Sam Nombe

Samuel Tshiayima Nombe (born 22 October 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One club Rotherham United.

Sam Nombe

Personal information
Full name	Samuel Tshiayima Nombe[1]
Date of birth	(1998-10-22) 22 October 1998 (age 26)[2]
Place of birth	Croydon, England
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Rotherham United
Number	29
Youth career
0000–2017	Milton Keynes Dons
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2021	Milton Keynes Dons	31	(2)
2018	→ Oxford City (loan)	9	(6)
2018–2019	→ Oxford City (loan)	11	(2)
2019	→ Maidenhead United (loan)	14	(1)
2020–2021	→ Luton Town (loan)	11	(0)
2021–2023	Exeter City	76	(23)
2023–	Rotherham United	52	(6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:27, 12 October 2024 (UTC)

Club career

Milton Keynes Dons

Nombe joined Milton Keynes Dons academy at under-11 level, and on 12 May 2017 signed professional terms with the club, alongside fellow academy graduate Hugo Logan.^[4]

On 8 August 2017, Nombe made his competitive professional debut for the club, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute for Ryan Seager during an EFL Cup first round away win over Forest Green Rovers.^[5] Nombe made his league debut four days later on 12 August 2017, coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute for Robbie Muirhead in a 1–0 away defeat to Blackpool.^[6]

On 18 May 2018, following a productive first season as a professional, Nombe signed a contract extension keeping him at the club until summer 2019,^[7] which was later extended until June 2020 on 31 May 2018.^[8]

Oxford City (loans)

On 9 February 2018, Nombe joined National League South club Oxford City on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season.^[9] During his brief loan spell, Nombe scored six goals in nine appearances for the club before being recalled to Milton Keynes Dons on 23 April 2018.^[10]

On 30 October 2018 Nombe re-joined Oxford City on a short-term loan until 1 January 2019.^[11]

Maidenhead United (loan)

On 11 January 2019, Nombe joined National League club Maidenhead United on loan until the end of the season.^[12]

Luton Town (loan)

On 16 October 2020, Nombe joined Championship club Luton Town for the remainder of the 2020–21 season with an "intent and option" for a permanent transfer.^[13] At the conclusion of the season, Luton Town opted not to make Nombe's transfer permanent following limited first team opportunities in which he made only 11 league appearances.^[14]

Exeter City

On 5 July 2021, Nombe joined League Two club Exeter City for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract.^[15] He scored his first goal for City on 18 September in a 2–0 home win over Sutton United, his effort minutes prior being chalked down as a Sutton own goal. Exeter secured promotion back to League One that season, with Nombe scoring eight goals despite being injured for a large part of the season.

Rotherham United

On 31 August 2023, Nombe departed Exeter after weeks of speculation, reuniting with former manager Matt Taylor, joining Championship club Rotherham United for a club-record undisclosed fee on a four-year deal.^[16][17]

Career statistics

As of match played 12 October 2024

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Milton Keynes Dons	2017–18[18]	League One	6	0	1	0	2	0	3[a]	0	12	0
	2018–19[19]	League Two	0	0	0	0	1	0	1[a]	0	2	0
	2019–20[20]	League One	21	2	0	0	2	1	2[a]	2	25	5
	2020–21[21]	League One	4	0	0	0	1	0	2[a]	1	7	1
	Total		31	2	1	0	6	1	8	3	46	6
Oxford City (loan)	2017–18[18]	National League South	9	6	—		—		—		9	6
	2018–19[22]	National League South	11	2	2	0	—		1[b]	1	14	3
	Total		20	8	2	0	—		1	1	23	9
Maidenhead United (loan)	2018–19[22]	National League	14	1	—		—		0	0	14	1
Luton Town (loan)	2020–21[21]	Championship	11	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	12	0
Exeter City	2021–22[23]	League Two	28	8	3	2	0	0	1[a]	0	32	10
	2022–23[24]	League One	43	15	2	0	2	2	0	0	47	17
	2023–24[25]	League One	5	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	6	0
	Total		76	23	5	2	3	2	1	0	85	27
Rotherham United	2023–24[25]	Championship	41	3	1	0	—		0	0	42	3
	2024–25[26]	League One	11	3	0	0	2	1	1	0	14	4
	Total		52	6	1	0	2	1	1	0	56	7
Career total			204	40	10	2	11	4	11	4	236	50

1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
2. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

Honours

Exeter City

• EFL League Two second-place promotion: 2021–22^[27]

Individual

• Milton Keynes Dons Young Player of the Year: 2019–20^[28]

References

1. "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
2. "Sam Nombe". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
3. "Sam Nombe - Forward - First Team - Milton Keynes Dons". Milton Keynes Dons F.C. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
4. "Duo put pen to paper on pro deals". Milton Keynes Dons. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
5. "Forest Green Rovers 0-1 Milton Keynes Dons (aet)". BBC Sport. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
6. "Blackpool 1-0 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 12 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
7. "Deals for young trio". Milton Keynes Dons. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
8. "Nombe commits future to the Dons". Milton Keynes Dons. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
9. "Nombe joins Oxford City on loan". Milton Keynes Dons. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
10. "Sam Nombe recalled from loan spell". Milton Keynes Dons. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
11. "Nombe returns to City on loan". Milton Keynes Dons. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
12. "Samuel Signs". Maidenhead United. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
13. "Luton Town sign MK Dons' Sam Nombe & Leicester City's Kieran Dewsbury-Hall". BBC. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
14. "On-loan Luton striker Nombe faces an uncertain future with MK Dons". Luton Today. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
15. "Sam Nombe signs for Exeter City". Exeter City F.C. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
16. "📝 Sam Nombe departs for Rotherham United". www.exetercityfc.co.uk. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
17. "SIGNING | MILLERS SMASH CLUB RECORD AGAIN TO SECURE SAM'S SERVICES". www.themillers.co.uk. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
18. "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
19. "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
20. "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
21. "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
22. "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
23. "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
24. "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
25. "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
26. "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
27. "Port Vale end Exeter's League two title hopes". BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
28. "Gilbey named Player of the Year". Milton Keynes Dons. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.

External links

Sam Nombe at Soccerbase
Sam Nombe at Soccerway