| Albert Sambi Lokonga | |
| Full Name: | Albert-Mboyo Sambi Lokonga[1] |
| Birth Date: | 22 October 1999 |
| Birth Place: | Verviers, Liège, Belgium |
| Height: | 1.83 m |
| Position: | Central midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Sevilla (on loan from Arsenal) |
| Clubnumber: | 12 |
| Youthyears1: | 2010–2017 |
| Youthclubs1: | Anderlecht |
| Years1: | 2017–2021 |
| Clubs1: | Anderlecht |
| Caps1: | 69 |
| Goals1: | 3 |
| Years2: | 2021– |
| Clubs2: | Arsenal |
| Caps2: | 25 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2023 |
| Clubs3: | → Crystal Palace (loan) |
| Caps3: | 9 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Clubs4: | → Luton Town (loan) |
| Years4: | 2023–2024 |
| Caps4: | 17 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
| Years5: | 2024– |
| Clubs5: | → Sevilla (loan) |
| Caps5: | 0 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2016 |
| Nationalteam1: | Belgium U17 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2018 |
| Nationalteam2: | Belgium U19 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2019–2020 |
| Nationalteam3: | Belgium U21 |
| Nationalcaps3: | 6 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 2 |
| Nationalyears4: | 2021 |
| Nationalteam4: | Belgium |
| Nationalcaps4: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals4: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 18:22, 19 May 2024 (UTC) |
Albert-Mboyo Sambi Lokonga (born 22 October 1999) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club Sevilla, on loan from Arsenal.[2] He came through Anderlecht's youth academy and made his senior debut with the club in 2017.
Having first joined their youth academy in 2010,[3] Sambi Lokonga signed his first professional contract with Anderlecht on 10 November 2017.[4] He made his professional debut for Anderlecht in a 1–0 Belgian First Division A win over Eupen on 22 December 2017.[5] In November 2019, Sambi Lokonga extended his contract with the club until 2023. On 27 September 2020, he scored the first goal of his senior career as Anderlecht drew 1–1 with Eupen.[6]
On 19 July 2021, Sambi Lokonga signed a long-term contract with English club Arsenal after completing an approximately £17.2 million transfer, subject to the completion of regulatory processes.[7] [8] [9] Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was impressed with Sambi Lokonga, citing his intelligence and maturity for a young player. Sambi Lokonga made his debut in a 2−0 away loss against Brentford.[10] During his first season at Arsenal he featured in the Amazon Original sports docuseries , which followed the club's progress during their campaign.[11]
On 31 January 2023, fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace announced the signing of Sambi Lokonga on a short-term loan deal until the end of the 2022−23 season.[12] He made his debut for the club on 4 February, coming on as a substitute for Will Hughes in a 2–1 away loss to Manchester United.[13]
On the final day of the Summer transfer window, Sambi Lokonga joined newly-promoted Premier League side Luton Town on a season-long loan.[14] [15] He made his debut for the club on 16 September in a 1–0 loss against Fulham at Craven Cottage; he started the match and played 75 minutes before being substituted.[16] In his second game he picked up a hamstring injury and did not play for three months. Upon returning, he became a regular in the side's midfield; club manager Rob Edwards regularly praised Sambi Lokonga for his stand-out performances in a struggling team. Although the club was eventually relegated to the Championship, his loan at Luton Town was largely seen as successful.[17] [18]
On 15 July 2024, Sambi Lokonga joined La Liga side Sevilla on a season-long loan deal.[19]
Having previously played for Belgium at Belgium U17, Belgium U19 and Belgium U21 levels,[20] Sambi Lokonga was called up to the senior Belgium squad in March 2021.[21] He made his debut on 2 September 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against Estonia, a 5–2 away victory. He was introduced as a substitute for Eden Hazard in the 74th minute.[22]
Sambi Lokonga was born in Verviers, Belgium and is of Congolese descent; his brother Paul-José M'Poku is also a professional footballer.[23] He can speak several languages at different standards, these include English, French, Spanish, Dutch and Ngala.[24]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Anderlecht | 2017–18[25] | Belgian Pro League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19[26] | Belgian Pro League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | ||||
| 2019–20[27] | Belgian Pro League | 23 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 26 | 0 | |||||
| 2020–21 | Belgian Pro League | 33 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 37 | 3 | |||||
| Total | 69 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 3 | |||
| Arsenal | 2021–22[28] | Premier League | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23[29] | Premier League | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 15 | 0 | |||
| Total | 25 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 0 | |||
| Crystal Palace (loan) | 2022–23 | Premier League | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||||
| Luton Town (loan) | 2023–24[30] | Premier League | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 1 | |||
| Sevilla (loan) | 2024–25 | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Career total | 120 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 145 | 4 | |||