Kevin Mbabu is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a defender for Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg and the Switzerland national team. He was born on April 19, 1995.
Born in Chêne-Bougeries, Switzerland, Mbabu started his career at Servette and progressed through the youth team. After a successful trial, Mbabu signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Newcastle United, moving for an undisclosed fee on 31 January 2013. Due to his mixed descent, Mbabu was eligible to play for Switzerland, DR Congo and France. He was a youth international for Switzerland, from the under–16 to under–21 side. In May 2018, Mbabu was named in the Switzerland’s preliminary squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Kevin Mbabu Bio/Wiki
Birth Name | Melingo Kevin Mbabu |
Nick Name | RastaRocket |
Age | 28 years (as in 2023) |
Religion | Christianity |
Sun Sign/Zodiac Sign | Aries |
Birth Place | Chêne-Bougeries, Switzerland |
Date of Birth | April 19, 1995 |
Nationality | Swiss |
Residence | Wolfsburg, Germany |
Home Town | Chêne-Bougeries, Switzerland |
Hobbies | Travelling, Playing FIFA |
Family |
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Mother’s Name | Françoise Mbabu |
Father’s Name | Not Available |
Brother | One brother |
Sister | Two sisters |
Girlfriends/Affairs |
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Affairs/Girlfriends | Single |
Marital Status, Wife and Children |
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Wife/Spouse | Unmarried |
Marriage Date | None |
Children | None |
Education |
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School | Not Available |
College/University | Not Available |
Educational Qualification | Graduate |
Profession | Professional Footballer |
Brands Endorsed | Puma |
Career Manager | Not Available |
Height, Weight, and Figure Measurements |
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Height (Approx.) | 1.84 meters |
Weight (Approx.) | 83 kgs. |
Figure Measurements |
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Chest Size | 42 inches |
Biceps Size | 15 inches |
Waist Size | 34 inches |
Extra Ordinary Features |
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Race / Ethnicity | Congolese |
Hair Color | Black |
Eye Color | Brown |
S*xual Orientation | Straight |
Dress Size | Not Available |
Shoe Size | 10 U.S. |
Favourite Things |
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Favourite Food | Chicken wings |
Favourite Book | Not Available |
Favourite Colors | Brown |
Favourite Sport | Football |
Controversies | None |
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Life of Kevin Mbabu
Kevin Mbabu began his career with the junior squad of Swiss second-division club Servette, where he was born in Chene-Bougeries to a Congolese mother and a French father. After breaking into the main squad, the 6’0″ defender went on to play for Newcastle United’s U23s and senior side.
He made three Premier League games in three seasons in England, as well as a loan spell with Scottish record champions Glasgow Rangers, before returning to Switzerland with Young Boys in 2016.
Mbabu took his time at Wolfsburg, appearing only twice in the club’s first 14 league games of the 2019/20 season. However, he became a regular after Matchday 15, when Mbabu scored his first Wolves goal in the 82nd minute of Matchday 16’s 1-1 tie with Schalke. In 20 Bundesliga games, he finished his first season with three league goals and two assists.
Kevin Mbabu missed the first ten rounds of top-flight fixtures in 2020/21 due to injury, but he returned to the side to great effect, contributing to 11 clean sheets from 22 matches – including a club-record seven shutouts in a row – as Wolfsburg finished fourth and qualified for the UEFA Champions League.
He made his Switzerland debut against Iceland in the group stage of the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2018. He was nominated to Switzerland’s Euro 2020 team and appeared in all three Group A matches, as well as the 3-1 last-16 win against defending world champions France.
Kevin Mbabu would give the world’s quickest players a run for their money in a footrace, and as a rampaging right-back by trade, he resembles Manchester City and England defender Kyle Walker. His quickness is his most valuable weapon, but he’s improved at both ends of the field since transferring to the Bundesliga.
Kevin Mbabu Net Worth
Kevin Mbabu has been a consistent performer for every club he has been a part of. His current net worth stands at about 10 Million Euros. Wolfsburg currently pays him about 3,250,000 Euros per year. His current market value has dropped a bit from its peak. But it is still significantly high, at around 9.1 Million Euros.
Estimated Net Worth in 2023 (Approx) | 10 Million Euros |
Estimated Net Worth in 2022 (Approx) | 8 Million Euros |
Estimated Net Worth in 2021 (Approx) | 7.65 Million Euros |
Annual Salary | 3,250,000 Euros |
Monthly Salary | 270,833 Euros |
Weekly Salary | 62,500 Euros |
Market Value | 3,250,000 Euros |
Income Source | Professional Football |
Football Career
Club Career
Early Career
Mbabu began his career at Servette and advanced through the youth squad after being born in Chêne-Bougeries, Switzerland.
He was promoted to the first squad at the start of the 2012–13 season and participated in a handful of matches for the side. On September 26, 2012, he made his professional debut for Servette as a 66th-minute replacement in a Swiss Super League match against Lausanne-Sport, which proved to be his sole appearance for the club.
Mbabu signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Newcastle United after a successful trial on January 31, 2013, for an unknown amount. He was immediately allocated to the development squad after joining the club.
Kevin made his home debut for the development squad on 1 April 2013, in a 2–1 win over Stoke City Development Squad, during the second half of the 2012–13 season. He rapidly excelled for the rest of the second part of the 2012–13 season, making seven appearances for the development side.
Mbabu participated in the development squad throughout the 2013–14 season despite suffering from ailments as the season proceeded. Kevin, on the other hand, was troubled by ailments in the 2014–15 season, which hampered him for the first half of the season.
He joined Scottish Championship team Rangers on loan until the end of the 2014–15 season on February 2, 2015, although he did not appear in any games or even make the bench once.
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Newcastle United
Kevin Mbabu returned to the development squad after recovering from an injury at the start of the 2015–16 season. He was anticipated to be loaned out due to a lack of first-team opportunities at the club.
However, given the injuries of defenders, Manager Steve McClaren brought him up to the first team, and he made his Newcastle United debut against Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup, coming on as a replacement for Daryl Janmaat on September 23, 2015. Three days later, on September 26, 2015, Mbabu made his entire Newcastle debut, starting at left-back against Chelsea, and the game ended 2–2.
Pundits lauded his play against Chelsea. On 3 October 2015, he made another league start, this time in a 6–1 loss to Manchester City. He did, however, suffer a hamstring injury shortly after that kept him out until October. It wasn’t until 7 November 2015 that he made his comeback as a late replacement in a 1–0 win against Bournemouth.
Mbabu returned to the first team two months later, on 9 January 2016, in the third round of the FA Cup against Watford, where he started and played 52 minutes before being removed in a 1–0 loss. Following that, he missed the rest of the season due to injury on two separate occasions.
Kevin, on the other hand, went on to make 5 appearances in all competitions as Newcastle United were relegated from the Premier League after six seasons. Mbabu signed a two–year contract with the club at the end of the 2015–16 season. He reflects on his experience at Newcastle United two years after leaving.
Young Boys
2016-2017
Mbabu completed a season-long loan transfer to Swiss Super League team Young Boys on August 23, 2016.
However, Mbabu’s first two months with the Young Boys saw him feature on the substitute bench. He didn’t make his Young Boys debut until 2 October 2016, when he came on as a late replacement in a 2–2 draw against FC St. Gallen.
Several weeks later, on October 23, 2016, Mbabu made his debut and played the entire game in a 4–0 victory over Grasshopper. Mbabu scored his first goal for the club three days later, on October 26, 2016, in a 5–0 win over Grasshoppers in the last 16 of the Swiss Cup.
After missing one match in late October, he was sent off in a follow–up encounter against APOEL in the Group Stage of the UEFA Europa League on 3 November 2016. Mbabu scored his first league goal for the club a month later. It was on December 3, 2016, in a 3–1 victory over FC Basel.
Following this, Mbabu proceeded to establish himself in the starting eleven, mostly playing in the right–back position. Despite being suspended three times later in the season, Mbabu went on to make 24 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice. Mbabu signed a permanent deal with the club at the end of the 2016–17 season.
According to reports, he signed a three–year contract with the club after Newcastle United agreed to sell him.
2017-2018
In the 2017–18 season, Mbabu began the game and assisted the team in defeating regaining Champions League side FC Basel 2–0 in the season opener. He subsequently assisted the team in keeping three more clean sheets in the following two games.
He maintained his place in the starting eleven for the team, playing at the right–back position. His performance became so well-known that he was called up to the national team squad.
On 1 October 2017, he scored his first goal of the season and assisted on another in a 6–1 triumph over FC St. Gallen. Mbabu scored three goals in three successive matches against FC Sion, Basel, and FC Zürich. This happened between October 29 and November 19, 2017.
Kevin Mbabu scored in a 1–1 draw against Grasshoppers on his comeback after missing one game due to suspension. By the completion of the first half of the season, the club had established itself as a title contender, having topped the table.
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He was one of several players selected Team of the Year at the 2017 SFL Awards Night. Between 17 December 2017 and 17 March 2018, he was a member of the squad that went on an eight-match winning streak in the league.
Mbabu got Player of the Month Award for his performance during the run. Despite suffering two injuries later in the season, Mbabu was part of the Young Boys side that won the Swiss Super League for the first time in 32 years in 2017–18.
Wolfsburg
Kevin Mbabu signed a four-year deal with VfL Wolfsburg on April 25, 2019, with the player set to join the club in July ahead of the 2019–20 season. He chose the No.19 shirt for Wolfsburg in memory of Junior Malanda, who died in a traffic accident in northern Germany on January 10, 2015.
During the coronavirus pandemic, it was revealed on July 25, 2020, that a COVID-19 test Mbabu had done on July 22 had returned positive. Mbabu was quarantined at home and would most certainly miss a game scheduled for August 5.
Testing was performed on the athletes as a precaution before they began training. All additional tests performed on the 22nd and 25th of July came back negative.
International Career
Kevin Mbabu was eligible to play for Switzerland, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and France due to his mixed ancestry. He played youth international football for Switzerland from the age of 16 to 21.
He became a part of the Switzerland’s preliminary squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia in May 2018. However, he could not make it to the roster after Switzerland’s preliminary squad reduced to 26.
On September 8, 2018, he made his debut, starting against Iceland in the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League. In May 2019, he competed in the 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals, finishing fourth with his squad.
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Kevin Mbabu FIFA 22
Mbabu was born on April 19, 1995. He is currently 28 years old and plays as a Full Back for VfL Wolfsburg in Germany. His overall rating in FIFA 22 is 77 with a potential of 78. Mbabu has got a 2-star skillmoves rating with High / Medium workrates. He prefers to shoot with his right foot. Mbabu is 1.84 meters tall and weighs 83 kgs. Currently, Kevin Mbabu is playing with number 19. His best stats are:
- Stamina: 91
- Acceleration: 88
- Sprint Speed: 85
- Strength: 78
- Jumping: 78
Kevin Mbabu FIFA 22 Stats
Reactions | 72 |
Att. Position | 72 |
Dribbling | 71 |
Acceleration | 88 |
Jumping | 78 |
Strength | 78 |
Interceptions | 70 |
Heading | 64 |
Agility | 76 |
Composure | 71 |
Ball Control | 74 |
Sprint Speed | 85 |
Long Passing | 65 |
Short Passing | 69 |
Stamina | 91 |
Aggression | 73 |
Facts about Kevin Mbabu
- Kevin Mbabu was born in April 19, 1995 in Chêne-Bougeries, Switzerland.
- Mbabu was born to a Congolese mother and a French Guianan father.
- He has two sisters (one of which is his step–sister) and one brother.
- However, Mbabu revealed that he never met his biological father. His Austrian step–father raised him and played a role of introducing him to football.
- He played in the forward position before switching to the defender position.
- In 2010, Mbabu attended a week-long trial at Manchester United. He trained there with the U18s and reserves.
- As he spoke French, he got the company of future world star Paul Pogba. He made a real impression on the young Swiss.
- “He looked after me and showed me the ropes,” Mbabu recalled of the 2018 FIFA World Cup-winning midfielder. I’m really lucky to have got to know a player who has grown into such a big star. He was a really nice guy.”
- Mbabu and Pogba renewed acquaintances in the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League group stage. Young Boys losing 3-0 at home and 1-0 at Old Trafford.
- Alongside his native French, Mbabu reportedly speaks English and German.
- He has won Swiss Super League with Young Boys in 2017-18 and 2018-19.
FAQs
Kevin is 28 years old.
Mbabu plays for VfL Wolfsburg in Bundesliga.
He was plagued with injuries. Therefore, he could not play for the first half of the first season.
Kevin speaks French, along with English and German.