Wanya Marçal-Madivadua (born 19 October 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Dutch second-tier Eerste Divisie club De Graafschap, on loan from Premier League club Leicester City. Born in England, he has represented Portugal at youth international level.
 Wanya Marçal during Leicester City's 2024 Championship winning celebrations | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Wanya Marçal-Madivadua[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 19 October 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Leicester, England[1] | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder, winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
De Graafschap (on loan from Leicester City) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Feeder Soccer | |||
| 2013–2015 | Peterborough United | ||
| 2015–2022 | Leicester City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022– | Leicester City | 3 | (1) |
| 2024– | → De Graafschap (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2021–2022 | Portugal U20 | 4 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 March 2024 (UTC) | |||
Early life
editMarçal was born in Leicester, but grew up in Peterborough with his mother and step-father.[2] He is the eldest of four siblings, with his step-brother Cheyenne Loureiro, as well as his brother, Luegi, playing for Leicester City, while his other step-brother, Giovanni Loureiro, also played for the club before moving on to Bolton Wanderers.[2]
Club career
editEarly career
editInitially playing football in a local park with his brothers, Marçal joined a local academy named Feeder Soccer, before being scouted and signed by professional side Peterborough United at the age of ten.[2]
Leicester City
editHis step-brother, Giovanni, had joined the academy of Leicester City, and was shortly followed by Marçal, who joined the club in 2015, at the age of twelve.[2][3] Having progressed through the academy, he signed a professional contract with the club in July 2021, despite interest from a number of clubs across Europe, and was promoted to the first-team squad.[4] On 8 January 2022, Marçal made his professional debut with Leicester City in a 4–1 FA Cup win over Watford, coming on as a half-time substitute for Vontae Daley-Campbell.[5][6]
Ahead of the 2023–24 season, Marçal signed a contract extension with the club.[7] Under new manager Enzo Maresca, Marçal featured in all of Leicester City's pre-season games, including travelling with the first-team squad to Thailand and Singapore.[8]
Following the loss of a number of first-team players due to Leicester City's relegation from the Premier League, he was handed his league debut in the EFL Championship in a 1–0 win against Huddersfield Town on 12 August 2023 by Maresca.[2][9] The following Saturday, he scored his first professional goal in a 2–1 win over Cardiff City, volleying past goalkeeper Jak Alnwick following a headed clearance by a Cardiff City defender from a Leicester City corner.[2][3] Despite his bright start to the season, he was dropped for the following game away at Rotherham United, with Leicester manager Maresca, who opted to have two goalkeepers on the bench instead, stating that Marçal needed to "earn" his place in the team.[10]
On 22 December 2023, Marçal extended his contract with Leicester until the summer of 2026.[11]
Loan to De Graafschap
editOn 30 August 2024, Marçal joined De Graafschap in the Netherlands on a season-long loan.[12]
International career
editBorn in England, Marçal is of Portuguese and Angolan descent. He is a youth international for Portugal, having represented the Portugal U20s.[13]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 27 February 2024[14]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Leicester City U21 | 2021–22 | — | — | — | — | 2[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| 2022–23 | — | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| 2023–24 | — | — | — | — | 3[a] | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | ||||||
| Leicester City | 2021–22 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023–24 | Championship | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 1 | |||
| Total | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 2 | ||
- ^ a b c Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
Honours
editLeicester City
References
edit- ^ a b c Wanya Marçal at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b c d e f Tanner, Rob (25 August 2023). "Wanya Marcal's first Leicester City goal was very much a family affair". theathletic.com. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ a b Pawley, Luke (19 August 2023). "Leicester City 'dream' was eight years in the making for newest star". leicestermercury.co.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ de Cunha, Jorge (6 July 2021). "Leicester integra no plantel principal o português Wanya Marçal" [Leicester includes Portuguese Wanya Marçal in its main squad]. maisfutebol.iol.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ McGovern, Ste (8 January 2022). "Neil Lennon nails why Daley-Campbell deserved to avoid red card". LeicestershireLive.
- ^ "Chama-se Wanya Marçal, é português e estreou-se na primeira equipa do Leicester" [His name is Wanya Marçal, he is Portuguese and made his debut in Leicester's first team]. ojogo.pt (in Portuguese). 8 January 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ Blackwell, Jordan (19 June 2023). "Leicester City notebook: Promising duo sign deals with striker dilemma to impact squad planning". leicestermercury.co.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ Wilson, Amie (27 July 2023). "Enzo Maresca explains what's 'important' for young Leicester City players amid pre-season impact". leicestermercury.co.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ "Leicester City team news v Huddersfield: Stolarczyk & Marcal-Madivadua make first league starts". Leicestershire Live. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
- ^ Blackwell, Jordan (27 August 2023). "Enzo Maresca tells Wanya Marcal what he needs to do after winger dropped for Leicester City win". leicestermercury.co.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ "New Leicester City Deal For Wanya Marçal". Leicester City FC. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
- ^ "De Graafschap versterkt zich met Wanya Marçal" [De Graafschap strengthens itself with Wanya Marçal] (in Dutch). De Graafschap. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Wanya Marçal-Madivadua assina o seu primeiro contrato profissional". 12 July 2021.
- ^ Wanya Marçal at Soccerway
- ^ "Championship: 2023/24: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
"Leicester: Squad details: 2023/24". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
External links
edit- Wanya Marçal national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)