Nathan Mbala

Nathan Mbala
Personal information
Date of birth (2008-02-19) 19 February 2008
Place of birth Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)
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 6 (2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15 March 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 Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland,[1] where his father, Democratic Republic of the Congo international Biscotte Mbala, then played.[2][3][4][5]

Mbala is a youth product of US Forbach and Metz, joining the latter in 2020 with the under-13.[2][3] In July 2023, he officially joined the Metz Youth academy, where his older brother Bisnat Mbala already played.[1][5]

Mbala started training with the first team in early 2025, making his unofficial first team debut during a mid-season friendly in March 2025.[6] 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.[7][8][9]

As he had established himself as a regular goalscorer for the National 3 reserve,[2][10][11][12] 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.[13] He then was regularly selected by Stéphane Le Mignan in the first-team squad, while some of Metz's leaders where away playing the Africa Cup of Nations.[2][14]

After making his Ligue 1 debut on 1st February 2026 against Angers,[2] Mbala scored his first goal with the team two weeks later, in a 3–1 defeat to AJ Auxerre on 17 February 2026.[15] 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.[16]

Style of play

Having initially played as a goalkeeper,[17] Mbala switched to outfield player during his youth years.[3][5]

Career statistics

As of match played 15 March 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Metz B 2024–25 National 3 8 2 — — 8 2
2025–26 National 3 9 3 — — 9 3
Total 17 5 — — 17 5
Metz 2025–26 Ligue 1 6 2 — — 6 2
Career total 23 7 0 0 0 0 23 7

References

  1. ^ a b "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.
  2. ^ a b c d e 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.
  3. ^ a b c "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.
  4. ^ Tsala, Boni (6 July 2023). "Mbala « Biscotte » : son fils Nathan Mbala au FC Metz en France". Digital Congo (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b c 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Amical : Le FC Metz s'impose au forceps face à Mondorf". Socios FC Metz (in French). 16 July 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ Douet, Thomas (23 November 2025). "National 3 : Le FC Metz corrige Neuilly-sur-Marne". Let's Go Metz (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Biesheim 0-3 Metz, Coupe de France : résumé du match". L'Équipe (in French). 20 December 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ Crinquette, Nathan (15 February 2026). "Auxerre enfonce Metz (1-3), Lorient freine un peu plus Angers (2-0)". Eurosport. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "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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