Despite being a sleeping behemoth in African football, the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to produce exceptional players.
Promising individuals have leveraged their cultural ties to Belgium and France, where they have deep ancestry, to advance their careers in European football.
Due to this, a number of their most talented players have ultimately relocated to England, where they compete in the Premier League.
Throughout the last thirty years, eighteen DR Congo nationals have competed in the English Premier League with varying degrees of success. Therefore, which five DR Congolese have made the most appearances in the Premier League?
Top 5 best DR Congo players in Premier League history, Read More Below!!!
1. Lomano LuaLua (Newcastle, Portsmouth)
The LuaLua brand has been present in the Premier League for over two decades, but Lomano LuaLua was the most successful of the group.
Lomano debuted for Newcastle in 2000 following his impressive performance for third-tier Colchester, but he struggled to earn regular playing time. However, his agility enabled him to excel even when playing from the bench as a predatory striker.
After a few fleeting moments of promise, LuaLua failed to make headlines until 2004 when he relocated to Portsmouth.
Following a loan stint during the 2003-04 season during which he scored four goals in fifteen games, he was permanently transferred to Fratton Park and integrated into a dynamic front line.
His most productive campaign occurred in 2005-06, when he scored seven goals in twenty-five games. Although he did not consistently score, his signature cartwheels and flips managed to energize the crowd at every game.
He and his exuberant celebrations departed Pompey in 2007 for the Greek behemoths Olympiakos, following three seasons with the club. The Premier League lost one of the finest athletes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in addition to a character.
Top 5 best DR Congo players in Premier League history, Read More Below!!!
2. Benik Afobe (Bournemouth)
Benik Afobe, who was born in England, elected to represent the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the country of origin for his family. Afobe was given a second opportunity with Wolves, where he scored 23 goals in two seasons in the EFL Championship, after failing to make the cut at Arsenal.
As a result, Afobe was transferred to Bournemouth, where he established himself as a starting member for the 2015/16 season. The following year, Afobe excelled with seven goals in 31 games, utilizing his speed and strength to assist The Cherries in avoiding relegation.
Afobe was also named Bournemouth Player of the Year in 2017 in recognition of his efforts. Afobe departed the Premier League in 2018 after falling out of favor at Dean Court in order to join Stoke in the Championship, where he has since proven to be an indispensable asset.
3. Youssouf Mulumbu (West Brom, Norwich)
Although not a main attraction, Youssouf Mulumbu executed his responsibilities with minimal fanfare but maximum efficacy.
His robust physique rendered him an ideal anchoring midfielder, while his diverse range of passes propelled offenses forward with unexpected velocity.
Mulumbu primarily resided in England, having joined West Brom in 2009, shortly prior to the Baggies’ relegation.
One season later, upon his return, Mulumbu established himself as an indispensable member of the squad, accumulating seven goals in thirty-four contests. Mulumbu missed only about five games over the subsequent five seasons.
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A transfer to Norwich in 2015 appeared to be a diversion, as he was denied playing time at Carrow Road as the club was relegated at the conclusion of the season.
He remained in Norfolk for an additional season before relocating north of the border to join Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock.
4. Arthur Masuaku (West Ham)
Masuaku, who was born in France, had a successful junior career with Lens and Valenciennes before joining Olympiakos in Greece, where he performed admirably.
This attracted the interest of West Ham, which in 2016 acquired the newly-capped international from DR Congo. In excess of one hundred appearances across five seasons, Masuaku’s pace and distribution have established him as a dependable alternative for The Hammers, despite the fact that he has predominantly filled in for Aaron Cresswell in his natural position.
Unbelievably, Masuaku went seven seasons without netting until December 2021, when he assisted West Ham to a 3-2 victory over Chelsea with a cross-shot – a momentous achievement for Masuaku.
An understated milestone that underscores Masuaku’s career trajectory to the fullest extent.
Top 5 best DR Congo players in Premier League history, Read More Below!!!
5. Everton’s Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace)
Yannick Bolasie remained a perennial menace to Premier League defenses for the majority of the 2010s and was without a doubt one of the finest DR Congolese players to have competed in the English top tier.
The former Frenchman-turned-DR Congo international is renowned for his lightning-fast speed and abundance of flashy maneuvers that instantly breach defenses. After several seasons of flirting in the lower divisions, Bolasie made his breakthrough with Crystal Palace in 2012.
Bolasie, who assisted the Eagles in regaining promotion in 2013, blossomed as a wing sensation during the 2014-2015 season, accumulating four goals in thirty-four games. The following season, he scored five times in twenty-six games as his development continued.
A 2016 transfer to Everton offered the possibility of a more expansive stage, but fitness concerns and injuries impeded his progress at Goodison Park.
Following a series of loan stints throughout Europe in the years that followed, Bolasie permanently departed Everton in 2021 to join Caykur Rizespor of the Turkish Super Liga. The demise of one of the most brilliant individuals in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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