Ilombe Mboyo

Ilombe Mboyo
	Mboyo with Genk in 2014
Personal information
Date of birth	22 April 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth	Kinshasa, DR Congo (then Zaire)
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Virton
Number	19
Youth career
1997–2001	Anderlecht
2001–2002	Eendracht Aalst
2002–2005	Club Brugge
2005–2008	Charleroi
Senior career*
Years	Team
2008–2010	Charleroi
2010–2011	Kortrijk
2011–2013	Gent
2013–2015	Genk
2015–2018	Sion
2017–2018	→ Cercle Brugge (loan)
2018–2021	Kortrijk
2019	→ Al-Raed (loan)
2021	Sint-Truiden
2021–2022	Gent
2022	URSL Visé
2023–	Virton
International career
2011	DR Congo
2012	Belgium
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 June 2023

Ilombe Mboyo (born 22 April 1987) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Virton. Born in Zaire and raised in Belgium, Mboyo originally represented DR Congo internationally before switching to represent the Belgium national team.

Club career

Born in Kinshasa, DR Congo, Mboyo played youth football for Anderlecht and Club Brugge, before going to prison when he was 17 for his part in a gang rape of a 14-year-old girl in 2004. Mboyo was a member of one of the most notorious street gangs in Belgium.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4] While in prison, Mboyo was scouted under an initiative started by Queen Paola of Belgium^[5] and trained with Charleroi, joining the club after his release, signed by John Collins.^[4] He joined Kortrijk on loan in May 2010; the deal was made permanent in September 2010^[4] He moved to Gent in January 2011.^[6]

He quickly became an important player for Gent and received the captain's armband.^[4] However, two months later, in a game against Waasland-Beveren, Mboyo missed a carelessly taken penalty and provoked his own supporters after being booed. The club forced him to apologize for his behaviour and youngster Hannes van der Bruggen became the new captain.^[7]

In August 2013, West Ham United pulled out of signing Mboyo after fans protested due to his conviction.^[8]

On 3 February 2019, Al-Raed signed Mboyo for one season from Kortrijk.^[9]

In January 2021, Mboyo joined fellow Belgian First Division A side Sint-Truiden on a permanent deal.^[10]

On 31 August 2021, he returned to Gent on a two-year contract.^[11]

On 26 December 2022, Mboyo signed with Virton.^[12]

International career

In August 2011 Mboyo played for the DR Congo national team in the 3–0 defeat against Gambia.^[13] However, as this was a friendly game, he remained eligible for Belgium. In October 2012, Mboyo was called up to the senior Belgium national team. Due to his conviction, the selection was controversial. Assistant manager Vital Borkelmans said that he deserved a second chance, while François De Keersmaecker, President of the Royal Belgian Football Association, said that his presence could set a good example.^[2] He made his debut on the 16th in a 2–0 win over Scotland in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, replacing Christian Benteke for the final four minutes at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels.^[14]

Career statistics

As of match played 16 May 2019^[6]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			Cup		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sporting Charleroi	2008–09	Belgian First Division	15	3	0	0	0	0	15	3
	2009–10	Belgian Pro League	25	0	1	0	0	0	26	0
	Total		40	3	1	0	0	0	41	3
Kortrijk	2010–11	Belgian Pro League	21	6	2	0	0	0	23	6
Gent	2010–11	Belgian Pro League	12	2	1	1	0	0	13	3
	2011–12	Belgian Pro League	32	14	3	0	0	0	35	14
	2012–13	Belgian Pro League	34	20	3	1	0	0	37	21
	2013–14	Belgian Pro League	2	1	0	0	0	0	2	1
	Total		80	37	7	2	0	0	87	39
Genk	2013–14	Belgian Pro League	24	5	1	0	4^[a]	0	29	5
	2014–15	Belgian Pro League	19	8	1	0	0	0	20	8
	Total		43	13	2	0	0	0	45	13
Sion	2017–18	Swiss Super League	24	4	1	1	0	0	25	5
Cercle Brugge (loan)	2016–17	Belgian First Division A	10	4	0	0	0	0	10	4
Kortrijk	2018–19	Belgian First Division A	20	7	2	0	0	0	22	7
Al-Raed (loan)	2018–19	Saudi Professional League	13	2	0	0	0	0	13	2
Career total			251	76	15	3	4	0	270	79