page_title: Hérita Ilunga
section_title: West Ham United
hierarchical_section_title: Hérita Ilunga / Career / West Ham United
caption_attribution_description: Samir Nasri waiting to take a free kick. Arsenal v West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium on 30 October 2010. Arsenal won 1-0 with a late 88minute goal by Alex Song.
context_page_description: Hérita N'Kongolo Ilunga is a retired Congolese footballer who played as a left-back. At club level, he represented Espanyol B, Saint-Étienne, Toulouse, West Ham United, Doncaster Rovers, Rennes, Carquefou, and US Creteil. He has also played international football for DR Congo.
context_section_description: On 2 September 2008, Premier League club West Ham United signed Ilunga on loan for the 2008–09 season.
  Ilunga made his Hammers debut away at West Bromwich Albion on 13 September, and quickly established himself as the club's first-choice left-back, after the sale of George McCartney to Sunderland. Illunga performance led him earned being voted player of the month of October by fans of the Hammers. Ilunga scored his first goal for the club in the 3–0 home FA Cup win against Barnsley on 3 January 2009, and scored again in a later round against Middlesbrough.
  On 15 April 2009, Ilunga agreed to turn his loan move into a permanent four-year contract with West Ham. The deal was completed when the 2009 summer transfer window opened. His first game as a permanent signing came in a 2–0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on 15 August 2009 and after a clash of heads between Ilunga and Kevin Foley on 65 minutes, Ilunga and Foley needed treatment. Foley was able to return while Ilunga was substituted for Jonathan Spector. Ilunga suffered a jaw injury not returning until 19 September playing 90 minutes in a 3–2 loss against Liverpool. On 31 October 2009, Ilunga was involved in an incident with Kenwyne Jones. After a foul Jones retaliated by pushing Ilunga in the face; Jones was sent off and received a three match ban and Ilunga was booked. The match finished 2–2. Ilunga made 17 appearances for West Ham during season 2009–10 but only one in the period from January until the end of the season. Injured in a game on 11 February 2010 against Birmingham City, Ilunga did not play again that season.
  Ilunga returned on 14 August 2010 in a 3–0 defeat by Aston Villa but found his playing opportunities limited under new manager Avram Grant. He made only 12 appearances during season 2010–11 and by January 2011 he had been omitted from the first team squad. Following West Ham's relegation to the Football Championship and another change of manager, Ilunga was picked for the first five games of season 2011–12 by new manager Sam Allardyce, before leaving to join Doncaster Rovers on-loan.
  On 27 January 2012, West Ham United mutually agreed with Ilunga to terminate his contract with immediate effect. He made 73 appearances for West Ham in all competitions scoring three goals.
caption: Ilunga (23) as Arsenal Samir Nasri is about to take a free kick.
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