| Ezechiel Banzuzi | |
| Birth Date: | 16 February 2005 |
| Birth Place: | Zwijndrecht, Netherlands[1] |
| Height: | 1.90 m |
| Position: | Attacking midfielder |
| Currentclub: | OH Leuven |
| Clubnumber: | 6 |
| Youthyears1: | –2016 |
| Youthclubs1: | VVGZ |
| Youthyears2: | 2016–2021 |
| Youthclubs2: | NAC Breda |
| Years1: | 2021–2023 |
| Clubs1: | NAC Breda |
| Caps1: | 51 |
| Goals1: | 5 |
| Years2: | 2023– |
| Caps2: | 47 |
| Goals2: | 3 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2021–2022 |
| Nationalteam1: | Netherlands U17 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 9 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 2 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2022–2023 |
| Nationalteam2: | Netherlands U18 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 5 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 7 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2023–2024 |
| Nationalteam3: | Netherlands U19 |
| Nationalcaps3: | 10 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 4 |
| Nationalyears4: | 2024– |
| Nationalteam4: | Netherlands U21 |
| Nationalcaps4: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals4: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 16:08, 14 October 2024 (UTC) |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 10 October 2024 |
Ezechiel Banzuzi (born 16 February 2005) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Belgian Pro League club OH Leuven. Born in the Netherlands, he is of Congolese descent.
Banzuzi progressed through VVGZ and NAC Breda's youth teams, joining the latter at age eleven. He made his professional debut for the club on 26 October 2021, in a cup match against VVV-Venlo, which NAC won on penalties. Banzuzi entered the match as a substitute in the 75th minute, replacing Pjotr Kestens.[2] At the age of sixteen, he appeared in ten matches for NAC without signing a professional contract, attracting interest from other clubs. On 8 January 2022, prior to a match against Eindhoven, Banzuzi hinted at a possible departure through a Snapchat post, which led to his demotion back to the youth team.[3] However, in February 2022, he was reinstated to the first team.[4] [5]
Following this, Banzuzi saw increased playing time in league matches during the 2021–22 season, making a total of 20 appearances, nine of which were as a starter. NAC Breda qualified for the promotion play-offs, where they were eliminated in the first round by ADO Den Haag.[6] In the subsequent season, Banzuzi again helped NAC reach the play-offs, where they initially advanced past MVV in the first round but were eliminated by Emmen.[7] [8] During the regular season, he made 31 appearances, contributing five goals and four assists to the team's qualification for the play-off rounds.
On 20 June 2023, Banzuzi signed a three-year contract with Belgian Pro League club OH Leuven.[9] [10]
Born in the Netherlands, Banzuzi is of Congolese descent.[11]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| NAC Breda | 2021–22 | Eerste Divisie | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 24 | 1 | |
| 2022–23 | Eerste Divisie | 31 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 28 | 2 | ||
| Total | 51 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 59 | 7 | |||
| OH Leuven | 2023–24 | Belgian Pro League | 37 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | 40 | 3 | ||
| 2024–25 | Belgian Pro League | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 | 1 | |||
| Total | 47 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 4 | |||
| Career total | 98 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 109 | 11 | |||