Ngal'ayel Mukau

Ngal'ayel Mukau (born 3 November 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ligue 1 club Lille. Born in Belgium, he represents the DR Congo national team.

Ngal'ayel Mukau

Personal information
Date of birth	(2004-11-03) 3 November 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth	Mechelen, Belgium
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Lille
Number	17
Youth career
	Mechelen
2018–2019	Zulte Waregem
2019–2023	Mechelen
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023–2024	Mechelen	35	(0)
2024–	Lille	14	(0)
International career‡
2022	Belgium U18	1	(0)
2023	DR Congo U20	2	(0)
2024–	DR Congo	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:41, 16 February 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:35, 16 November 2024 (UTC)

Club career

Mechelen

Mukau is a youth product of Mechelen and Zulte Waregem. On 20 July 2022, he signed his first professional contract with Mechelen for 2+1 seasons.^[1] He made his senior and professional debut with Mechelen in a 2–0 Belgian First Division A loss to Zulte Waregem on 8 January 2023.^[2]

Lille

On 11 July 2024, Mukau signed for French Ligue 1 club Lille, on a four-year contract.^[3] The financial details of the transfer include an initial and base fee of €4 million and a maximum of €1 million add-ons depending on sporting conditions.^[4] On 27 November, he scored his first professional goals with a brace in a 2–1 win at Bologna in the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League league phase.^[5]

International career

Born in Belgium, Mukau is of DR Congolese descent. He is a former youth international for Belgium, having played for the Belgium U18s. However, he was called up to a training camp for the DR Congo U21s in September 2023,^[6] and debuted with them in a pair of friendlies against the Tunisia U20s in October 2023.^[7]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 16 February 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Mechelen	2022–23	Belgian Pro League	9	0	0	0	—		—		9	0
	2023–24	Belgian Pro League	26	0	1	0	—		1[a]	0	28	0
	Total		35	0	1	0	—		1	0	37	0
Lille	2024–25	Ligue 1	14	0	2	0	8[b]	2	—		24	2
Career total			49	0	3	0	8	2	1	0	62	2

1. Appearance in Belgian Supercup
2. Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International

As of match played 16 November 2024

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
DR Congo	2024	1	0
Total		1	0

References

1. "Ngal'ayel Mukau krijgt eerste profcontract bij KV Mechelen". Gazet van Antwerpen. 20 July 2022.
2. "Wie is Ngal'ayel Mukau, 18-jarig toptalent van KV Mechelen dat al debuteerde in 1A dit seizoen?". Voetbalflitsen.be - het leukste en opvallendste voetbalnieuws!. 20 February 2023.
3. "Le prometteur Ngal'ayel Mukau est Lillois". LOSC (in French). 11 July 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
4. Marcant, Raphaël (12 July 2024). "Plus attractif, le LOSC a coiffé le Club Bruges au poteau pour Ngal'ayel Mukau". Le Petit Lillois (in French). Retrieved 29 November 2024.
5. Pousset, Maxime (27 November 2024). "Bologne-LOSC (1-2) : Epatants, une fois de plus !". LOSC (in French). Retrieved 29 November 2024.
6. "Binationaux : à qui le tour ?". 26 September 2023.
7. "Le "nouveau Pogba" Snobe Le Brésil Et Choisit La RDC". 5 October 2023.

External links

• Ngal'ayel Mukau at Soccerway
• RBFA Profile