| Franco Tongya | |
| Birth Date: | 13 March 2002 |
| Birth Place: | Turin, Italy |
| Height: | 1.78 m |
| Position: | Winger |
| Currentclub: | Salernitana |
| Clubnumber: | 7 |
| Youthyears1: | 2006–2009 |
| Youthclubs1: | Brandizzo |
| Youthyears2: | 2009–2021 |
| Youthclubs2: | Juventus |
| Years1: | 2020–2021 |
| Clubs1: | Juventus U23 |
| Caps1: | 10 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2021–2022 |
| Clubs2: | Marseille B |
| Caps2: | 14 |
| Goals2: | 4 |
| Years3: | 2022–2024 |
| Clubs3: | OB |
| Caps3: | 27 |
| Goals3: | 3 |
| Years4: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs4: | → AEK Larnaca (loan) |
| Caps4: | 30 |
| Goals4: | 6 |
| Years5: | 2024– |
| Clubs5: | Salernitana |
| Caps5: | 0 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2017–2018 |
| Nationalteam1: | Italy U16 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 13 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 1 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2018–2019 |
| Nationalteam2: | Italy U17 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 22 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 7 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2019 |
| Nationalteam3: | Italy U18 |
| Nationalcaps3: | 9 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 2 |
| Nationalyears4: | 2020–2021 |
| Nationalteam4: | Italy U19 |
| Nationalcaps4: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals4: | 0 |
| Nationalyears5: | 2021–2022 |
| Nationalteam5: | Italy U20 |
| Nationalcaps5: | 7 |
| Nationalgoals5: | 1 |
| Club-Update: | 22 April 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 23:01, 7 June 2022 (UTC) |
| Full Name: | Franco Daryl Tongya Heubang[1] |
Franco Daryl Tongya Heubang (born 13 March 2002) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a winger for club Salernitana.
Born in Turin, Italy, to Cameroonian parents, Tongya began his youth career at Brandizzo when he was about four years old,[2] before moving to Juventus' youth sector in 2009 aged seven. In 2016–17 he captained the under-15 side, helping them win the league title.
Tongya made his Serie C debut for Juventus U23 – the reserve team of Juventus – on 28 September 2020, in a 2–1 win over Pro Sesto.[3] He played 10 league games in the first half of the 2020–21 season.
On 28 January 2021, Tongya joined Ligue 1 Marseille in a deal worth €8 million, with Marley Aké moving to Juventus for the same fee.[4] He made his debut for the reserve team in the Championnat National 2 on 27 February, as a starter in a 0–0 draw against Rumilly-Vallières.[5]
On 30 August 2022, Tongya joined Danish side OB on a permanent deal, signing a three-year contract with the club.[6] He subsequently made his debut in the Danish Superliga on 4 September, starting the match against Viborg, which ended in a 2-1 defeat for his team.[7]
On 21 October, Tongya scored his first goal with the club, as well as his first professional goal, in a 3–1 league win against Lyngby.[8] [9] On 10 March 2023, he scored with a bicycle kick in a 2-1 league win over Aalborg: thanks to this achievement, he eventually received the "Goal of the Month" prize by the Superligaen.[10] [11]
On 2 September 2023, Tongya joined Cypriot First Division side AEK Larnaca on a season-long loan.[12] After finishing his loan spell, Tongya returned to Odense.[13]
On 13 July 2024, Tongya returned to Italy after signing with newly-relegated Serie B club Salernitana.[14]
Tongya has represented Italy internationally from under-16 to under-19 levels.[15] He played for the under-17 side at the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, playing five games and scoring Italy's winning goal in the semi-finals against Portugal;[16] Italy eventually lost the final to the Netherlands.[17]
Tongya also took part at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil; he played as a starter in all five games and scored a goal in the group stage against the Solomon Islands. Italy were knocked out by hosts Brazil in the quarter-finals.
Both in May and December 2022, he was involved in training camps led by the Italian senior national team's manager, Roberto Mancini, and aimed to the most promising national talents.[18] [19]
Mainly a half-winger, Tongya is also capable of playing as an attacking midfielder,[20] or a winger.[21] He initially started out as a forward, before moving to the midfield. He has been described as a dynamic player, with good tactical intelligence and technical ability.[22]
Tongya cited Cristiano Ronaldo as a source of inspiration.
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Juventus U23 | 2020–21 | Serie C | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| Marseille II | 2020–21 | National 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2021–22 | National 2 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 4 | ||
| OB | 2022–23 | Danish Superliga | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 2 | |
| 2023–24 | Danish Superliga | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | ||
| Total | 21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 3 | |||
| AEK Larnaca | 2023–24 | Cypriot First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Career total | 39 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 6 | |||
Juventus
Italy U17