Full name Charles Musonda Playing position Weight 65 kg Siblings Lamisha Musonda | Number 35 Height 1.73 m Nationality Belgian, Zambian | |
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Date of birth (1996-10-15) 15 October 1996 (age 20) Similar Lamisha Musonda, Dani Ceballos, Rubén Castro, Joaquín, Petros | ||
Charles Musonda (born 15 October 1996), known as Charly Musonda or Charly Musonda Junior, is a Belgian footballer for Premier League side Chelsea. Mainly an attacking midfielder, he can also play as a winger.
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Early career
Born in Brussels , Musonda started his career at Anderlecht's youth setup. In 2011, aged only 15, he was already linked to the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea.
Chelsea
On 11 June 2012, Musonda joined Chelsea, along with his two older brothers, after the club previously agreed to pay a "compensation fee" to Anderlecht. On 24 October 2013, he signed a professional contract with the club, after already being a regular with the under-18s.
On 5 March 2015, after already being a regular with the club's under-21 team, Musonda signed a contract extension until 2019. He attracted interest from French clubs Monaco and Olympique de Marseille in the summer, after impressing in both UEFA Youth League and FA Youth Cup winning campaigns, but nothing came of it.
After not making any first team appearance during the first half of the 2015–16 season, Musonda asked to leave due to lack of opportunities in December. In January 2016, he rejected a loan move from Standard Liège.
Real Betis (loan)
On 29 January 2016, Musonda joined La Liga side Real Betis on loan until the end of the season, without the option of making the move permanent. He made his professional debut on 7 February, starting in a 1–0 home win against Valencia, where he also was awarded Man of the Match. Six days later, Musonda scored his first professional goal in a 2–2 draw at Deportivo de La Coruña.
On 22 June 2016, Musonda's loan at Real Betis was extended for the 2016/17 campaign. On 1 January 2017, after only making one start in the eight appearances Musonda made under manager Gus Poyet, the Belgian returned to Chelsea.
Return to Chelsea
In December 2016, Musonda Jr. appeared to have returned to Chelsea after being seen training with the first-team squad, with Chelsea presumably terminating his loan spell at Real Betis. On 1 January 2017, it was confirmed by Real Betis that Chelsea had recalled the Belgian. With manager Antonio Conte unsure whether Musonda was to stay with the Blues or be loaned out, interest arose from many clubs around Europe, including Roma. However, after the conclusion of the January transfer window, Antonio Conte confirmed in a post-match press conference preceding Chelsea's 1–1 away draw with Liverpool, that Nathan Aké, Kenedy and Musonda would be staying at the club for the rest of the 2016–17 campaign.
International career
Musonda is a Belgian international from the under-15 to under-21 levels.
Personal life
Charly attended Richard Challoner School in New Malden.Musonda's older brothers, Lamisha and Tika, and younger brother, Matty, were also youth graduates at Chelsea and Anderlecht. His father, also named Charles, was also a footballer who appeared mainly for Anderlecht, and was an international regular for Zambia.