| DJ Buffonge | |
| Fullname: | Darren Raekwon McIntosh-Buffonge[1] |
| Birth Date: | 7 November 1998 |
| Birth Place: | London, England |
| Height: | 1.78 m |
| Position: | Central midfielder |
| Youthclubs1: | Arsenal |
| Youthyears2: | 2010–2015 |
| Youthclubs2: | Fulham |
| Youthyears3: | 2015–2019 |
| Youthclubs3: | Manchester United |
| Years1: | 2019–2020 |
| Clubs1: | Spezia |
| Caps1: | 3 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2020 |
| Clubs2: | → Pergolettese (loan) |
| Caps2: | 1 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2020–2022 |
| Clubs3: | NAC Breda |
| Caps3: | 17 |
| Goals3: | 1 |
| Years4: | 2023 |
| Clubs4: | Telstar |
| Caps4: | 4 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2024 |
| Clubs5: | Emmen |
| Caps5: | 1 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 10 May 2024 |
Darren Raekwon McIntosh-Buffonge (born 7 November 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder.
Buffonge started in the youth system of Arsenal, prior to making the move across his hometown to Fulham in 2010.[1] [2] [3] After five years with Fulham, Buffonge was signed by Manchester United's academy on trial ahead of the 2015–16 campaign.[4] After impressing the likes of Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Paul Mcguinnes, the central midfielder penned his scholarship and professional terms on 13 November 2015; despite missing several months with a groin injury.[4] He left United on 30 June 2019 having not featured at first-team level, though did train with the senior squad on many occasions under Louis Van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and briefly Ole Gunnar Solskjaer .[2] [5] [6] In the months leading up to his departure, Buffonge had trials with EFL Championship duo Derby County and Bolton Wanderers.[7] [8]
On 9 August 2019, Buffonge moved abroad to join Italian Serie B side Spezia; penning a one-year contract, with the option of a further year.[9] He made his professional debut on 18 August in the Coppa Italia, replacing Delano Burgzorg after sixty-two minutes of a defeat to Sassuolo of Serie A.[10] His first Serie B appearance arrived a week later against Cittadella.
On 31 January 2020, he was loaned to Serie C club Pergolettese.[11] He made one league appearance, against Lecco on 9 February, before COVID-19 pandemic stopped that loan spell prematurely.
On 14 August 2020, Buffonge joined Dutch Eerste Divisie side NAC Breda.[12] His debut arrived on 29 August against Jong AZ, having replaced Moreno Rutten after eighty-five minutes of a 6–1 victory. He scored his first senior goal whilst with the club, netting in a 4–1 win away to MVV Maastricht on 6 November.
His contract was not extended after the 2021–22 season, making him a free agent.[13] [14]
In January 2023, Buffonge joined Eerste Divisie side Telstar.[15]
On 25 January 2024, Buffonge joined Emmen on an amateur basis.[16]
Buffonge is eligible for England, Antigua & Barbuda, and Trinidad & Tobago. In February 2017, Buffonge was selected by Antigua and Barbuda for the CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Costa Rica.[17] [18] However, Buffonge didn't appear at the tournament after being replaced by Ajani Thomas.[19]
Buffonge's brother, Dajour, is also a footballer who played internationally for Montserrat.[20]
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| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Spezia | 2019–20 | Serie B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||
| Pergolettese (loan) | 2019–20 | Serie C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| NAC Breda | 2020–21 | Eerste Divisie | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | |||
| Career total | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | |||||