Bali Mumba

Bali Mumba (born 8 October 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a full-back for EFL Championship club Plymouth Argyle.
Club career
Sunderland
Mumba made his senior debut for Sunderland against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the last day of the 2017–18 EFL Championship season, coming on as an 87th-minute substitute for captain John O'Shea, who handed him the captain's armband as he entered the field of play, making him the club's youngest ever captain for the few minutes of play remaining. On 2 November 2018, Mumba signed his first professional contract with the club until 2021. He joined South Shields on loan in March 2020, scoring in his second game, at home to FC United of Manchester.
Norwich City
In July 2020, Mumba joined Norwich City on a four-year deal. On 21st August 2021, he made his Premier League debut in a 5–0 defeat against Manchester City.
Loan to Peterborough
On 6 January 2022, Mumba joined EFL Championship side Peterborough United on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season. He scored the winner on his debut in a 2–1 win against Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup third round.
Loan to Plymouth
On 14 July 2022, Mumba joined EFL League One club Plymouth Argyle on loan for the 2022–23 season. An impressive start to life at Home Park saw Plymouth sitting top of the league with Mumba winning the EFL Young Player of the Month award for September 2022.
Mumba would play 47 games and score eight times for Argyle as they went on to win the League One title, and finished as runners-up in the EFL Trophy, with Mumba starting in the Wembley final. The majority of Mumba's appearances came at wing-back in a 3–5–2 formation, often rotating flanks with captain Joe Edwards.
At the end of season, Mumba was named the Argyle fans' Young Player of the Season, his teammates' Player of the Season, and was honoured at the EFL Awards as the division's Young Player of the Season.
Plymouth Argyle
On 21 July 2023, Mumba signed for Plymouth Argyle on a permanent basis, signing a 4-year contract with the club, for a reported £1 million transfer fee. This would equal Plymouth's all-time record fee that was paid to sign Morgan Whittaker earlier that same week.
On 5 August 2023, Mumba scored in his second-debut for the club, in a 3–1 EFL Championship win over Huddersfield Town, while playing on the left-wing in a 4–3–3.
International career
Mumba has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-19 level. His parents are Congolese.
Career statistics
Honours
Norwich City
EFL Championship: 2020–21
Plymouth Argyle
EFL League One: 2022–23
EFL Trophy runner-up: 2022–23
Individual
EFL League One Young Player of the Season: 2022–23
EFL League One Team of the Season: 2022–23
PFA Team of the Year: 2022–23 League One
EFL Young Player of the Month: September 2022
Plymouth Argyle Young Player of the Season: 2023
Plymouth Argyle Players’ Player of the Season: 2023
References
2001 births
Living people
Footballers from South Shields
Black British sportsmen
English men's footballers
England men's youth international footballers
English sportspeople of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent
Men's association football midfielders
Hebburn Town F.C. players
Sunderland A.F.C. players
South Shields F.C. players
Norwich City F.C. players
Peterborough United F.C. players
Plymouth Argyle F.C. players
English Football League players
Northern Premier League players
Premier League players