Nathan Mbala
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 19 February 2008 | ||
| Place of birth | Kinshasa, DR Congo | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Metz | ||
| Number | 34 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| US Forbach | |||
| 2020–2025 | Metz | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024–2025 | Metz B | 17 | (5) |
| 2025– | Metz | 7 | (2) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22 March 2026 | |||
Nathan Mbala (born 19 February 2008) is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for Metz.
Nathan Mbala was born in Kinshasa, DR Congo, before moving to Yverdon-les-Bains in Switzerland,[1][2][3] where his father, Democratic Republic of the Congo international Biscotte Mbala, then played.[4][5][6][7]
Mbala moved to France as a 4 years old, where he first played for US Forbach.[1]
He then started playing for Metz in 2020 with the under-13.[4][5] In July 2023, he officially joined the Metz Youth academy, where his older brother Bisnat Mbala already played.[8][7]
Mbala started training with the first team in early 2025, making his unofficial first team debut during a mid-season friendly in March 2025.[9] On the summer 2025, he made the pre-season with the first team and delivered an assist for Cléo Mélières during the first friendly against US Mondorf.[10][11][12]
As he had established himself as a regular goalscorer for the National 3 reserve,[4][13][14][15] Mbala made his professional debut with Metz in a 3–0 away Coupe de France win over ASC Biesheim on 20 December 2025. He replaced the starting captain Gauthier Hein in the last few minutes of the game.[3][16] He then was regularly selected by Stéphane Le Mignan in the first-team Ligue 1 squad, while some of Metz's leaders where away playing the Africa Cup of Nations.[4][17]
After making his Ligue 1 debut on 1st February 2026 against Angers,[4] Mbala scored his first goal with the team two weeks later, in a 3–1 defeat to AJ Auxerre on 17 February 2026.[18] Aged only 17 and 361 days, he became the third youngest goalscorer in the history of FC Metz, trailing only Babacar Gueye and Miralem Pjanić.[19]
On 24 March 2026, Mbala signed his first contract with Metz, the youngster then appearing as one of the few bright spots of a team struggling to avoid relegation.[2]
Style of play
Having initially played as a goalkeeper,[1][20] Mbala switched to outfield player during his youth years.[2][5][7]
