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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]Born in Malawi, Khumbeni moved to England at a young age.[11]
Career statistics
[edit]- 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
[edit]- ↑ "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