# M'Bala Nzola

M'Bala Nzola (born 18 August 1996) is an Angolan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Lens, on loan from Serie A club Fiorentina, and the Angola national team.

## Club career

On 28 January 2015, Nzola made his professional debut with Académica de Coimbra in a 2014–15 Taça da Liga match against FC Porto, coming on as a substitute in the 4–1 away loss.
On 7 August 2016, he joined Lega Pro club Virtus Francavilla Calcio.
On 7 August 2017, after helping Virtus Francavilla Calcio reach the Lega Pro promotion play-offs, Nzola signed a four-year deal with Carpi F.C. 1909.
On 16 August 2018, he joined Serie C club Trapani on a season-long loan. Trapani held the obligation to purchase him from Carpi at the end of the loan term in case of Trapani's promotion to Serie B. On 15 June he scored the first goal for the Trapani victory over Piacenza, and after that Trapani was promoted in Serie B after two years of Serie C.
On 13 January 2020, he joined Serie B club Spezia on loan with an option to purchase.
On 7 October 2020, Nzola signed with Spezia a three-year contract. On 10 August 2023, he joined fellow Italian side Fiorentina.

## International career

Being born in Angola, but raised in France, Nzola was eligible for either country at international level.
In March 2021, some months after he expressed his desire to represent Angola, he received his first call-up to the national team. Some days after, on 25 March 2021, he made his debut for the Palancas Negras against Gambia, in a qualifying match for the Africa Cup of Nations.

## Personal life

Born in Cabinda, an Angolan exclave, Nzola emigrated to France as a child.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 23 February 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Europe | Europe | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Académica | 2014–15 | Primeira Liga | 0 | 0 | – | – | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 2 | 1 |
| Sertanense | 2015–16 | Campeonato de Portugal | 25 | 7 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 26 | 8 |
| Virtus Francavilla | 2016–17 | Lega Pro | 33 | 11 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | 38 | 12 |
| Virtus Francavilla | 2017–18 | Lega Pro | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 |
| Virtus Francavilla | Total | Total | 33 | 11 | 4 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 2 | 0 | 39 | 13 |
| Carpi | 2017–18 | Serie B | 14 | 0 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 15 | 1 |
| Trapani (loan) | 2018–19 | Lega Pro | 29 | 7 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 4 | 1 | 36 | 8 |
| Trapani | 2019–20 | Serie B | 12 | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 14 | 2 |
| Spezia (loan) | 2019–20 | Serie B | 17 | 6 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 4 | 1 | 21 | 7 |
| Spezia | 2020–21 | Serie A | 25 | 11 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 25 | 11 |
| Spezia | 2021–22 | Serie A | 21 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 22 | 2 |
| Spezia | 2022–23 | Serie A | 31 | 13 | 2 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | 34 | 15 |
| Spezia | Total | Total | 94 | 32 | 3 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 5 | 1 | 102 | 35 |
| Fiorentina | 2023–24 | Serie A | 33 | 3 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 7 |
| Lens | 2024–25 | Ligue 1 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 1 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 7 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 258 | 67 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 12 | 2 | 302 | 79 |
* ↑ Includes Taça de Portugal, Coppa Italia
* ↑ Includes Taça da Liga
* 1 2 Appearance in Lega Pro promotion play-offs
* ↑ Appearances in Serie B promotion play-offs
* ↑ Appearance in Serie A relegation play-off
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
* ↑ Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

### International

    As of match played 23 March 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Angola | 2021 | 3 | 1 |
| Angola | 2022 | 2 | 1 |
| Angola | 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 6 | 2 |
    Scores and results list Angola's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nzola goal.
List of international goals scored by M'Bala Nzola :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 12 November 2021 | Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola | Egypt | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 1 June 2022 | Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola | Central African Republic | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |