Kundai Benyu

Kundai Benyu
Personal information
Full name Kundai Leroy Jeremiah Benyu[1]
Date of birth (1997-12-12) 12 December 1997[2]
Place of birth Camden Town, England
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Celtic
Number 26
Youth career
2007–2016 Ipswich Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Ipswich Town 0 (0)
2016–2017 → Aldershot Town (loan) 23 (5)
2017– Celtic 1 (0)
2018 → Oldham Athletic (loan) 4 (0)
National team‡
2017– Zimbabwe 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:28, 6 May 2018 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 November 2017

Kundai Leroy Jeremiah Benyu (born 12 December 1997) is an English-born Zimbabwean professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Celtic.

Early life

Benyu was born to Zimbabwean parents on 12 December 1997 in Camden Town, London. He grew up in Harlow, Essex.[3]

Club career

Ipswich Town

Benyu joined Ipswich Town at the age of nine,[3] signing his first professional contract after turning 17.[4]

Aldershot Town (loan)

On 7 December 2016, Benyu joined Aldershot Town on a one-month loan deal.[5] The loan was subsequently extended several times, allowing Benyu to finish the 2016–17 season with the National League side.[6][7][8][9]

Celtic

On 29 June 2017, it was announced that Benyu had signed a four-year contract with Celtic.[10] The midfielder scored on his first appearance for the club's development squad, in a pre-season friendly against East Kilbride.[11] Benyu made his competitive debut in Celtic's 4–0 victory over Linfield at Celtic Park.[12]

Oldham Athletic (loan)

On 6 January 2018, Benyu joined Oldham Athletic on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season.[13] He made his league debut for the club on 13 January 2018 in a 1-1 home draw with Rotherham United. He was subbed off in the 74th minute, and replaced by Aaron Amadi-Holloway.[14]

International career

Benyu's impressive performances for Aldershot Town earned him international recognition, receiving a call-up from Zimbabwe for their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia.[15]

He made his full international Zimbabwe debut in a 1–0 defeat to Lesotho in Maseru on 8 November 2017.[16]

Career statistics

As of match played 20 January 2018[17]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Ipswich Town 2014–15 Championship 0000000000
2015–16 0000000000
2016–17 0000000000
Total 0000000000
Aldershot Town (loan) 2016–17[17] National League 22500—3[lower-alpha 1]0255
Total 225000030255
Celtic 2017–18[18] Scottish Premiership 1000102[lower-alpha 2]020
Total 1000102040
Oldham Athletic (loan) 2017–18[18] League One 20——1[lower-alpha 3]030
Career total 255001060325
  1. ↑ Two appearances in the FA Trophy and one in the National League play-offs
  2. ↑ Appearances in the Champions League
  3. ↑ Appearances in the EFL Trophy

References

  1. ↑ "Retained List 2016-17" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Kundai Benyu". 11v11. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Kundai: I was watching Cup final when I heard of Celtic's interest". Celtic FC. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "Kundai Benyu". Twitter. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  5. ↑ "Shots agree to sign Tractor Boy Kundai". Aldershot Town. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "Kundai extends loan". Aldershot Town FC. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  7. ↑ "Kundai extends loan". Aldershot Town FC. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  8. ↑ "Kundai extends loan". Aldershot Town FC. 5 March 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  9. ↑ "Benyu loan extended for rest of season". Aldershot Town FC. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  10. ↑ "Celtic delighted to sign Kundai Benyu on four-year deal". Celtic FC. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  11. ↑ "New Bhoy on target as young Celts enjoy pre-season triumph". Celtic FC. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  12. ↑ "Celtic 4–0 Linfield". BBC Sport. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  13. ↑ "Benyu moves to Oldham on loan". Celtic FC. 6 January 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  14. ↑ "Oldham Athletic vs. Rotherham United – 13 January 2018". Soccerway. Perform Group.
  15. ↑ "International call up for Kundai". Ipswich Town FC. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  16. ↑ "Lesotho beat Zimbabwe in friendly". COSAFA. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  17. 1 2 Kundai Benyu at Soccerway. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  18. 1 2 "Games played by Kundai Benyu in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
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