Joel Ndala

Joel Ndala
Ndala with Manchester City in 2024
Personal information
Full name Joel Tshisanga Ndala[1]
Date of birth (2006-05-31) 31 May 2006 (age 18)[1]
Place of birth Manchester, England
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Jong PSV
(on loan from Manchester City)
Youth career
–2017 Port Vale
2017–2023 Manchester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Manchester City 0 (0)
2024– → Jong PSV (loan) 9 (1)
International career‡
2021 England U16 1 (1)
2023 England U17 4 (3)
2022– England U18 10 (2)
2024– England U19 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:15, 14 January 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 09:05, 13 October 2024 (UTC)

Joel Tshisanga Ndala (born 31 May 2006) is an English footballer who plays as a forward for Eerste Divisie club Jong PSV, on loan from Premier League club Manchester City. He has represented England up to under-18 level.

Early and personal life

Ndala was born in Manchester and grew up in France before returning to England to live in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent at seven years old. He attended school at St Nathaniel's Academy in Stoke. He then quickly moved to Port Vale Academy. He left Burslem when he signed for Manchester City at the age of 10.[2] Ndala has dual nationality with DR Congo.[3][4]

Club career

Manchester City

Ndala played in the youth ranks at Port Vale, until he joined Manchester City in 2017, at the age of ten years-old, for a fee later reported to be £300,000.[5][6][7] Ndala signed a professional contract with Manchester City in July 2022.[8] He was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best first year scholars in the Premier League in September 2022.[3] He progressed through the Citizens' youth ranks, impressing in the FA Youth Cup during the 2022–23 season.[9][10] He had 25 goal involvements for Ben Wilkinson's U18 Premier League-winning side in the 2022–23 season and was called up to play under Brian Barry-Murphy in the UEFA Youth League.[11] He was included in the senior squad that travelled to Saudi Arabia to play in the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup.[12] He helped the under-18 team to win the FA Youth Cup at the end of the 2023–24 season and also scored against senior opposition for the under-21s in the EFL Trophy.[13]

PSV Eindhoven

On 3 September 2024, Ndala joined Dutch Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy for an initial £5.4 million (with a 20% sell-on clause) that could rise to £8.4 million through add-ons.[14][15] He was assigned to the reserve team Jong PSV that plays in the second-tier Eerste Divisie.

International career

In August 2021 Ndala scored for the England under-16 team in a game against Scotland.[16] He made his debut for the England under-18 side as a sixteen year-old in September 2022.[3] He scored his first goal for England under-18s against Croatia under-18s in March 2023.[17][18]

Ndala was selected to represent England at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup and scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Iran at Jakarta International Stadium in November 2023.[19] Their next group game saw him score a consolation during a defeat against Brazil.[20] His third and last goal of the tournament came in their round of sixteen elimination against Uzbekistan.[21]

On 9 October 2024, Ndala made his U19 debut during a 2–1 defeat to Portugal in Marbella.[22]

Style of play

After his performances at the U17 World Cup in 2023, Ndala was identified by ESPN as one of the stars of the tournament with "phenomenal change of pace and highly developed off-the-ball movement". Comparisons were drawn in style with Jérémy Doku.[23]

Career statistics

As of match played 26 September 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Manchester City U21 2022–23[24] — — — 1[a] 0 1 0
2023–24[25] — — — 2[a] 1 2 1
Total — — — 3 1 3 1
PSV Eindhoven (loan) 2024–25[24] Eredivisie 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0
Career total 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 3 1
  1. ^ a b Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

England U18s

Manchester City Academy[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Joel Ndala at Soccerway. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  2. ^ Aarons, Ed (26 November 2023). "England's 'bright spark' Joel Ndala primed to follow in Foden's footsteps". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Jackson, Jamie (September 27, 2022). "Next Generation 2022: 20 of the best talents at Premier League clubs". The Guardian. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  4. ^ "Joel Ndala, the agile destroyer of the opponent's defense". Kompas.id (in Indonesian). 15 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  5. ^ Baggaley, Michael (29 March 2023). "Rise of Man City prospect Joel Ndala is good news for Port Vale". Stoke on Trent Live. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  6. ^ Baggely, Michael (25 September 2018). "The Port Vale academy players signed by Manchester City, Wolves and Stoke City". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Port Vale could be set for future windfall after Man City transfer is confirmed". onevalefan.co.uk. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  8. ^ Ornstein, David (22 November 2023). "Manchester City starlet in demand, Broja boot deal and Ratcliffe timeframe – Ask Ornstein". The Athletic. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  9. ^ Wood, Liam (8 February 2023). "Joel Ndala showcases Man City promise in dazzling 17-second burst during FA Youth Cup game". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  10. ^ Baggely, Michael (17 January 2023). "Former Port Vale winger shines for Man City in FA Youth Cup". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  11. ^ Kelsey, George (23 July 2024). "Who is City's Joel Ndala?". Manchester City FC. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  12. ^ Bray, Joe (18 December 2023). "Six Man City youngsters travel with Club World Cup squad ahead of Urawa Red Diamonds clash". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  13. ^ Bray, Joe (26 July 2024). "Who is Joel Ndala? 'Special' City star who can provide Pep with summer solution". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Transfer | PSV huurt Joel Ndala van Manchester City en bedingt koopoptie". PSV Eindhoven. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  15. ^ Procter, Tom (3 September 2024). "Club official brands his new £5.4m signing from Man City 'extremely talented'". Manchester City News. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  16. ^ McPartlin, Patrick (20 August 2021). "England U16 3-2 Scotland U16". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  17. ^ "England U18 2-1 Croatia U18". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  18. ^ Baggely, Michael (29 March 2023). "Why rise of England and Man City prospect is good news for Port Vale". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  19. ^ "FIFA U-17: NDALA SEND ENGLAND THROUGH TO KNOCKOUT STAGE". Africatopsports. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  20. ^ "England 1-2 Brazil". ESPN. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  21. ^ "England 1-2 Uzbekistan". BBC Sport. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  22. ^ Vassell, Zac (9 October 2024). "Report: England Under-19s 1-2 Portugal". England Football. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  23. ^ Karlsen, Tor-Kristian (23 November 2023). "Which players have impressed at the U-17 World Cup?". ESPN. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  24. ^ a b "Games played by Joel Ndala in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  25. ^ "Games played by Joel Ndala in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  26. ^ "Report: England MU18s 2-1 Netherlands". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.