Clinton Nsiala

Clinton Nsiala
Nsiala in 2025
Personal information
Full name Clinton Nsiala-Makengo
Date of birth (2004-01-17) 17 January 2004
Place of birth Rennes, France
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Westerlo, on loan from Rangers
Number 6
Youth career
2010–2019 CPB Bréquigny
2019–2021 Nantes
2021–2024 AC Milan
2024 Rangers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Rangers 14 (0)
2026–Westerlo (loan) 0 (0)
International career
2020 France U16 3 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22 December 2025

Clinton Nsiala-Makengo (born 17 January 2004) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Scottish Premiership club Rangers.

Club career

Youth career

Born in Rennes, Nsiala started playing football with Cercle Paul Bert de Bréquigny,[1][2] before joining the youth academy of Nantes in 2019.[1][3]

AC Milan

On 2021, he joined Italian club AC Milan on a free transfer,[4][5] signing his first professional contract.[1] He was subsequently assigned to the under-19 team, where he established himself as a regular starter, playing both in the Campionato Primavera 1 and the UEFA Youth League;[5][6] in this last competition, he helped the team reach the semi-finals in the 2022–23 season,[7] before reaching the final the following season.[8] During his spell at AC Milan, he also trained with and received several call-ups to the first team, under manager Stefano Pioli.[5][6] In June 2024, Nsiala announced his departure from AC Milan after turning down an offer to extend his expiring contract.[9][10]

Rangers

On 10 June 2024, Scottish Premiership club Rangers announced that Nsiala had agreed to sign a pre-contract with the club, being set to join them on a free transfer on 1 July.[11] He made his debut for Rangers B on 14 August 2024, starting on a 2024–25 Scottish Challenge Cup second round 3-2 away match against Clyde.[12]

He scored his first goal for Rangers on 19 January 2025 against Fraserburgh in the Scottish Cup at Ibrox.[13] During the 2024–25 season, Nsiala made 11 appearances for Rangers, recording one goal and one assist.[14]

International career

Nsiala represented France at youth international level, featuring for the under-16 national team in 2020.[1][2]

Style of play

Nsiala is a left-footed centre back, who has been mainly praised for his physicality, his anticipation skills, his jumping reach in aerial duels and his technique.[2][5] He can also be deployed as a defensive midfielder.

Personal life

Born in Rennes,[1][2] Nsiala is of Congolese descent.

Career statistics

As of match played 26 April 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
AC Milan 2023–24 Serie A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Rangers B 2024–25 4[b] 0 4 0
Rangers 2024–25 Scottish Premiership 11 0 1 1 0 0 1[c] 0 0 0 13 1
Career total 11 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 4 0 17 1
Notes
  1. ^ Includes Scottish Cup
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in Scottish Challenge Cup
  3. ^ Appearance in UEFA Europa League

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Murtas, Hugo (5 October 2021). "Formé à Rennes, Clinton Nsiala signe son premier contrat pro au Milan AC". ActuRennes (in French). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Denis, Sebastien (14 November 2023). "Clinton Nsiala, la pépite tricolore très convoitée de l'AC Milan !". Foot Mercato (in French). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Rangers agree deal to sign defender Clinton Nsiala from AC Milan". Sky Sports. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Milan, Nsiala tra rinnovo e mercato: tanti club interessati". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). 14 November 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Conflitti, Gabriele (25 December 2023). "Chi è Nsiala-Makengo, il giovane difensore del Milan scelto da Maldini". Goal.com (in Italian). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  6. ^ a b Antonelli, Michele (25 December 2023). "Milan, l'emergenza e nuovi giovani da scoprire: chi sono e cosa possono dare Jimenez e Nsiala" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Youth League, il Milan si ferma in semifinale". Sky Sport (in Italian). 21 April 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  8. ^ Pietrella, Francesco (22 April 2024). "Milan travolto! Incassa tre gol in 7' dall'Olympiacos, la Youth League va in Grecia" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  9. ^ De Angelis, Lorenzo (10 June 2024). "Il saluto social di Nsiala: "È giunta l'ora di dire addio a questa squadra". Lo aspettano i Rangers". Milan News (in Italian). Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  10. ^ Denis, Sebastien (10 June 2024). "AC Milan : Clinton Nsiala quasiment aux Glasgow Rangers !". Foot Mercato (in French). Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Rangers Announce Pre-Contract Signing Of Clinton Nsiala". www.rangers.co.uk. Rangers F.C. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  12. ^ https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2024/08/14/scotland/challenge-cup/clyde-fc/rangers-u21/4406914/
  13. ^ "Rangers 5-0 Fraserburgh". BBC Sport. 19 January 2025.
  14. ^ "Clinton Nsiala Stats - flashscore.co.uk". Flashscore. Retrieved 3 February 2026.