Michel-Ange Balikwisha
Footballer (born 2001)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Michel-Ange Sumaï N'Koyi Limpata Balikwisha (born 10 May 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Belgian Pro League side Gent, on loan from Scottish Premiership club Celtic. Born in Belgium, he plays for the DR Congo national team.[3]
|
Balikwisha in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michel-Ange Sumaï N'Koyi Limpata Balikwisha[1] | ||
| Birth name | Michel-Ange Sumai Balikwisha[2] | ||
| Date of birth | 10 May 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Ghent, Belgium | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Gent (on loan from Celtic) | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2014 | Anderlecht | ||
| 2014–2020 | Standard Liège | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2021 | Standard Liège | 32 | (9) |
| 2021–2025 | Antwerp | 118 | (23) |
| 2025– | Celtic | 7 | (0) |
| 2026– | Gent (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2017 | Belgium U16 | 4 | (1) |
| 2018 | Belgium U17 | 5 | (1) |
| 2019 | Belgium U18 | 1 | (0) |
| 2019 | Belgium U19 | 3 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Belgium U21 | 10 | (1) |
| 2025– | DR Congo | 5 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:11, 13 September 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 19:46, 6 January 2026 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Balikwisha made his professional debut for Standard Liège on 20 September 2020 in a Belgian Pro League game against KV Kortrijk.[4]
Royal Antwerp
On 4 July 2021, Balikwisha joined Royal Antwerp on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee.[5]
He was part of the squad that won a domestic double during the 2022–23 season, including the club's first league title in 66 years.[6]
On 23 July 2023, Balikwisha scored a goal in the Belgian Super Cup against Mechelen. Antwerp would win on penalties to claim the trophy for the first time in their history.[7]
On 30 August 2023, he helped the club secure a spot in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League for the first time ever, by scoring a goal in the second leg of their 3–1 aggregate victory over AEK Athens in the play-off round.[8] He scored in Antwerp's first home match in the Champions League proper on 4 October, putting his side 2–0 up against Shakhtar Donetsk, but would squander the lead and fall to a 3–2 defeat.[9]
Celtic
In July 2024, Scottish club Celtic approached Royal Antwerp to sign Balikwisha.[10] Celtic made a second attempt to sign him on 20 August 2025 and, although the player agreed personal terms, it was reported that internal issues at his club were preventing the move from happening.[11]
Celtic finally completed the signing of Balikwisha on 28 August 2025, on a five-year contract.[12] Balikwisha made his debut for the club three days later against Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.
Gent
On 29 August 2026, Balikwisha joined Gent on loan until the end of the season.
International career
Born in Belgium, Balikwisha is of DR Congolese descent. He was a youth international for Belgium.[13]
On 1 November 2025, Balikwisha received his first call-up to the DR Congo national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-offs.[14] His request to switch international allegiance to the DR Congo was approved by FIFA on 11 November[1] and he made his debut in the World Cup playoff against Nigeria, scoring in a penalty shootout that helped the Leopards progress to the Intercontinental playoffs.[15]
Personal life
Balikwisha is the brother of the footballer William Balikwisha.[13]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 13 September 2026[3]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Standard Liège | 2020–21 | Belgian Pro League | 32 | 9 | 2 | 0 | — | 6[c] | 0 | — | 40 | 9 | ||
| Antwerp | 2021–22 | Belgian Pro League | 32 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | 5[c] | 1 | — | 38 | 5 | ||
| 2022–23 | Belgian Pro League | 33 | 7 | 5 | 2 | — | 4[d] | 1 | — | 42 | 10 | |||
| 2023–24 | Belgian Pro League | 33 | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | 7[e] | 2 | 1[f] | 1 | 44 | 10 | ||
| 2024–25 | Belgian Pro League | 16 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 17 | 4 | ||||
| 2025–26 | Belgian Pro League | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 118 | 23 | 10 | 2 | — | 16 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 145 | 30 | |||
| Celtic | 2025–26 | Scottish Premiership | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4[c] | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | |
| 2026–27 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0[g] | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | |||
| Gent (loan) | 2026–27 | Belgian Pro League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0[h] | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 161 | 32 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 203 | 39 | ||
- Includes Belgian Cup
- Includes Scottish League Cup
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
- Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
- Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- Appearances in UEFA Conference League
Honours
Royal Antwerp
Celtic
