Nathan Mbala

Nathan Mbala
Personal information
Date of birth (2008-02-19) 19 February 2008
Place of birth Kinshasa, DR Congo
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Positions
Team information
Current team
 Metz
Number 34
Youth career
US Forbach
2020–2025 Metz
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024–2025 Metz B 17 (5)
2025– Metz 13 (2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10 May 2026

Nathan Mbala (born 19 February 2008) is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for Metz.

Club career

Nathan Mbala was born in Kinshasa, DR Congo, before moving to Yverdon-les-Bains in Switzerland,[1][2][3] where his father, Democratic Republic of the Congo international Biscotte Mbala, then played.[4][5][6][7]

Mbala moved to France as a 4 years old, where he first played for US Forbach.[1]

He then started playing for Metz in 2020 with the under-13.[4][5] In July 2023, he officially joined the Metz Youth academy, where his older brother Bisnat Mbala already played.[8][7]

Mbala started training with the first team in early 2025, making his unofficial first team debut during a mid-season friendly in March 2025.[9] On the summer 2025, he made the pre-season with the first team and delivered an assist for Cléo Mélières during the first friendly against US Mondorf.[10][11][12]

As he had established himself as a regular goalscorer for the National 3 reserve,[4][13][14][15] Mbala made his professional debut with Metz in a 3–0 away Coupe de France win over ASC Biesheim on 20 December 2025. He replaced the starting captain Gauthier Hein in the last few minutes of the game.[3][16] He then was regularly selected by Stéphane Le Mignan in the first-team Ligue 1 squad, while some of Metz's leaders where away playing the Africa Cup of Nations.[4][17]

After making his Ligue 1 debut on 1st February 2026 against Angers,[4] Mbala scored his first goal with the team two weeks later, in a 3–1 defeat to AJ Auxerre on 17 February 2026.[18] Aged only 17 and 361 days, he became the third youngest goalscorer in the history of FC Metz, trailing only Babacar Gueye and Miralem Pjanić.[19]

On 24 March 2026, Mbala signed his first contract with Metz, the youngster then appearing as one of the few bright spots of a team struggling to avoid relegation.[2]

Style of play

Having initially played as a goalkeeper,[1][20] Mbala switched to outfield player during his youth years.[2][5][7]

Career statistics

As of match played 10 May 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Metz B 2024–25 National 3 82——82
2025–26 National 3 93——93
Total 175——175
Metz 2025–26 Ligue 1 132——132
Career total 3070000307

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Nathan Mbala : « Devenir professionnel, j'y pensais déjà à l'âge de 5 ans »". FC Metz. 5 April 2026. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Lapart, Joscelyn (24 March 2026). "FC Metz : la pépite Nathan Mbala passe professionnel". Tout Metz (in French). Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  3. 1 2 Ali, Adjao (24 March 2026). "Metz : Nathan Mbala signe pro". AfricaFootUnited (in French). Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Welo, Merveille (1 February 2026). "Ligue 1 : l'héritier de Mbala Mbuta fait ses débuts avec Metz". Africa Top Sports (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 "Transfert : Nathan Mbala, fils de Mbala Mbuta Biscotte, rejoint le Centre de formation du FC Metz". Sport RDC (in French). 6 July 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  6. ↑ Tsala, Boni (6 July 2023). "Mbala « Biscotte » : son fils Nathan Mbala au FC Metz en France". Digital Congo (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 Mougin, M. (6 July 2023). "FC Metz : Une fraterie réunie au sein du centre de formation !". Socios FC Metz (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  8. ↑ "Foot : un fils de Mbala Biscotte rejoint le centre de formation du FC Metz en France". Infos.CD (in French). 6 July 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  9. ↑ Wirtz, Gilles (21 March 2025). "Photos. FC Metz - RFCU Luxembourg : la large victoire des Grenats en images". Le Républicain lorrain (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  10. ↑ Hagège, Luc (16 July 2025). "Metz lance sa préparation en battant Mondorf (Luxembourg) et officialise l'arrivée de Giorgi Abuachvili". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  11. ↑ Philipp, Mattéo (16 July 2025). "Le FC Metz remporte par le plus petit score son premier match amical". Moselle TV (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  12. ↑ "Amical : Le FC Metz s'impose au forceps face à Mondorf". Socios FC Metz (in French). 16 July 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  13. ↑ Eyck, Elliot Ten (19 October 2025). "Récap' formation : l'équipe réserve accélère en National 3". Let's Go Metz (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  14. ↑ Douet, Thomas (2 November 2025). "National 3. Le FC Metz s'impose face à Vimy et poursuit sa belle série". Let's Go Metz (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  15. ↑ Douet, Thomas (23 November 2025). "National 3 : Le FC Metz corrige Neuilly-sur-Marne". Let's Go Metz (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  16. ↑ "Biesheim 0-3 Metz, Coupe de France : résumé du match". L'Équipe (in French). 20 December 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  17. ↑ "Ligue 1. FC Metz : vingt joueurs pour le déplacement à Lorient, Ballo-Touré et Madjo absents du groupe". Le Républicain lorrain (in French). 3 January 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  18. ↑ Crinquette, Nathan (15 February 2026). "Auxerre enfonce Metz (1-3), Lorient freine un peu plus Angers (2-0)". Eurosport. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  19. ↑ "Ligue 1. FC Metz - AJ Auxerre : l'un des pires bilan du Top 5 européen, Nathan Mbala dans l'histoire... Les chiffres de la rencontre". Le Républicain lorrain (in French). 16 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  20. ↑ "Mercato : fils de Mbala Mbuta Biscotte, Nathan Mbala signe à Toulouse". Irisfootball.com (in French). 6 July 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
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