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Britt Assombalonga

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"Assombalonga" redirects here. For the father, see Fedor Assombalonga.

Britt Curtis Assombalonga (born 6 December 1992) is a Congolese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Turkish club Amedspor and DR Congo national football team. He has played in the Football League for Watford, Southend United, Peterborough United, Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough.

Britt Assombalonga
Assombalonga with Nottingham Forest in 2016
Personal information
Full name Britt Curtis Assombalonga[1]
Date of birth (1992-12-06) 6 December 1992 (age 31)[2]
Place of birth Kinshasa, Zaire
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[3]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Amedspor
Number 14
Youth career
2010–2011 Watford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Watford 4 (0)
2011–2012 → Wealdstone (loan) 11 (6)
2012 → Braintree Town (loan) 5 (5)
2012–2013 → Southend United (loan) 43 (15)
2013–2014 Peterborough United 43 (23)
2014–2017 Nottingham Forest 65 (30)
2017–2021 Middlesbrough 152 (45)
2021–2023 Adana Demirspor 49 (12)
2023 Watford 11 (2)
2023–2024 Antalyaspor 22 (2)
2024– Amedspor 8 (2)
International career‡
2018– DR Congo 8 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 October 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 January 2020 (UTC)

Early life

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Assambalonga was born in Kinshasa, Zaire, and moved to London, England, with his family at eight months old.[2][4] He grew up in Swiss Cottage, in the London borough of Camden, and attended Whitefield School. He is the son of Fedor Assombalonga, a former Zaire international footballer.[4] His brother, Christian, is also a footballer who plays in the English non-League football system at Bourne Town Football Club[5]

Club career

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Watford

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Assombalonga playing for Watford in 2012

Assombalonga began his career with Watford, signing as a 17-year-old youth player in 2010 after making his way through via the Hertswood Impact Scheme. In his first full season in the youth team, he finished as the second top goal scorer while his team made it to the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals.

He also appeared regularly for Watford's reserve team, and was rewarded for his performances with a one-year professional contract at the end of the season. He was an unused substitute for the senior squad's last two games against Preston North End and Queens Park Rangers.[6]

In November 2011, Assombalonga joined Wealdstone alongside youth teammate Connor Smith to gain more playing experience.[7] On 3 December, he scored his first goal in a league match against Concord Rangers. Assombalonga had his loan spell extended for another month on 4 January 2012.[8] Assombalonga returned to Watford on 4 February, having scored 11 goals in 16 games for Wealdstone.

Just days after his return to Watford, Assombalonga was loaned to Braintree Town on a one-month deal. Despite being heavily linked with a permanent move to Scottish club Peterhead, he also signed a one-year contract extension with Watford on the same day.[9] Assombalonga made an eventful debut in a 3–3 draw against Lincoln City; he scored his first goal for the club to put Braintree 3–2 up before being sent off for a second bookable offence.[10] He scored four more goals in four games for Braintree after serving his one-match suspension, and was subsequently recalled by Watford to join their senior squad.[11]

On 17 March 2012, he made his first-team debut in a 0–0 draw with Coventry City. His appearance made him the 50th player to go through Watford's academy and represent the first-team.[12]

At the start of the 2012–13 season, Assombalonga joined League Two club Southend United on an initial one-month loan.[13] On 25 August 2012, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3–3 draw against Northampton Town. Assombalonga went on to score five goals in four matches, including a brace in a 3–1 win against Dagenham & Redbridge on 7 September.[14]

At the end of the month, Southend extended the loan deal to run until 3 January 2013.[15] Having established himself in the first team, Assombalonga became the club's top scorer that season with a total of 15 goals.[16] Southend again extended Assombalonga's loan in December 2012, keeping him at the club until the end of the season.[17] He played in the 2013 League Trophy Final against Crewe Alexandra which Southend lost 2–0.[18]

Peterborough United

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On 31 July 2013, League One side Peterborough United broke their previous transfer record to sign Assombalonga from Watford on a four-year deal.[19] The fee was undisclosed, but was confirmed as greatly exceeding the club's previous £1.1 million record fee. He was given the number nine shirt. Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony hailed the deal, saying he was "delighted", and that Assombalonga had been Peterborough's main transfer target.[20] On the opening game of the season, he scored on his debut as Peterborough defeated Swindon Town 1–0.[21] He scored a penalty in a 3–1 win over Chesterfield at Wembley in the 2014 Football League Trophy Final.

Nottingham Forest

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On 6 August 2014, Assombalonga joined Nottingham Forest on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee reported to be in the region of £5 million, potentially rising to £8 million based on various clauses (of which Watford will receive 50% due to sell-on clauses).[22][23][24] This made Assombalonga Forest's record signing, surpassing the £4.5 million fee paid to Celtic for striker Pierre van Hooijdonk in 1997.[25] Assombalonga scored his first goals for Forest twelve days after signing, netting a brace against Bolton Wanderers at the Macron Stadium.[26] He then scored a goal each in their next two games, against Bournemouth and Reading respectively. Assombalonga scored in his first East Midlands Derby, opening the scoring against Derby County at the City Ground.[27][28] Assombalonga's goal-scoring run continued with his first hat-trick for Forest on 17 September in a 5–3 home victory against Fulham.[29] He then went on to score in the reverse fixture against Derby, equalising at Pride Park as Forest secured a 2–1 win to relieve the pressure on their beleaguered manager Stuart Pearce. On 11 February 2015, Assombalonga sustained a serious knee injury during a 3–0 victory over Wigan Athletic after taking a shot at goal that prematurely ended his season.[30] Assombalonga eventually made his return from injury on 19 April 2016 as an 84th-minute substitute for Robert Tesche in a draw against Blackburn Rovers.[31] On 7 May Assombalonga scored the winner away at MK Dons, his first senior goal since his injury.[32]

On the opening day of the 2016–17 season, Assombalonga started the first competitive match under new manager Philippe Montanier and scored a brace at home against newly promoted Burton Albion.[33] The striker then reaffirmed his commitment to Forest by signing a new five-year contract on 2 September, tying him to the club until 2021.[34] On 19 November, Assombalonga scored a brace against Ipswich Town, his first coming after only 17 seconds, which took his tally to six goals in eight games for the season. After the game, Assombalonga was described as the "best goalscorer in the league" by teammate Ben Osborn and "the best in the business outside of the Premier League" by former Forest defender Kenny Burns.[35][36] Assombalonga missed Forest's next game – a 5–2 win at Barnsley – with a hamstring problem to continue his injury-hit start to the season.[37] Assombalonga ended the season on a high, scoring his second brace against Ipswich Town on 7 May. With Forest remaining out of the Championship relegation zone by virtue of a one-goal difference with Blackburn Rovers, Assombalonga's brace – one a penalty and the other an exquisite solo effort – either side of a Chris Cohen goal ensured that Forest retained their Championship status at the expense of the Lancashire club.[38] He ended the Championship season as Forest's top goalscorer, having scored 14 goals from 20 starts and 12 substitute appearances.[39]

Middlesbrough

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On 17 July 2017, Assombalonga signed for newly relegated Championship club Middlesbrough, for a reported club-record fee of £15 million.[40][41] He scored his first goals for Middlesbrough when he scored twice in a 2–0 win against Burton Albion on 15 August 2017.[42]

Middlesbrough did not offer him a renewal of his contract, due to expire at the end of the 2020–21 season, and manager Neil Warnock confirmed on 21 April 2021 that he had been allowed to leave the club early.[43]

Adana Demirspor

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On 3 July 2021, Assombalonga signed a three-year deal with the newly-promoted Süper Lig side Adana Demirspor.[44] On 29 January 2023, he had his contract terminated by mutual consent.[45]

Return to Watford

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On 29 January 2023, Assombalonga signed for Championship club Watford on a six-month contract.[46] He scored his first goal for the club on 14 March 2023 in a 3–0 win against Birmingham City.[47]

International career

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Assombalonga was eligible to represent both England and the Democratic Republic of the Congo internationally. In August 2014, he was named on a 37-man provisional DR Congo squad list for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification but withdrew from the final squad.[48][49]

On 4 November 2016, the Nottingham Post reported that Assombalonga had accepted a call-up to the DR Congo national side for their away game against Guinea on 13 November.[50] Assombalonga was forced to pull out of the squad prior to the game as he was not cleared to play in time.[51] That December, Assombalonga rejected the chance to represent DR Congo at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon, stating that he wanted to focus on playing games for Nottingham Forest after an injury-hit season.[52]

Assombalonga made his senior debut for DR Congo in a friendly 2–0 loss to Tanzania on 27 March 2018.[53][54]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 11 August 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Watford 2011–12[55] Championship 4 0 0 0 0 0 — 4 0
2012–13[56] Championship 0 0 — — 0 0 0 0
Total 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Wealdstone (loan) 2011–12[57] IL Premier Division 11 6 — — 5[c] 5 16 11
Braintree Town (loan) 2011–12[55] Conference Premier 5 5 — — — 5 5
Southend United (loan) 2012–13[56] League Two 43 15 0 0 0 0 6[d] 1 49 16
Peterborough United 2013–14[58] League One 43 23 4 5 3 1 8[e] 4 58 33
Nottingham Forest 2014–15[59] Championship 29 15 1 0 2 0 — 32 15
2015–16[60] Championship 4 1 0 0 0 0 — 4 1
2016–17[61] Championship 32 14 1 0 0 0 — 33 14
Total 65 30 2 0 2 0 — 69 30
Middlesbrough 2017–18[62] Championship 44 15 1 0 0 0 2 0 47 15
2018–19[63] Championship 42 14 3 2 1 0 0 0 46 16
2019–20[64] Championship 35 11 0 0 1 0 0 0 36 11
2020–21[65] Championship 31 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 32 5
Total 152 45 4 2 3 0 2 0 161 47
Adana Demirspor 2021–22[66] Süper Lig 37 10 3 2 – – 40 12
2022–23[67] Süper Lig 11 2 2 4 – – 13 6
Total 48 12 5 6 – – 53 18
Watford 2022–23 Championship 11 2 – – – 11 2
Antalyaspor 2023–24 Süper Lig 1 0 0 0 – – 1 0
Career total 383 138 15 11 8 1 21 10 427 162
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup, Turkish Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ Four appearances and three goals in FA Trophy, one appearance and two goals in Middlesex Senior Cup
  4. ^ Appearances in Football League Trophy
  5. ^ Two appearances and one goal in League One play-offs, six appearances and three goals in Football League Trophy

International

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Scores and results list DR Congo's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Assombalonga goal.[68]
International goal scored by Britt Assombalonga
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 30 June 2019 30 June Stadium, Cairo, Egypt   Zimbabwe 4–0 4–0 2019 Africa Cup of Nations

Honours

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Southend United

Peterborough United

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Middlesbrough" (PDF). English Football League. p. 23. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Britt Assombalonga". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Britt Assombalonga". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Britt Assombalonga: Peterborough United forward has split loyalties". BBC Sport. 20 September 2013.
  5. ^ "Transfer: Assombalonga Joins Billericay Town". Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Watford announce who will be released in the summer". Watford Observer. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  7. ^ Whitbread, Joe (24 November 2011). "Watford pair Connor Smith and Britt Assombalonga have joined Wealdstone on loan". Watford Observer. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  8. ^ "Hornets pair extend loans at Wealdstone". Watford Observer. 4 January 2012. Archived from the original on 15 September 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  9. ^ "Watford youngster Britt Assombalonga signs new deal before joining Braintree Town on loan". Watford Observer. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  10. ^ "Watford youngster Britt Assombalonga scores one and sees red in Braintree Town debut". Watford Observer. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  11. ^ "Watford recall in-form striker Britt Assombalonga from Braintree Town". Watford Observer. 15 March 2012. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  12. ^ "Watford academy reaches landmark with 50th first-teamer". BBC Sport. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  13. ^ "Loan: Britt joins Shrimpers" Archived 22 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Watford Football Club. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  14. ^ "Southend 3–1 Dagenham & Redbridge". BBC Sport. 7 September 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  15. ^ "Watford's Britt Assombalonga extends Southend loan spell". BBC Sport. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  16. ^ "Southend United duo created mayhem – Paul Sturrock". BBC Sport. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  17. ^ "Britt Assombalonga: Southend United extend Watford man's loan". BBC Sport. 19 December 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  18. ^ "Johnstone's Paint Trophy final: Crewe 2–0 Southend". BBC Sport. 7 April 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  19. ^ "Britt Assombalonga joins Peterborough in club record deal". BBC Sport. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  20. ^ "Peterborough United smash transfer record to sign striker Britt Assombalonga from Watford". Watford Observer. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  21. ^ "Debut goal delights the Posh entourage". Peterborough Today. 4 August 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  22. ^ "Reds land front man". nottinghamforest.co.uk. Nottingham Forest FC. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  23. ^ "Forest complete double deal | Sporting Life - Football News | Premier League, Champions League, Live Scores, Football Transfer News & Gossip". Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  24. ^ "Transfer news: Nottingham Forest sign Britt Assombalonga and Michail Antonio".
  25. ^ "Britt Assombalonga: Forest seal deal for Peterborough striker". BBC Sport. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  26. ^ "Bolton 2–2 Forest". Nottingham Forest F.C. 16 August 2014.
  27. ^ "Bournemouth 1–2 Forest". BBC Sport. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  28. ^ "Nott'm Forest 4–0 Reading". BBC Sport. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  29. ^ "Nottingham Forest 5–3 Fulham". BBC Sport. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  30. ^ "Assombalonga injury update". Nottingham Forest. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  31. ^ "Forest 1–1 Blackburn". Nottingham Forest. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  32. ^ "Match Report". Nottingham Forest F.C. 7 May 2016. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  33. ^ "Nottingham Forest 4–3 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. 6 August 2016.
  34. ^ "Britt signs new contract".
  35. ^ "Nottingham Forest's Britt Assombalonga is 'best goalscorer in the league'". Nottingham Post. 21 November 2016. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  36. ^ "Nottingham Forest must be taken over before January – to stop Britt Assombalonga being sold". Nottingham Post. 21 November 2016. Archived from the original on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  37. ^ "Nottingham Forest boss Philippe Montanier not worried about Britt Assombalonga being sold in January". Nottingham Post. 24 November 2016. Archived from the original on 25 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  38. ^ "Forest 3–0 Ipswich". Nottingham Forest Official Site. 7 May 2017.
  39. ^ "Player Statistics". Nottingham Forest Official Site. Archived from the original on 10 February 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  40. ^ "Boro Complete Club Record Signing of Britt Assombalonga". Middlesbrough F.C. 17 July 2017.
  41. ^ "Boro sign striker Britt Assombalonga in club record-breaking £15m transfer deal".
  42. ^ "Middlesbrough 2–0 Burton". BBC. 15 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  43. ^ Wilson, Scott (21 April 2021). "Britt Assombalonga and Ashley Fletcher have left Middlesbrough". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  44. ^ "Britt Assombalonga's Middlesbrough goodbye message as he lands a new club after summer exit". Gazette Live. 3 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  45. ^ @AdsKulubu (29 January 2023). "Oyuncumuz Britt Assombalonga'nın kulübümüzle olan sözleşmesi karşılıklı anlaşılarak feshedilmiştir. Kendisine kulübümüze vermiş olduğu hizmetlerden dolayı teşekkür eder, bundan sonraki kariyerinde başarılar dileriz" [The contract of our player Britt Assombalonga with our club has been terminated by mutual agreement. We thank him for his service to our club and wish him success in his future career.] (Tweet) (in Turkish). Retrieved 29 January 2023 – via Twitter.
  46. ^ "Watford snap up Assombalonga on six-month contract". Watford Observer. 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  47. ^ "Watford 3-0 Birmingham". BBC. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  48. ^ Gharbi, Sabri (19 August 2014). "CAN 2015 : nouvelle liste de présélectionnés pour la RD Congo" (in French). Star Africa. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  49. ^ "CAN 2015 : encore une liste pour la RD Congo". 2 September 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  50. ^ "Britt Assombalonga accepts call-up from DR Congo – and could miss Nottingham Forest games in 2017". Nottingham Post. 4 November 2016.[permanent dead link]
  51. ^ "Paperwork problems halt Nottingham Forest striker Britt Assombalonga's international debut". Nottingham Post. 13 November 2016. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  52. ^ "Nottingham Forest star Britt Assombalonga says no to DR Congo call up". Africanfootball.com. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  53. ^ Vickers, Anthony (28 March 2018). "Assombalonga makes international debut".
  54. ^ "Tanzania vs. Congo DR – 27 March 2018 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  55. ^ a b "Games played by Britt Assombalonga in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  56. ^ a b "Games played by Britt Assombalonga in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  57. ^ "Games played by Britt Assombalonga in 2011/2012 for Wealdstone". Wealdstone F.C. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  58. ^ "Games played by Britt Assombalonga in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  59. ^ "Games played by Britt Assombalonga in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  60. ^ "Games played by Britt Assombalonga in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  61. ^ "Games played by Britt Assombalonga in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  62. ^ "Games played by Britt Assombalonga in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  63. ^ "Games played by Britt Assombalonga in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  64. ^ "Games played by Britt Assombalonga in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  65. ^ "Games played by Britt Assombalonga in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  66. ^ "Games played by Britt Assombalonga in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  67. ^ "Games played by Britt Assombalonga in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  68. ^ "Britt Assombalonga". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  69. ^ "Starting Lineups - Crewe vs Southend". Sky Sports. 7 April 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  70. ^ "Congo DR – B. Assombalonga – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  71. ^ "Luis Suarez: Liverpool striker wins PFA Player of the Year award". BBC Sport. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
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