Paul Kalambayi Explained

Paul Kalambayi
Full Name:Paul Mbwebwe Mbiya-Kalambayi[1]
Birth Date:1999 7, df=yes
Birth Place:Dulwich, England
Height:1.83m
Position:Central defender
Currentclub:Dagenham & Redbridge
Clubnumber:30
Youthclubs1:Dulwich Village
Youthclubs2:Evolution Sports & Health Academy
Youthyears3:2013–2015
Youthclubs3:Brentford
Youthyears4:2015–2016
Youthclubs4:AFC Wimbledon
Years1:2016–2024
Clubs1:AFC Wimbledon
Caps1:88
Goals1:1
Years2:2018
Clubs2:Tonbridge Angels (loan)
Caps2:7
Goals2:0
Years3:2024–
Clubs3:Dagenham & Redbridge
Caps3:2
Goals3:0
Club-Update:18 August 2024

Paul Mbwebwe Mbiya-Kalambayi (born 9 July 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central defender for club Dagenham & Redbridge.

Kalambayi is a product of the Brentford and AFC Wimbledon academies. He made his professional debut for AFC Wimbledon in 2017 and made 117 appearances during seven seasons as a senior player for the club. After his release in 2024, Kalambayi dropped into non-League football and transferred to Dagenham & Redbridge.

Career

AFC Wimbledon

Early years (2015–2018)

After spells with Dulwich Village, Evolution Sports & Health Academy and Brentford,[2] Kalambayi joined the academy at League Two club AFC Wimbledon in 2015.[3] Despite being age 16, his rate of development saw him feature for the Development Squad before the end of 2015 and he was rewarded his first professional contract in February 2016.[4] During the remainder of the 2015–16 season, Kalambayi was an unused substitute on two occasions with the first team squad. After the Dons' promotion to League One for the 2016–17 season, he was named in the first team squad list and was an unused substitute during two of the season's matches.[5]

Kalambayi received his first call-up of the 2017–18 season as a substitute for an EFL Trophy group stage match versus Barnet and made his senior debut when he replaced Callum Kennedy after 66 minutes of the 4–3 victory. He made one further EFL Trophy appearance during the season and spent a month on loan at Isthmian League Premier Division club Tonbridge Angels.[6]

Breakthrough (2018–2020)

Kalambayi was named as the Development Squad captain for the 2018–19 season and his EFL debut came with a start in a 2–1 defeat to Portsmouth on New Year's Day 2019.[7] The match kicked off a run of five consecutive starting appearances before manager Wally Downes imposed a rest break on him.[8] Kalambayi made 19 appearances during the 2018–19 season and helped the Dons preserve their League One status on the final day.[9] He signed a new contract in June 2019 and was a near ever-present during the first four months of the 2019–20 season,[10] before rupturing ankle ligaments.[11] He returned to full training in March 2020,[12] but did not appear again during the truncated 2019–20 season.[13]

Later years and injuries (2020–2024)

Following 19 appearances during 2020–21, quadriceps and medial collateral ligament injuries disrupted Kalambayi's 2021–22 season,[14] [15] restricting him to 16 appearances. He scored his first senior goal of his career in a 5–3 EFL Trophy win over Portsmouth on 7 September 2021 and signed a new -year contract in January 2022.[16] Kalambayi made 32 appearances and scored two goals during the 2022–23 season, before suffering a season-ending knee injury in March 2023.[17] He returned to match play in a behind closed doors friendly on 17 October 2023 and ended the 2023–24 season with seven appearances.[18] After making 117 appearances and scoring three goals during his seven seasons as a senior player with AFC Wimbledon, Kalambayi departed the club when his contract expired at the end of the 2023–24 season.[19]

Dagenham & Redbridge

On 14 June 2024, Kalambayi signed a two-year contract with National League club Dagenham & Redbridge on a free transfer.[20]

Personal life

Kalambayi attended The Charter School.[21] He is of DR Congo descent.

Career statistics

Club! rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
AFC Wimbledon2015–16League Two0000000000
2016–17League One0000000000
2017–18League One0000002[22] 020
2018–19League One170100010190
2019–20League One160201030220
2020–21League One140001040190
2021–22League One130002011161
2022–23League Two261301021322
2023–24League Two2010004070
Total88170501721173
Tonbridge Angels (loan)2017–18[23] Isthmian League Premier Division7070
Dagenham & Redbridge2024–25National League20000020
Career total97170501721263
  1. Web site: EFL club list of registered players as at 20th May 2017 . 3 July 2017 . 43.
  2. Web site: Academy Players Produced . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170830145328/http://www.e-s-h-a.co.uk/Academy-Players-Produced.html . 30 August 2017 . 2 July 2017 . Evolution Sports & Health Academy.
  3. News: Slavin . Chris . Paul commits to the club . 2 July 2017 . en.
  4. News: Paul set to face Southend . 2 July 2017 . en.
  5. News: Squad numbers for 2016/17 . 2 July 2017 . en.
  6. News: 9 February 2018 . Young Dons Defender Becomes An Angel For A Month . 9 February 2018 . Pitchero Non-League . en-US.
  7. Web site: Coaching tips had Paul ready for surprise call-up . 4 January 2019 . www.afcwimbledon.co.uk . en-gb.
  8. Web site: 8 March 2019 . AFC Wimbledon set to hand new deal to impressive teen centre-back . 10 March 2019 . South London News . en-GB.
  9. News: 4 May 2019 . Bradford City 0–0 AFC Wimbledon: Dons survive after goalless draw . 4 May 2019 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  10. News: 18 June 2019 . Home-grown Dons defender rewarded with new contract . 18 June 2019 . AFC Wimbledon.
  11. News: Glyn backs young team to rise to the challenge against Oxford . 12 January 2020 . www.afcwimbledon.co.uk . en-gb.
  12. News: Dons duo step up return to first team action . 5 September 2020 . en-gb.
  13. News: League One & Two seasons ended early . 5 September 2020 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  14. Web site: Paul ruled out for a month after injury confirmed . 5 February 2022 . www.afcwimbledon.co.uk . en-gb.
  15. Web site: Injury update on Paul Kalambayi . 5 February 2022 . www.afcwimbledon.co.uk . en-gb.
  16. Web site: Paul signs new contract until 2024 . 5 February 2022 . www.afcwimbledon.co.uk . en-gb.
  17. Web site: Squad update ahead of Barrow challenge . 23 April 2023 . www.afcwimbledon.co.uk . en-gb.
  18. Web site: On the comeback trail! Defensive duo primed for return . 17 October 2023 . www.afcwimbledon.co.uk . en-gb.
  19. Web site: 29 April 2024 . Retained List 2023/24 . 29 April 2024 . www.afcwimbledon.co.uk.
  20. Web site: ✍️ Daggers Sign Paul Kalambayi . 14 June 2024 . Dagenham & Redbridge FC . en.
  21. Web site: Best ever GCSE results . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170702233623/http://www.charter.southwark.sch.uk/news/?pid=3&nid=6&storyid=94 . 2 July 2017 . 2 July 2017 . www.charter.southwark.sch.uk.
  22. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  23. Web site: Paul Kalambayi – Angels First Team . 19 March 2018 . Tonbridge Angels Online . en.