Jardell Kanga

Jardell Kanga (born 13 December 2005) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Dutch Eerste Divisie club De Graafschap, on loan from the Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.

Jardell Kanga
Personal information
Date of birth (2005-12-13) 13 December 2005
Place of birth Stockholm, Sweden
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 De Graafschap (on loan from Bayer Leverkusen)
Number 13
Youth career
2016–2021 Brommapojkarna
2022–2024 Bayer Leverkusen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Brommapojkarna 23 (5)
2024– Bayer Leverkusen 0 (0)
2024– → De Graafschap (loan) 1 (0)
International career‡
2021–2022 Sweden U17 12 (7)
2023– Sweden U19 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:19, 26 February 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 September 2023

Club career

Kanga is a youth product of Brommapojkarna.[1] He began his senior career with them in 2021 in the Ettan and became their youngest ever debutant at 15 years old and 3 months, their youngest ever goalscorer, and helped them achieve promotion into the Superettan that season.[2] On 20 January 2022, he signed with German Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen, and was assigned to their under-19s.[3] In September 2022, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2005 worldwide.[4]

On 1 February 2024, Kanga joined De Graafschap in the Dutch second-tier Eerste Divisie on loan until the end of the season.[5] He made his debut for the Superboeren on 9 February, replacing David Flakus Bosilj in the 74th minute of a 2–0 home loss to Willem II.[6][7]

International career

Kanga is a youth international for Sweden having played for the Sweden U17s, and is their record goalscorer at that level.[8] He represented the country at the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, where they were eliminated at the group stage.

Personal life

Born in Sweden, Kanga is of DR Congolese descent.[9] He is the cousin of the Swedish footballer Josafat Mendes.[10]

Career statistics
As of match played 9 February 2024[11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Brommapojkarna 2021 Ettan Norra 23510——245
Bayer Leverkusen 2021–22 Bundesliga 000000—00
2022–23 Bundesliga 000000—00
2023–24 Bundesliga 000000—00
Total 0000000000
De Graafschap (loan) 2023–24 Eerste Divisie 1000—0010
Career total 245100000255

    References
    1. "Talangporträtt: Jardell Kanga". Ettanfotboll.
    2. "AVSLÖJAR: Flera storklubbar spionerar på svenskt underbarn". Fotbolldirekt – Experten på svensk fotboll.
    3. "Swedish talent Jardell Kanga strengthens U19 squad". Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Press release). 20 January 2022. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
    4. Christenson, Marcus; Bloor, Steven; Blight, Garry (28 September 2022). "Next Generation 2022: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
    5. "De Graafschap trekt Jardell Kanga aan" [De Graafschap signs Jardell Kanga] (in Dutch). De Graafschap. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
    6. "De Graafschap vs. Willem II 0–2: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
    7. "Willem II verstiert feestje ter ere van 70 jaar De Graafschap". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 9 February 2024. Archived from the original on 10 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
    8. "Jardell Kanga med svenskt målrekord i P17-EM". Svensk Fotboll (in Swedish). 21 May 2022. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
    9. "Euro U-17 stars today, African superstars tomorrow?". GOAL. 17 May 2022. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
    10. Parker, Cindy (24 May 2022). "Jardell kanga längd". Duffy's Blog (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 28 September 2022.
    11. Jardell Kanga at Soccerway
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