Nelson Khumbeni
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nelson Wilfred Khumbeni | ||
| Date of birth | 14 October 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Lilongwe, Malawi | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Eastleigh (on loan from Gillingham) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2011–2021 | Norwich City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2022 | Norwich City | 0 | (0) |
| 2022–2025 | Bolton Wanderers | 0 | (0) |
| 2023 | → AFC Fylde (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Morecambe (loan) | 18 | (1) |
| 2024–2025 | → Accrington Stanley (loan) | 18 | (1) |
| 2025– | Gillingham | 27 | (0) |
| 2026– | → Eastleigh (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:46, 7 August 2026 (UTC) | |||
Nelson Wilfred Khumbeni (born 14 October 2002) is a Malawian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eastleigh, on loan from EFL League Two club Gillingham.
Career
Khumbeni came through the Norwich City Academy, joining at U9 level. He signed his first professional contract with Norwich City on 7 July 2021, penning a one-year deal.[1] Upon the expiration of his deal, he joined Bolton Wanderers on 16 June 2022, linking up with the newly formed 'B' team.[2]
Khumbeni made his Bolton debut on 9 August 2022 in a 5–1 victory against Salford City in the EFL Cup, coming on in the 83rd minute as a substitute for MJ Williams.[3] On 25 May 2023, he signed a new two-year deal with the option of a further year after captaining the B Team for the season.[4]
In October 2023, Khumbeni joined National League club AFC Fylde on a 28-day loan deal.[5]
On 31 January 2024, Khumbeni joined EFL League Two club Morecambe on loan until the end of the season.[6] On 22 May, Bolton confirmed that they had activated an option to extend his contract with the club.[7] On 16 August 2024, Khumbemi joined another League Two club, Accrington Stanley, on loan.[8]
Gillingham
In January 2025, Khumbeni joined Gillingham of League Two on a permanent contract for an undisclosed fee.[9]
On 6 August 2026, Khumbeni joined National League club Eastleigh on a season-long loan.[10]
Personal life
Born in Malawi, Khumbeni moved to England at a young age.[11]
Career statistics
- As of end of 2025–26 season
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Norwich City U-23s | 2019–20[12] | — | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2020–21[13] | — | — | — | — | 2[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Total | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||||
| Bolton Wanderers | 2022–23[14] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023–24[15] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2024–25 | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||
| AFC Fylde (loan) | 2023–24[15] | National League | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| Morecambe (loan) | 2023–24[15] | League Two | 18 | 1 | — | — | — | 18 | 1 | |||
| Accrington Stanley (loan) | 2024–25[16] | League Two | 18 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| Gillingham | 2024–25[16] | League Two | 10 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 2025–26[17] | League Two | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| Total | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 70 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 87 | 3 | ||
References
- ↑ "Eight youngsters handed professional deals at City". pinkun.com. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ↑ "'B' Team Duo Check In". bwfc.co.uk. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ↑ "Report: Wanderers 5 – 1 Salford City". bbc.co.uk/sport. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ↑ "B Team Announce Retained List". Bolton Wanderers FC. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
- ↑ "Coasters sign Bolton Duo Max Conway & Nelson Khumbeni On Loan". afcfylde.co.uk. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ↑ "Nelson joins Morecambe on loan". Morecambe FC. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
- ↑ "RETAINED LIST CONFIRMED". bwfc.co.uk. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ↑ "SIGNING: Nelson joins on loan". accringtonstanley.co.uk. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ↑ "Gills bring in Bolton midfielder Khumbeni". BBC Sport. 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ↑ "Official: Khumbeni joins the Spitfires on loan". eastleighfc.com. 6 August 2026. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
- ↑ "Who are the contenders to be Norwich City's next FA Youth Cup star?". Eastern Daily Press. 11 December 2019.
- ↑ "Games played by Nelson Khumbeni in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ↑ "Games played by Nelson Khumbeni in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ↑ "Games played by Nelson Khumbeni in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- 1 2 3 "Games played by Nelson Khumbeni in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- 1 2 "Games played by Nelson Khumbeni in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
- ↑ "Games played by Nelson Khumbeni in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
- Living people
- 2002 births
- Sportspeople from Lilongwe
- Malawian men's footballers
- 21st-century Malawian sportsmen
- Malawi men's international footballers
- English men's footballers
- Malawian emigrants to the United Kingdom
- Men's association football defenders
- Norwich City F.C. players
- Bolton Wanderers F.C. players
- AFC Fylde players
- Morecambe F.C. players
- Gillingham F.C. players
- Eastleigh F.C. players
- National League (English football) players
- English Football League players
- 21st-century English sportsmen