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Simon Banza
Simon Banza
from Wikipedia

Simon Bokoté Banza (born 13 August 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for UAE Pro League side Al Jazira. Born in France, he plays for the DR Congo national team.

Key Information

Formed at Lens, where he played 98 games and scored 16 goals including in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, he went on to play in Portugal's Primeira Liga for Famalicão and Braga. Shortly after making his senior international debut, he was chosen for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Club career

[edit]

Lens

[edit]

Born in Creil, Oise, Banza began his senior career with Lens, first with its reserve team in the fourth tier. He scored his first Ligue 2 goal on 6 May 2016, as consolation at the end of a 2–1 loss at Bourg-en-Bresse.[1]

In January 2017, Banza was loaned to Championnat National club Béziers until the end of the season.[2] That August, he moved to UT Pétange of the Luxembourg National Division in the same manner.[3] He was the season's sixth highest scorer with 13 goals, including a hat-trick in a 4–1 home win over Esch on 15 April 2018.[4]

On 24 May 2019, Banza scored the extra-time winner as Lens won 2–1 at Troyes in the second leg of the play-off semi-finals.[5] The following season, he scored seven times as Lens won promotion as runners-up, including two on 3 December 2019 in a 3–0 home win over his local side Chambly.[6] He was sent off 18 days later in a 1–0 win over Niort also at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.[7]

Famalicão

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On 31 August 2021, Banza joined Famalicão in Portugal on loan for the 2021–22 season.[8] On his Primeira Liga debut 12 days later, he scored twice in a 2–2 draw at Moreirense;[9] he added both goals of a win at Santa Clara on 23 October, though he was also sent off.[10] He finished the season as joint seventh top scorer with 14 goals in 29 games,[11] including two on the final day in a 3–2 home comeback win over neighbours Braga to ensure a top-half finish.[12]

Braga

[edit]

On 19 July 2022, Banza signed a five-year deal with Braga for a €3 million fee, complete with a buyout clause of €30 million.[13][14] He made his debut on 7 August in the season opener at home to Sporting CP, scoring his club's first goal of a 3–3 draw;[15] five days later he added two more goals in a 3–0 win on his return to Famalicão.[16] In the 2023–24 season, he managed to score 21 goals in the Primeira Liga, equalling his club's top scorer in a single campaign, Chico Gordo in the 1977–78 season.[17]

Trabzonspor

[edit]

On 13 September 2024, Banza signed for Turkish club Trabzonspor on a one-year loan deal.[18][19]

Al Jazira

[edit]

On 22 September 2025, Banza signed for Emirati club Al Jazira.[20]

International career

[edit]

Banza was born in France to DR Congolese parents.[21] On 2 October 2023, he was called up to the DR Congo national team for a set of friendlies.[22] He made his debut 11 days later in a 1–1 draw with New Zealand in Murcia, Spain, playing the final 11 minutes as a substitute for Cédric Bakambu.[23] He was chosen for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations at the start of the following year, in the Ivory Coast.[24]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played 30 May 2025[25]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Lens II 2014–15 CFA 26 1 26 1
2015–16 13 5 13 5
2016–17 10 2 10 2
2018–19 Championnat National 2 7 2 7 2
Total 56 10 56 10
Lens 2015–16 Ligue 2 18 1 18 1
2016–17 1 0 2 1 2 0 5 1
2018–19 5 1 0 0 0 0 4[c] 1 9 2
2019–20 24 7 1 0 3 1 28 8
2020–21 Ligue 1 34 5 1 0 35 5
2021–22 4 1 0 0 4 1
Total 86 15 4 1 5 1 4 1 99 18
Béziers (loan) 2016–17 Championnat National 11 0 11 0
UT Pétange (loan) 2017–18 Luxembourg National Division 21 13 4 5 25 18
Famalicão (loan) 2021–22 Primeira Liga 29 14 3 2 1 1 33 17
Braga 2022–23 Primeira Liga 30 11 7 2 3 1 7[d] 0 47 14
2023–24 28 21 0 0 2 0 11[e] 2 41 23
2024–25 1 0 0 0 0 0 1[f] 0 2 0
Total 59 32 7 2 5 1 19 2 90 37
Trabzonspor (loan) 2024–25 Süper Lig 31 19 6 3 37 22
Career total 288 102 23 13 11 3 19 2 4 1 345 121
  1. ^ Includes Coupe de France, Luxembourg Cup, Taça de Portugal, Turkish Cup
  2. ^ Includes Coupe de la Ligue, Taça da Liga
  3. ^ Appearances in Ligue 1 relegation/promotion play-offs
  4. ^ Five appearances in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  5. ^ Nine appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ Appearance in UEFA Europa League

International

[edit]
As of match played 8 June 2025[26]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
DR Congo 2023 3 0
2024 9 0
2025 2 2
Total 14 2


Scores and results list DR Congo's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Banza goal.
List of international goals scored by Simon Banza
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 8 June 2025 Stade de la Source, Orléans, France 14  Madagascar 1–0 3–1 Friendly
2 2–0

Honours

[edit]

Braga

Individual

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Simon Bokoté Banza (born 13 August 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-forward for club Al Jazira and the DR Congo national team. Born in , , to Congolese parents, he holds dual citizenship and stands at 1.89 metres tall, known for his physical presence, aerial ability, and goal-scoring prowess in competitive leagues. Banza began his youth career at AFC Creil before progressing through US Chantilly and joining ' academy in 2011, where he developed into a promising striker. He made his professional debut for Lens in the 2014–15 season, accumulating 98 appearances and 16 goals across and over five years, including a standout 2019–20 campaign with seven goals that helped secure promotion. On 31 August 2021, he joined on loan from Lens, where he scored 14 goals in 29 matches during the 2021–22 season. In July 2022, Banza joined Sporting CP's rivals for €2.5 million, signing a five-year contract, and quickly became a key player, netting 37 goals in 89 appearances across all competitions during his tenure there. His form peaked on a season-long to Turkish club in September 2024, where he scored 22 goals in 37 matches, finishing as the league's second-highest scorer and earning widespread acclaim for his clinical finishing and work rate. Following this breakout, sold him to Al Jazira in September 2025 for a reported €9.5 million (including add-ons), with retaining a 20% sell-on clause; he has since made three appearances and scored once in the . Internationally, Banza opted to represent DR Congo, making his debut in October 2023 against and earning 12 caps with two goals as of June 2025. He featured prominently in the , playing in five matches including the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and third-place playoff, contributing to DR Congo's fourth-place finish—their best result since the 2015 semi-finals. Banza's career totals stand at over 349 club appearances, 115 goals, and 27 assists, highlighting his evolution from a French second-division prospect to a sought-after international striker.

Club career

Early career and youth

Simon Banza was born on 13 August 1996 in , , , to parents from the . He grew up in his hometown of before his family relocated to the nearby Chantilly area during his early childhood. Banza began his football journey at the local club AFC Creil, where he played from 2003 to 2007, honing his initial skills as a young talent in the region. In 2007, at age 11, he joined US Chantilly, spending the next four years (2007–2011) developing his basic technical abilities and physical attributes in their youth setup. During this period, Banza focused on foundational training, including ball control, positioning, and team play, which laid the groundwork for his progression to higher levels. At the age of 15 in 2011, Banza entered the prestigious youth academy, initially competing in the U17 DH team before advancing through the U17 Nationaux and U19 Nationaux squads by 2014. In the academy, he participated in intensive training sessions and competitive matches that emphasized tactical awareness and competitive edge, preparing him for senior football. Following the youth phase, Banza made his initial appearances for the Lens reserves (Lens II) in the starting in the 2014–15 season, where he accumulated 56 appearances and scored 10 goals across multiple campaigns by 2019.

Lens

Banza signed his first professional contract with in November 2015, marking his promotion from the club's . He made his first-team debut for Lens during the 2015–16 season, appearing in 19 league matches and scoring his maiden senior goal in May 2016. Over the subsequent seasons, Banza featured regularly in the first team, accumulating 99 appearances and 18 goals across and Ligue 1. Banza played a pivotal role in Lens's 2019–20 campaign, where he scored 7 goals in 24 appearances, contributing significantly to the team's second-place finish and promotion to as runners-up. In the season, Banza made 34 appearances and scored 5 goals for Lens. He was then loaned to for the 2021–22 season.

Loans from Lens

In January 2017, Simon Banza was loaned from to AS Béziers of the for the remainder of the 2016–17 season, with the move intended to provide the 20-year-old forward with regular playing time to aid his development. During his six-month spell, Banza made 11 appearances but did not score any goals, facing adaptation challenges in the third-tier French environment while gaining valuable senior experience. Following the Béziers , Banza joined Luxembourg's side FC UT Pétange on a season-long in 2017, again without an option to buy, to secure more consistent minutes and further his growth as a striker. In the 2017–18 campaign, he featured in 21 matches and netted 13 goals, establishing himself as a key attacking threat and finishing among the league's top scorers. A highlight was his in a 4–1 home victory over US Esch on 15 April 2018, where he scored in the 1st, 43rd, and additional time to secure the win. Banza returned to at the end of the 2017–18 season, drawing on the experiences from his loans to enhance his physical conditioning and sharpen his finishing ahead of greater involvement with the first team. Across the two spells, he accumulated 32 appearances and 13 goals, which helped build his confidence and prepare him for more prominent senior roles.

Famalicão

On 31 August 2021, Simon Banza joined FC Famalicão on loan from Lens for the 2021–22 season, marking his first move abroad following several developmental loans in the French lower divisions. This opportunity allowed him to secure a consistent starting role in Portugal's Primeira Liga, a top-tier competition that demanded greater physicality and tactical discipline compared to his prior experiences in Ligue 2 and National leagues. Banza quickly adapted, leveraging his pace and finishing ability to become a focal point in Famalicão's attack at the mid-table club. Banza made an immediate impact on his Primeira Liga debut on 12 September 2021, scoring a brace in a 2–2 draw against Moreirense, with both goals coming within the first half to rescue a point for his new team. He continued his strong form throughout the season, netting both goals in a 2–1 victory over Santa Clara on 23 October 2021—his first league win for the club—despite receiving a red card late in the match. Another standout performance came on 5 November 2021, when he scored twice in Famalicão's 4–1 away win against Boavista, contributing to a run of form that helped stabilize the team's position in the league. In his breakthrough 2021–22 campaign, Banza featured in 29 league appearances, scoring 14 goals and finishing as the joint seventh-highest scorer in the . Across all competitions, he made 33 appearances and tallied 17 goals, including contributions in the and . His prolific output, characterized by clinical finishing and aerial presence, highlighted his growth into a reliable centre-forward and drew interest from larger clubs. Banza's successful stint at Famalicão culminated in his departure upon the loan's expiration, leading to a permanent €3 million transfer from Lens to on 19 2022. This move elevated him to a more competitive environment with European aspirations, building directly on the platform he established in northern .

Braga

In 2022, Simon Banza transferred from to Sporting Clube de for a reported fee of €3 million, signing a five-year until June 2027. He made an immediate impact, scoring his first goal for the club on his debut in the season opener against Sporting CP on 7 August 2022, equalizing in a 3–3 draw at . Over his time at from 2022 to 2025, Banza featured in 59 appearances, scoring 32 goals, while also contributing in European competitions, including two goals in the campaign. Banza's 2023–24 season marked his breakout at , where he led the team's attack with 21 league goals in 28 appearances, helping secure a third-place finish in the and qualification for the . His form extended to domestic cups, including key contributions during 's successful campaign, which culminated in a 1–0 victory over Estoril Praia in the final on 27 January 2024 to claim the club's third title in the competition. In Europe that season, Banza's goals came in group stage matches against clubs like and /Glimt, underscoring his role as a prolific finisher for the Minho side. In September 2024, Banza departed on a one-year loan to in the Turkish . He returned to at the end of the loan in June 2025, featuring briefly in preseason preparations before his permanent departure in September 2025.

Trabzonspor (loan)

On 3 September 2024, Simon Banza joined on a one-year loan from , arriving to bolster the team's attacking options in the . The move marked his introduction to Turkish football, where he quickly adapted to the league's physicality and pace, leveraging his aerial prowess and clinical finishing honed in . Over the course of the 2024–25 season, Banza made 31 appearances in the , scoring 19 goals and providing 5 assists, establishing himself as one of the league's top scorers and a pivotal figure in 's push for European qualification. Banza's impact was evident from the outset, with his league debut coming on 15 September 2024 in a high-stakes derby against . He opened his account for the club just two weeks later, netting a brace in a 3-2 victory over on 29 September 2024, showcasing his ability to exploit defensive lapses with powerful headers and opportunistic strikes. Subsequent highlights included a goal in a 1-1 draw against on 5 October 2024, another brace in the 2–3 defeat to Fenerbahçe on 3 November 2024, and a consolation strike in a thrilling 4-3 defeat to Galatasaray on 16 December 2024. Banza recorded multiple braces throughout the campaign, including against on 25 November 2024, underlining his consistency as Trabzonspor's primary goal threat. In addition to domestic duties, Banza contributed to Trabzonspor's campaign, featuring in the league phase matches and providing forward depth during a season that saw the club compete against European opposition. His presence helped maintain attacking pressure in continental fixtures, complementing his domestic form. The spell concluded at the end of June 2025, with Trabzonspor opting not to activate the permanent transfer clause, leading to Banza's return to .

Al-Jazira

On 22 September 2025, Simon Banza joined Al-Jazira on a permanent transfer from for a fee of €8.5 million plus €1 million in potential add-ons, signing a three-year contract expiring on 30 June 2028. Banza made his debut for Al-Jazira four days later, on 24 September 2025, in the , substituting into a 0–1 home defeat against Al Wahda after 71 minutes. He started his second match on 18 October 2025, playing 54 minutes in a 1–0 away victory over Dibba Al-Fujairah. In his third league appearance on 1 November 2025, Banza scored the decisive goal in the 27th minute, securing a 1–0 home win against Al Bataeh and marking his first contribution to Al-Jazira's points tally in the 2025–26 season. As of November 2025, he has recorded one goal across three outings, demonstrating early adaptation to the physical demands and tactical nuances of Middle Eastern football through his positioning and finishing. The transfer provided Banza with an opportunity to pursue a fresh challenge in a competitive Asian league following his established career in . Wearing number 9, he has been positioned as Al-Jazira's primary striker, contributing to the team's attacking line in their bid for improved standings.

International career

National team eligibility

Simon Banza was born in , , on 13 August 1996, to parents originating from the , which provided him with eligibility to represent either nation under regulations. Although developed through the French at clubs like , Banza did not earn senior caps for and had limited involvement in their youth international setups, primarily at the under-16 level or below. His dual citizenship—French by birth and Congolese by descent—allowed flexibility in his international choice without requiring a formal change of association, as he had not competed for at the senior or certain youth levels that would impose restrictions. Banza's decision to align with DR Congo stemmed from strong to the country through his parents, prioritizing his heritage over his birthplace despite initial considerations of continuing with . This choice reflected a broader trend among players opting for ancestral nations, facilitated by FIFA's eligibility rules that permit representation based on parental . No evidence indicates eligibility or pursuits for other African federations, such as , in his case.

DR Congo national team

Banza made his international debut for the DR Congo national team on 13 October 2023, coming on as a substitute in a 1–1 friendly draw against . Born in to Congolese parents, he opted to represent DR Congo, earning his first call-up earlier that month. Shortly after his debut, Banza was included in DR Congo's squad for the held in . He featured in five matches during the tournament, starting three, as DR Congo advanced to the semi-finals and secured fourth place overall. Although he did not score, his contributions included a starting role in the round-of-16 victory over and appearances in the quarter-final win against , the semi-final loss to , and the third-place match against . Banza continued to earn caps in World Cup qualifiers and friendlies, accumulating 17 appearances and two goals by November 2025. His first international goals came on 8 June 2025, scoring twice in a 3–1 friendly victory over , helping DR Congo prepare for upcoming qualifiers. In 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches that year, he started in the 1–0 win against on 21 March and featured as a substitute in the 4–1 victory over the same opponent on 5 September. Banza also played in the 2–0 away win over on 25 March and started in the 1–0 home win over on 14 October, contributing to DR Congo's strong position in CAF . On 16 November 2025, DR Congo defeated 1–1 (4–5 on penalties) in the CAF World Cup playoff final to advance to the inter-confederation playoffs for the , though Banza did not feature in the match. These performances underscored his growing role in the Leopards' attack as they aimed for a first World Cup appearance since 1974.

Career statistics

Club

SeasonClubLeagueAppsGoals
2014–15Lens00
2015–16Lens181
2016–17Lens10
2017–18Lens00
2018–19Lens51
2019–20Lens247
2020–21Lens345
2021–22Lens41
2021–22Famalicão2914
2022–233011
2023–242821
2024–2510
2024–25Trabzonspor (loan)3119
2025–26Al Jazira31
Total20881

Individual Awards

  • Luxembourg National Division Top Scorer (3rd place, 2017–18): While on loan at Union Titus Pétange, Banza scored 13 goals in 9 league appearances, placing third in the goal-scoring charts behind N. Perez (17 goals) and M. N'Diaye (14 goals).
  • Primeira Liga Top Scorer (9th place, 2021–22): At , Banza netted 14 goals, ranking ninth overall in the league behind leaders like (26 goals).
  • Primeira Liga Player of the Month (August 2022): Recognized for his early-season form with , where he scored multiple goals in key matches.
No major team honours were secured during his stints at , , Trabzonspor (loan), or Al-Jazira as of November 2025.

International

CompetitionAppsGoals
Friendlies42
Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers40
50
World Cup qualifiers10
Total142
Banza made his international debut for DR Congo on 17 October 2023 in a friendly against . His first international goal came on 8 June 2025 in a friendly against , where he scored twice.

Honours

Club

Simon Banza has achieved limited team honours in his club career, primarily with Sporting Clube de Braga. He contributed to Braga's victory in the during the 2023–24 season, where the team defeated Estoril Praia 5–4 on penalties in the final after a 1–1 draw, securing their third title in the competition. Banza played a key role in Braga's strong performance in the , helping the club finish fourth in the standings with 68 points from 34 matches, qualifying for the . His goal-scoring prowess was instrumental in this campaign, though no major league titles were won during his tenure at any club.

Individual Awards

  • Luxembourg National Division Top Scorer (6th place, 2017–18): While on loan at Union Titus Pétange, Banza scored 13 goals in 9 league appearances, placing sixth in the goal-scoring charts.
  • Primeira Liga Top Scorer (9th place, 2021–22): At , Banza netted 14 goals, ranking ninth overall in the league behind leaders like (26 goals).
  • Primeira Liga Player of the Month (August 2022): Recognized for his early-season form with , where he scored multiple goals in key matches.
  • Süper Lig Top Scorer (2nd place, 2024–25): On loan at , Banza scored 22 goals in 37 matches, finishing as the league's second-highest scorer.
No major team honours were secured during his stints at , , Trabzonspor (loan), or Al-Jazira as of November 2025.

International

Simon Banza has not won any major team honours with the DR Congo national team as of November 2025. His primary international recognition to date is participation in the , where he featured for DR Congo as they advanced to the semi-finals before finishing fourth overall. The Leopards' run included a victory over in the round of 16 and a 3-1 win against in the quarter-finals, though they fell 1-0 to hosts in the semi-finals and lost on penalties to in the third-place match. Banza made five appearances in the without scoring, contributing to the team's defensive solidity and counter-attacking threat. DR Congo secured qualification for the as Group H winners by October 2024. He scored his first international goal in a qualifier against on 8 June 2025, underscoring his growing importance to the attack.

References

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