Sam Nombe

Personal information
Full name	Samuel Tshiayima Nombe
Date of birth	22 October 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth	Croydon, England
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Rotherham United
Number	10
Youth career
0000–2017	Milton Keynes Dons
Senior career*
Years	Team
2017–2021	Milton Keynes Dons
2018	→ Oxford City (loan)
2018–2019	→ Oxford City (loan)
2019	→ Maidenhead United (loan)
2020–2021	→ Luton Town (loan)
2021–2023	Exeter City
2023–	Rotherham United
	* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18:08, 3 August 2025 (UTC)
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Samuel Tshiayima Nombe (born 22 October 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One club Rotherham United.

Club career

Milton Keynes Dons

Nombe joined Milton Keynes Dons academy at under-11 level, and on 12 May 2017 signed professional terms with the club, alongside fellow academy graduate Hugo Logan.^[4]

On 8 August 2017, Nombe made his competitive professional debut for the club, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute for Ryan Seager during an EFL Cup first round away win over Forest Green Rovers.^[5] Nombe made his league debut four days later on 12 August 2017, coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute for Robbie Muirhead in a 1–0 away defeat to Blackpool.^[6]

On 18 May 2018, following a productive first season as a professional, Nombe signed a contract extension keeping him at the club until summer 2019,^[7] which was later extended until June 2020 on 31 May 2018.^[8]

Oxford City (loans)

On 9 February 2018, Nombe joined National League South club Oxford City on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season.^[9] During his brief loan spell, Nombe scored six goals in nine appearances for the club before being recalled to Milton Keynes Dons on 23 April 2018.^[10]

On 30 October 2018 Nombe re-joined Oxford City on a short-term loan until 1 January 2019.^[11]

Maidenhead United (loan)

On 11 January 2019, Nombe joined National League club Maidenhead United on loan until the end of the season.^[12]

Luton Town (loan)

On 16 October 2020, Nombe joined Championship club Luton Town for the remainder of the 2020–21 season with an "intent and option" for a permanent transfer.^[13] At the conclusion of the season, Luton Town opted not to make Nombe's transfer permanent following limited first team opportunities in which he made only 11 league appearances.^[14]

Exeter City

On 5 July 2021, Nombe joined League Two club Exeter City for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract.^[15] He scored his first goal for City on 18 September in a 2–0 home win over Sutton United, his effort minutes prior being chalked down as a Sutton own goal. Exeter secured promotion back to League One that season, with Nombe scoring eight goals despite being injured for a large part of the season.

Rotherham United

On 31 August 2023, Nombe departed Exeter after weeks of speculation, reuniting with former manager Matt Taylor, joining Championship club Rotherham United for a club-record undisclosed fee on a four-year deal.^[16]^[17]

Career statistics

As of match played 3 May 2025

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Milton Keynes Dons	2017–18^[18]	League One	6	0	1	0	2	0	3^[a]	0	12	0
	2018–19^[19]	League Two	0	0	0	0	1	0	1^[a]	0	2	0
	2019–20^[20]	League One	21	2	0	0	2	1	2^[a]	2	25	5
	2020–21^[21]	League One	4	0	0	0	1	0	2^[a]	1	7	1
	Total		31	2	1	0	6	1	8	3	46	6
Oxford City (loan)	2017–18^[18]	National League South	9	6	—		—		—		9	6
	2018–19^[22]	National League South	11	2	2	0	—		1^[b]	1	14	3
	Total		20	8	2	0	—		1	1	23	9
Maidenhead United (loan)	2018–19^[22]	National League	14	1	—		—		0	0	14	1
Luton Town (loan)	2020–21^[21]	Championship	11	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	12	0
Exeter City	2021–22^[23]	League Two	28	8	3	2	0	0	1^[a]	0	32	10
	2022–23^[24]	League One	43	15	2	0	2	2	0	0	47	17
	2023–24^[25]	League One	5	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	6	0
	Total		76	23	5	2	3	2	1	0	85	27
Rotherham United	2023–24^[25]	Championship	41	3	1	0	—		0	0	42	3
	2024–25^[26]	League One	43	14	1	0	2	1	2	0	48	15
	Total		84	17	2	0	2	1	2	0	90	18
Career total			236	51	11	2	11	4	12	4	270	61

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
^ Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

Honours

Exeter City

EFL League Two second-place promotion: 2021–22^[27]

Individual

Milton Keynes Dons Young Player of the Year: 2019–20^[28]

References

^ "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
^ "Sam Nombe". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
^ "Sam Nombe - Forward - First Team - Milton Keynes Dons". Milton Keynes Dons F.C. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
^ "Duo put pen to paper on pro deals". Milton Keynes Dons. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
^ "Forest Green Rovers 0-1 Milton Keynes Dons (aet)". BBC Sport. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
^ "Blackpool 1-0 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 12 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
^ "Deals for young trio". Milton Keynes Dons. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
^ "Nombe commits future to the Dons". Milton Keynes Dons. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
^ "Nombe joins Oxford City on loan". Milton Keynes Dons. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
^ "Sam Nombe recalled from loan spell". Milton Keynes Dons. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
^ "Nombe returns to City on loan". Milton Keynes Dons. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
^ "Samuel Signs". Maidenhead United. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
^ "Luton Town sign MK Dons' Sam Nombe & Leicester City's Kieran Dewsbury-Hall". BBC. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
^ "On-loan Luton striker Nombe faces an uncertain future with MK Dons". Luton Today. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
^ "Sam Nombe signs for Exeter City". Exeter City F.C. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
^ "📝 Sam Nombe departs for Rotherham United". www.exetercityfc.co.uk. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
^ "SIGNING | MILLERS SMASH CLUB RECORD AGAIN TO SECURE SAM'S SERVICES". www.themillers.co.uk. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
^ "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
^ "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
^ "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
^ "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
^ "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
^ "Port Vale end Exeter's League two title hopes". BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
^ "Gilbey named Player of the Year". Milton Keynes Dons. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.

External links

Sam Nombe at Soccerbase
Sam Nombe at Soccerway

[FLT-19] Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

[FAT-24] Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

[1] "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.

[Soccerbase-2] "Sam Nombe". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 August 2017.

[3] "Sam Nombe - Forward - First Team - Milton Keynes Dons". Milton Keynes Dons F.C. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.

[4] "Duo put pen to paper on pro deals". Milton Keynes Dons. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.

[5] "Forest Green Rovers 0-1 Milton Keynes Dons (aet)". BBC Sport. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.

[6] "Blackpool 1-0 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 12 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.

[7] "Deals for young trio". Milton Keynes Dons. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.

[8] "Nombe commits future to the Dons". Milton Keynes Dons. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018.

[9] "Nombe joins Oxford City on loan". Milton Keynes Dons. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2018.

[10] "Sam Nombe recalled from loan spell". Milton Keynes Dons. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.

[11] "Nombe returns to City on loan". Milton Keynes Dons. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2018.

[12] "Samuel Signs". Maidenhead United. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.

[13] "Luton Town sign MK Dons' Sam Nombe & Leicester City's Kieran Dewsbury-Hall". BBC. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.

[14] "On-loan Luton striker Nombe faces an uncertain future with MK Dons". Luton Today. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.

[15] "Sam Nombe signs for Exeter City". Exeter City F.C. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.

[16] "📝 Sam Nombe departs for Rotherham United". www.exetercityfc.co.uk. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.

[17] "SIGNING | MILLERS SMASH CLUB RECORD AGAIN TO SECURE SAM'S SERVICES". www.themillers.co.uk. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.

[ReferenceA-18] "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2017.

[20] "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 June 2018.

[21] "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 June 2019.

[SN2021-22] "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2020.

[ReferenceB-23] "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 October 2018.

[25] "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2021.

[26] "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 August 2022.

[SN2324-27] "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 March 2024.

[28] "Games played by Sam Nombe in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 October 2024.

[29] "Port Vale end Exeter's League two title hopes". BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2023.

[30] "Gilbey named Player of the Year". Milton Keynes Dons. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.

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Club career

Milton Keynes Dons

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Luton Town (loan)

Exeter City

Rotherham United

Career statistics

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Personal information
Full name	Samuel Tshiayima Nombe^[1]
Date of birth	(1998-10-22) 22 October 1998 (age 26)^[2]
Place of birth	Croydon, England
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)^[3]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Rotherham United
Number	10
Youth career
–2017	Milton Keynes Dons
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2021	Milton Keynes Dons	31	(2)
2018	→ Oxford City (loan)	9	(6)
2018–2019	→ Oxford City (loan)	11	(2)
2019	→ Maidenhead United (loan)	14	(1)
2020–2021	→ Luton Town (loan)	11	(0)
2021–2023	Exeter City	76	(23)
2023–	Rotherham United	85	(19)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18:08, 3 August 2025 (UTC)