Britt Assombalonga

Britt Curtis Assombalonga (born 6 December 1992) is a Congolese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Barnet and the DR Congo national football team. He has played in the Football League for Watford, Southend United, Peterborough United, Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough.

Assombalonga was born in Kinshasa, Zaire, and moved to London, England, with his family at eight months old. He grew up in Swiss Cottage, in the London borough of Camden, and attended Whitefield School. He is the son of Fedor Assombalonga, a former Zaire international footballer. His brother, Christian, is also a footballer who plays in the English non-League football system at Bourne Town Football Club

Assombalonga began his career with Watford, signing as a 17-year-old youth player in 2010 after making his way through via the Hertswood Impact Scheme. In his first full season in the youth team, he finished as the second top goal scorer while his team made it to the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals.

He also appeared regularly for Watford's reserve team, and was rewarded for his performances with a one-year professional contract at the end of the season. He was an unused substitute for the senior squad's last two games against Preston North End and Queens Park Rangers.

In November 2011, Assombalonga joined Wealdstone alongside youth teammate Connor Smith to gain more playing experience. On 3 December, he scored his first goal in a league match against Concord Rangers. Assombalonga had his loan spell extended for another month on 4 January 2012. Assombalonga returned to Watford on 4 February, having scored 11 goals in 16 games for Wealdstone.

Just days after his return to Watford, Assombalonga was loaned to Braintree Town on a one-month deal. Despite being heavily linked with a permanent move to Scottish club Peterhead, he also signed a one-year contract extension with Watford on the same day. Assombalonga made an eventful debut in a 3–3 draw against Lincoln City; he scored his first goal for the club to put Braintree 3–2 up before being sent off for a second bookable offence. He scored four more goals in four games for Braintree after serving his one-match suspension, and was subsequently recalled by Watford to join their senior squad.

On 17 March 2012, he made his first-team debut in a 0–0 draw with Coventry City. His appearance made him the 50th player to go through Watford's academy and represent the first-team.

At the start of the 2012–13 season, Assombalonga joined League Two club Southend United on an initial one-month loan. On 25 August 2012, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3–3 draw against Northampton Town. Assombalonga went on to score five goals in four matches, including a brace in a 3–1 win against Dagenham & Redbridge on 7 September.