–2018

| clubs2 = Queens Park Rangers

| caps2 = 31

| goals2 = 3

| years3 = 2018–2021

| clubs3 = Guingamp

| caps3 = 73

| goals3 = 14

| years4 = 2021–2022

| clubs4 = Panathinaikos

| caps4 = 14

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2021

| clubs5 = Panathinaikos B

| caps5 = 2

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2022

| clubs6 = Nancy

| caps6 = 14

| goals6 = 3

| years7 = 2022–2023

| clubs7 = WS Wanderers

| caps7 = 18

| goals7 = 4

| years8 = 2023–

| clubs8 = Vejle

| caps8 = 33

| goals8 = 3

| nationalyears1 = 2008–2009

| nationalteam1 = France U17

| nationalcaps1 = 32

| nationalgoals1 = 6

| nationalyears2 = 2009–2010

| nationalteam2 = France U18

| nationalcaps2 = 12

| nationalgoals2 = 4

| nationalyears3 = 2017–

| nationalteam3 = DR Congo

| nationalcaps3 = 2

| nationalgoals3 = 1

| club-update = 3 December 2024

| nationalteam-update = 6 June 2017

}}

Yeni Atito N'Gbakoto (born 23 January 1992) is a professional footballer who plays for Danish Superliga club Vejle Boldklub. Born in France, he plays for the DR Congo national team internationally. He primarily plays as a winger, but is capable of playing as a striker.

He is a former France youth international having earned caps at under-17 and under-18 level.

He is known for his speed, technical ability, and strength, which compensates for his small stature.{{cite news |title=Yeni N'Gbakoto signe pour 5 ans |url=http://www.espoirsdufootball.com/5848-fc-metz-yeni-n%E2%80%99gbakoto-signe-pour-5-ans.html |work=Espoirs du Football |date=25 June 2009 |access-date=21 January 2010 |archive-date=20 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220165511/http://www.espoirsdufootball.com/5848-fc-metz-yeni-n%E2%80%99gbakoto-signe-pour-5-ans.html |url-status=dead }}

Club career

= Metz =

Born in Croix, Ngbakoto began his football career at SC Clemenceau in the commune of Besançon. He excelled in the club's youth academy and eventually secured a move to the youth academy of professional club Metz. While at the academy, he developed gracefully becoming one of the club's most sought after products. During his time at the academy, he drew interest from English clubs Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur and Spanish club Barcelona.{{cite news |title=The Premier League today |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3803788.ece |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110604182902/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3803788.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 June 2011 |work=The Times Online |date=24 April 2008 |access-date=6 February 2010}} Ngbakoto's play with the club's under-16 team saw him earn a call up to the France under-17 team by coach Philippe Bergeroo. On 25 June 2009, he agreed to his first professional contract signing a five-year deal until June 2014.{{cite news |title=Premier contrat pour Ngbakoto |url=http://www.fcmetz.com/news/display/5581 |work=FC Metz |date=25 June 2009 |access-date=21 January 2010}} Following the agreement, he was promoted to the senior team and assigned the number 15 shirt in preparation for the 2009–10 season.

Ngbakoto began the season playing on the club's amateur team in the Championnat de France amateur 2, the fifth level of French football, scoring on his debut in the team's opening match against CA Pontarlier on 15 August 2009. He consistently appeared in the amateur team for the next four months, adding another goal in a 1–0 victory over Thionville, before earning a call up to the senior team by manager Yvon Pouliquen for the club's Coupe de la Ligue match against Lyon on 13 January 2010. Ngbakoto made his professional debut in the match appearing as a substitute in the 83rd minute for Julien Cardy. Metz lost the match 3–0.{{cite news |title=Lyon v. Metz Match Report |url=http://www.lfp.fr/coupeLigue/feuilleMatch.asp?saison=2009/2010&code_evt=&code_jr_tr=T96&num_ordre=3&no_groupe=0 |work=Ligue de Football Professionnel|date=13 January 2010 |access-date=21 January 2010}} He was relegated back to the amateur division shortly after and finished the campaign with 16 appearances and eight goals as the Metz reserve team were crowned champions of the league finishing with 107 points.

For the 2010–11 season, Ngbakoto was reassigned the number 23 shirt by new manager Dominique Bijotat. He made league debut on 27 August 2010 in a league match against AC Ajaccio, which ended 0–0. He started the match and played 90 minutes before being substituted out in injury time.{{cite news |title=Ajaccio v. Metz Match Report |url=http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuilleMatch.asp?saison=2010/2011&code_evt=D2&num_ordre=1&code_jr_tr=J05 |work=Ligue de Football Professionnel|date=27 August 2010 |access-date=27 August 2010}} On 18 December, he scored his first professional goal in a 3–0 victory over L'Entente SSG in the Coupe de France.{{cite news |title=Coupe de France, 8ème tour |url=http://www.fcmetz.com/match/fiche/cdf_2010-2011_fc-metz-3-0-entente-sannois-saint-gratien_18122010.html |work=FC Metz|date=18 December 2010 |access-date=18 December 2010}}

= Queens Park Rangers =

Ngbakoto signed for English club Queens Park Rangers on 7 August 2016.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37000915 |title=Yeni Ngbakoto: QPR sign Metz forward for an undisclosed fee |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 August 2016 |access-date=11 August 2016}} He scored on his debut for the club against Swindon Town in an EFL Cup tie on 10 August 2016.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36961111 |title=QPR 2-2 Swindon |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 August 2016 |access-date=11 August 2016}}

= Guingamp =

On 3 January 2018, Ngbakoto signed for French Ligue 1 club Guingamp for an undisclosed fee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/club-news/ngbakoto-leaves-qpr-for-guingamp/|title=Ngbakoto leaves QPR for Guingamp|website=English|language=en|access-date=3 January 2018}} He was assigned the number 12 shirt.{{Cite news|url=http://www.eaguingamp.com/mercato-yeni-ngbakoto-guingampais/|title=Mercato : Yeni Ngbakoto est Guingampais ! - En Avant de Guingamp|date=3 January 2018|work=En Avant de Guingamp|access-date=3 January 2018|language=fr-FR}}

= Panathinaikos =

On 1 February 2021, Greek club Panathinaikos have signed DR Congo international Yeni Ngbakoto. Ngbakoto, who was born in France but has played twice for his national team, has signed an 18-month deal which according to Greek media will earn him €400 000.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pao.gr/transfers/sta-prasina-o-engkmpakoto/ |title=Στα πράσινα ο Ενγκμπακοτό|date=1 February 2021|work=www.pao.gr|access-date=1 February 2021|language=el}}

=Nancy=

On 31 January 2022, Ngbakoto signed with Nancy in Ligue 2 until the end of the season.{{cite press release|publisher=Nancy|url=https://www.asnl.net/58/actualites/actualites/fiche/28413|title=Ngbakoto en attaque|date=31 January 2022|access-date=13 February 2022|language=fr}}

=Western Sydney Wanderers=

On 23 June 2022, Ngbakoto joined A-League Men club Western Sydney Wanderers.{{cite web|url=https://wswanderersfc.com.au/news/wanderers-secure-ngbakoto|title=Wanderers secure N'gbakoto|website=wswanderersfc.com.au|date=23 June 2022|accessdate=30 June 2022}}

In May 2023, it was announced that Ngbakoto was leaving the club at the end of his contract.{{cite web|url=https://wswanderersfc.com.au/news/wanderers-confirm-four-isuzu-ute-a-league-departures|title=Wanderers confirm four Isuzu UTE A-League departures|website=Western Sydney Wanderers|date=24 May 2023}}

=Vejle Boldklub=

On 1 September 2023, Ngbakoto joined Danish Superliga club Vejle Boldklub on a deal until June 2025.[https://vejle-boldklub.dk/vejle-boldklub-har-yeni-ngbakoto-paa-plads-som-klubbens-nye-angriber/ Vejle Boldklub har Yeni N'Gbakoto på plads som klubbens nye angriber], vejle-boldklub.dk, 2 September 2023

International career

Ngbakoto was born in France and is of Congolese and Ivorian descent. Ngbakoto has earned international youth caps with the under-17 and under-18 teams. With the under-17s, he was a regular appearing in 14 matches scoring four goals with his first two coming in a tournament in Austria against Slovakia and the hosts. Ngbakoto scored both his other goals in the qualification process for the 2009 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship. He scored one in the first qualifying round against Scotland{{cite news |title=Scotland v. France Match Report |url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/under17/history/season=2009/round=15211/match=302131/index.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707184615/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/under17/history/season=2009/round=15211/match=302131/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 July 2012 |work=Union of European Football Associations |date=1 October 2008 |access-date=21 January 2010}} and the other in the Elite Round against Belarus converting a penalty.{{cite news |title=France v. Belarus Match Report |url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/under17/history/season=2009/round=15212/match=304534/index.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708093722/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/under17/history/season=2009/round=15212/match=304534/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 July 2012 |work=Union of European Football Associations |date=24 March 2009 |access-date=21 January 2010}} The team later suffered group stage elimination in the tournament with Ngbakoto appearing in all three matches.

With the under-18s, Ngbakoto earned his first appearance in the yearly SBS Cup, held in Japan, against Mexico. He was one of the few underage players for France at the tournament. In the tournament, he scored his only two goals so far against the Shizuoka national team in the second group stage match and the hosts Japan in the final group stage match.

Ngbakoto was called up to the DR Congo national team in March 2017, eligible through heritage.{{cite web|url=http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/qpr-yeni-ngbakoto-rotherham-united-3635758.aspx|title=QPR attacker Yeni Ngbakoto looks back on Saturday's 5-1 victory against Rotherham United|publisher=Queens Park Rangers|date=20 March 2017|quote=Ngbakoto is thriving under Holloway and the man himself is eager to go from strength-to-strength following the international break, where he’ll link up with Congo for the very first time.|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327080506/http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/qpr-yeni-ngbakoto-rotherham-united-3635758.aspx|archivedate=27 March 2017|url-status=dead}} He made his first appearance in a 2–1 friendly loss to Kenya on 26 March 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.leopardsfoot.com/leopards-la-rdc-chute-2-1-en-amical-face-au-kenya/|title=Léopards : La RDC chute 2-1 en amical face au Kenya|date=26 March 2017}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39338662|title = Kenya v Congo DR|work = BBC Sport}}

Career statistics

= Club =

{{Updated|match played 12 November 2023}}{{Lequipe|33313|accessdate=14 January 2018|language=fr}}{{Soccerway|88814|accessdate=14 January 2018}}

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup !colspan="2"\|Australia{{efn\|Appearance in the 2022–23 A-League Men finals series.}} !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="8"\|Metz \|2009–10 \|rowspan="3"\|Ligue 2 \|0	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	1	0
2010–11 \|22	2	4	2	colspan="2"\|—	26	4
2011–12 \|20	0	4	0	colspan="2"\|—	24	0
2012–13 \|Championnat National \|38	11	5	3	colspan="2"\|—	43	14
2013–14 \|Ligue 2 \|37	14	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	39	14
2014–15 \|Ligue 1 \|30	5	5	1	colspan="2"\|—	35	6
2015–16 \|Ligue 2 \|38	12	4	3	colspan="2"\|—	42	15
colspan="2"\|Total !185	44	25	9	0	0	210	53
rowspan="3"\|Queens Park Rangers \|2016–17 \|rowspan="2"\|Championship \|26	3	2	1	colspan="2"\|—	28	4
2017–18 \|5	0	2	1	colspan="2"\|—	7	1
colspan="2"\|Total !31	3	4	2	0	0	35	5
rowspan="5"\|Guingamp \|2017–18 \|rowspan="2"\|Ligue 1 \|16	4	1	1	colspan="2"\|—	17	5
2018–19 \|15	1	4	2	colspan="2"\|—	19	3
2019–20 \|rowspan="2"\|Ligue 2 \|21	4	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	23	4
2020–21 \|21	5	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	22	5
colspan="2"\|Total !73	14	8	3	0	0	81	17
Panathinaikos \|2020–21 \|Superleague Greece \|14	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	16	0
Panathinaikos B \|2021–22 \|Super League Greece 2 \|2	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	2	0
Nancy \|2021–22 \|Ligue 2 \|14	3	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	14	3
Western Sydney Wanderers \|2022–23 \|A-League Men \|18	4	0	0	1	0	19	4
Vejle \|2023–24 \|Danish Superliga \|8	2	2	2	colspan="2"\|—	10	4
colspan="3"\|Career total !345	70	41	16	1	0	387	86

=International=

:Scores and results list DR Congo's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ngbakoto goal.

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of international goals scored by Yeni Ngbakoto
scope="col"\|No. !scope="col" data-sort-type="date"\|Date !scope="col"\|Venue !scope="col"\|Cap !scope="col"\|Opponent !scope="col"\|Score !scope="col"\|Result !scope="col"\|Competition
align="center"\|1 \|5 June 2017	Sports Center of FAR, Rabat, Morocco	align="center"\|2	{{fb\|BOT}}	align="center"\|2–0	align="center"\|2–0	Friendly

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Yeni Ngbakoto

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col" data-sort-type="date"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Cap

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

align="center"|1

|5 June 2017

Sports Center of FAR, Rabat, Morocco

align="center"|2

align="center"|2–0

Friendly

Honours

Guingamp

Coupe de la Ligue runner-up: 2018–19{{Cite web |title=Strasbourg remporte la Coupe de la Ligue aux tirs au but |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/football/article/2019/03/31/strasbourg-remporte-la-coupe-de-la-ligue-aux-tirs-au-but_5443712_1616938.html |access-date=5 November 2023 |date=31 March 2019 |language=fr |last1=Kezzouf |first1=Youmni |website=Le Monde}}