Teden Mengi Explained

Teden Mengi
Full Name:Teden Mambuene Mengi[1]
Birth Date:30 April 2002
Birth Place:Manchester, England[2]
Height:1.83m (06feet)[3]
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Luton Town
Clubnumber:15
Youthyears1:2009–2019
Youthclubs1:Manchester United
Years1:2019–2023
Clubs1:Manchester United
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2021
Clubs2:Derby County (loan)
Caps2:9
Goals2:0
Years3:2022
Clubs3:Birmingham City (loan)
Caps3:9
Goals3:0
Years4:2023–
Clubs4:Luton Town
Caps4:32
Goals4:1
Nationalyears1:2016
Nationalteam1:England U15
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2018
Nationalteam2:England U16
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2018–2019
Nationalteam3:England U17
Nationalcaps3:6
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2019
Nationalteam4:England U18
Nationalcaps4:4
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2021
Nationalteam5:England U20
Nationalcaps5:1
Nationalgoals5:0
Nationalyears6:2024–
Nationalteam6:England U21
Nationalcaps6:1
Nationalgoals6:0
Club-Update:10:01, 18 August 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:18:21, 20 April 2024 (UTC)

Teden Mambuene Mengi (born 30 April 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for club Luton Town.

Mengi is a graduate of the Manchester United youth system. He made his senior debut for the club in the UEFA Europa League in August 2020. He had spells on loan at Derby County in 2021 and Birmingham City in 2022. He is an England youth international and has represented the country from under-15 to under-20 level.

Club career

Manchester United

Mengi joined the Manchester United youth system at the age of seven.[4] He made his first appearance for the club in an under-18 Premier League match against Sunderland on 28 October 2017.[5] He signed his first professional contract in September 2019.[6] He played three games for the under-21s in the 2019–20 EFL Trophy, making his debut against Lincoln City on 1 October.[7] Soon after, he was an unused substitute for the United senior team for the first time in a Europa League match against Astana on 28 November.[8]

Mengi made his senior debut on 5 August 2020, coming on as an 84th-minute substitute for Timothy Fosu-Mensah in a UEFA Europa League match against LASK.[9] Mengi was promoted to the first team on 17 September ahead of the 2020–21 season,[10] but although he was included as a substitute for EFL Cup games and on an expanded bench in the UEFA Champions League, he did not appear again for the first team in 2020.

Loans to Derby County and Birmingham City

In February 2021, he was sent on loan to EFL Championship club Derby County, managed by former United captain Wayne Rooney, for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.[11] In March, he signed a new contract with Manchester United until June 2024, with the option of another year.[4] After suffering an injury in April, Mengi returned to United early from Derby.[12] Mengi joined another Championship club, Birmingham City, in January 2022 on loan for the rest of the 2021–22 season.[13] He impressed,[14] but a recurring hamstring injury restricted him to just ten appearances.[15] [16]

Luton Town

On 31 August 2023, Mengi joined newly promoted Premier League club Luton Town for an undisclosed fee, signing a long-term contract.[17] He scored the first goal of his senior career on 25 November to give Luton the lead against Crystal Palace; although Palace equalised immediately afterwards, Jacob Brown secured Luton's first home win of the Premier League season.[18]

International career

Mengi has represented England at under-15, under-16, under-17 and under-18 levels.[11] He was a member of the under-17 squad at the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[19]

In October 2021, Mengi was called up to train with the England senior team.[20] [21] On 11 November, Mengi made his England U20 debut during a 2–0 defeat to Portugal in the 2021–22 Under 20 Elite League.[22]

On 26 March 2024, Mengi made his England under-21 debut as a second-half substitute during a 7–0 win against Luxembourg in a 2025 European Under-21 Championship qualifier at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, Bolton.[23]

Personal life

Mengi was born in Manchester, England, and is of Angolan descent.[24] [25] He attended Wright Robinson College in Gorton, Manchester.[26]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester United U212019–203030
2020–213030
2021–221010
2022–232020
Total000000009090
Manchester United2019–20Premier League0000001010
2020–21Premier League0000000000
2021–22Premier League0000001010
2022–23Premier League0000000000
Total000000200020
Derby County (loan)2020–21Championship9090
Birmingham City (loan)2021–22Championship9010100
Luton Town2023–24Premier League3014010351
2024–25Championship20000020
Total3214010371
Career total49150102090661

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Updated squad lists for 2019/20 Premier League . Premier League . 6 February 2020 . 5 August 2020.
  2. News: Adam . Marshall . United's Academy intake for 2018/19 . ManUtd.com . Manchester United . 6 July 2018 . 5 August 2020 .
  3. Web site: Teden Mengi: Overview . Premier League . 31 August 2020 .
  4. News: Manchester United announce new contract for Teden Mengi . Manchester Evening News . 17 March 2021 . 20 March 2021.
  5. Web site: T. Mengi . Soccerway . Perform Group . 6 August 2020.
  6. News: Matt. Gault. From Under-18s captain to Manchester United first-team contender - Teden Mengi's rise . Manchester Evening News. 21 June 2020 . 5 August 2020 .
  7. News: Cliff . Butler . Garner strike secures second cup win . ManUtd.com . Manchester United . 1 October 2019 . 6 August 2020 .
  8. News: Gemma. Thompson . FC Astana 2 Manchester United 1 . ManUtd.com . Manchester United . 28 November 2019 . 28 November 2019 .
  9. News: Simon. Stone . Manchester United 2-1 LASK: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side complete emphatic win . BBC Sport . 5 August 2020 . 5 August 2020 .
  10. News: Samuel . Luckhurst . Manchester United promote Teden Mengi to first team squad . Manchester Evening News . 17 September 2020 . 18 September 2020 .
  11. News: Derby sign Manchester United defender Mengi on loan . dcfc.co.uk . Derby County FC . 1 February 2021 . 1 February 2021 .
  12. News: Teden Mengi returns to Manchester United after suffering season-ending injury . Manchester Evening News . 19 April 2021 . 20 April 2021.
  13. News: Teden Mengi: Birmingham sign Manchester United defender after Wolves recall Dion Sanderson . BBC Sport . 4 January 2022 . 4 January 2022.
  14. News: Birmingham City player ratings vs Preston: Hogan pounces as Hernandez lights up Blues . Brian . Dick . Birmingham Mail . 15 January 2022 . 8 May 2022.
  15. News: Birmingham City dealt injury hammer blow over Manchester United starlet . Brian . Dick . Birmingham Mail . 17 March 2022 . 8 May 2022.
  16. News: Manchester United youngster returns to first team training as loan terminates . Brian . Dick . Birmingham Mail . 5 May 2022 . 8 May 2022.
  17. Web site: Teden Mengi signs from Manchester United! . Luton Town F.C. . 31 August 2023 . 26 November 2023.
  18. News: Brown earns Luton first home win of the season against Palace . ESPN UK . Reuters . 25 November 2023 . 26 November 2023.
  19. News: Young Lions squad head for UEFA U17 Euro finals in the Republic of Ireland this month . The Football Association . 2 May 2019 . 20 March 2021.
  20. News: Opportunities you only dream of as a young boy . Twitter . 13 October 2021 . 13 October 2021.
  21. Web site: 2021-10-13. Teden Mengi honoured to train with England senior squad. 2021-10-27. United In Focus. en-GB.
  22. News: Portugal 2-0 England MU20s. Nicholas. Veevers. EnglandFootball.com. 11 November 2021. 12 November 2021.
  23. News: Luton defender Mengi makes his England U21 debut during Luxembourg thrashing . Mike . Simmonds . Luton Today . 26 March 2024 . 27 March 2024.
  24. Web site: I Am Not A Nigerian – Manchester United Teden Mengi Explains. newzandar.com. 12 June 2020.
  25. Web site: Teden Mengi: Manchester United defender signs new contract until 2024 Goal.com. 2021-10-27. www.goal.com.
  26. Web site: Mitten . Andy . Teden Mengi - 'he has all the attributes to be a wonderful centre-half' . The Athletic . 7 October 2020 . 3 October 2020 . subscription.