Youssouf Mulumbu


Youssouf Mulumbu is a Congolese professional footballer who most recently played as a midfielder for Celtic.

Club career

Paris Saint-Germain

Mulumbu joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2004.

West Bromwich Albion

It was reported by the French media on 26 January 2009 that he joined Premier League team West Bromwich Albion on a trial basis. On 2 February 2009, the January transfer deadline day, he joined them on loan with a view to a permanent deal at the end of the season. Mulumbu's first term at The Hawthorns was interrupted by injuries and he had to wait until April to make his Premier League debut, coming on as a sub in a 2–2 draw at Portsmouth. He signed for West Brom permanently on a one-year contract for a fee of £175,000 on 10 July 2009.
He was named West Brom's Player of the Year by both the club and the fans at the end of the season, and signed his third contract extension in 13 months on 25 July 2011, tying himself to the club until 2015.
On 15 March 2014, Mulumbu scored a crucial winner for West Brom in a 2–1 victory against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium, giving Pepe Mel his first win as head coach.

Norwich City

In June 2015, it was announced that Mulumbu would sign on a free-transfer for newly promoted Norwich City on 1 July 2015.
On 3 August 2015, Norwich announced that Mulumbu suffered a broken metatarsal in a friendly against Brentford which would require surgery and sideline him for several weeks, ruling him out of the start of the season. He would finally make his debut on 27 October in a Capital One Cup game against Everton, which Norwich lost on penalties after a 1–1 draw. He made his Premier League debut a few days later on 31 October in a 2–1 defeat to Manchester City. However, with Jonny Howson, Alexander Tettey and Graham Dorrans preferred in the centre of midfield, Mulumbu would ultimately be confined to only five league starts and two appearances as a substitute in the 2015–16 season, plus one appearance in the FA Cup, and the season would end with Norwich relegated back to the Championship.
Mulumbu remained with Norwich for the 2016–17 season but again found his opportunities for first team action restricted. His last appearance for Norwich came on 11 February 2017 in a 5–1 win over Nottingham Forest. On 2 May, it was announced that Mulumbu was one of seven players who would be released by Norwich when their contracts expired at the end of the season.

Kilmarnock

On 22 November 2017, it was announced that Mulumbu had signed for Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock until the end of the 2017–18 season. Mulumbu reunited with manager Steve Clarke, who had also managed him at West Bromwich. He scored his first goal for Kilmarnock in a 1–0 win against Celtic on 3 February 2018. On 13 July 2018, Clarke said that Mulumbu had left Kilmarnock and was not expected to return to the club.

Celtic

On 31 August 2018, Mulumbu signed a two-year deal with Celtic.
Mulumbu was loaned back to Kilmarnock on 31 January 2019, until the end of the 2018-19 season, and played 12 times in his second spell with the Ayrshire club.
In June 2019, Mulumbu left Celtic after the club activated a break clause in his contract. Mulumbu had made three appearances for the Glasgow side.

International career

Mulumbu was formerly a member of the France under-20 and under-21 teams. He earned his first cap for Congo DR national football team against Algeria on 26 March 2008. In 2009, Mulumbu decided to boycott international football after he claimed his national team lacked professionalism. On 23 September 2011 he retired from international duties, quoting "numerous problems we were facing with some authorities within the DR Congo Football Federation". However, in July 2012, he decided to revoke this decision, and made himself available for the Congo DR national football team once again.

Personal life

Mulumbu was born in Kinshasa, Zaire. He is a Muslim.

Honors

National

DR Congo