Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full name | Junior Castello Lukeba [1] | ||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | [1] | 17 December 2002||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Lyon, France | ||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) [2] | ||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Centre-back | ||||||||||||||||
Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | RB Leipzig | ||||||||||||||||
Number | 23 | ||||||||||||||||
Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
2009–2011 | Saint-Genis Laval | ||||||||||||||||
2011–2021 | Lyon | ||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
2020–2021 | Lyon B | 9 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
2021–2023 | Lyon | 58 | (4) | ||||||||||||||
2023– | RB Leipzig | 38 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||
2018–2019 | France U17 | 6 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
2021 | France U20 | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
2022– | France U21 | 20 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
2024 | France Olympic | 10 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
2023– | France | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:38, 19 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 October 2024 |
Junior Castello Lukeba (born 17 December 2002) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Bundesliga club RB Leipzig and the France national team.
Having joined the Olympique Lyonnais Academy in 2011, Lukeba signed his first professional contract with the club on 1 July 2021. [3] He made his professional debut for Lyon on the 7 August 2021 as a starter against Brest on 2021–22 Ligue 1 opening round. He played full 90 minutes during the match but it eventually ended in a 1–1 draw. [4] Lukeba made his European football debut on 25 November 2021 on a 3–1 against Brøndby in 2021–22 UEFA Europa League group stage. He scored his first goal for the club on 22 December 2021 against Metz with a header, assisted by Rayan Cherki with a cross following a corner. [5] In January 2022, he extended his contract until 2025. [6]
On 11 August 2023, Lukeba moved to the Bundesliga club RB Leipzig for a total reported fee of €34 million, signing a five-year contract. [7] [8] Lukeba repeatedly emphasised his excitement and eagerness to join RB Leipzig, saying "I was extremely keen on joining RB Leipzig and moving to the Bundesliga, so I’m really happy that the move is now complete. I’m excited by the training ground, the stadium, the city and, above all, the team with all the young players – I can’t wait to play football here." [9] He made his debut for Leipzig on 19 August 2023 in a 3–2 loss against Bayer Leverkusen, being substituted on for Nicolas Seiwald in the 62nd minute. [10] He scored his first goal for RB Leipzig in a 2–2 draw against Bayern Munich on 30 September 2023. [11]
Born in France, Lukeba is of Angolan descent. [12] He decided to represent France at the international level and received his first call up in France U-21 in November 2021, where he joined his club mates Maxence Caqueret, Rayan Cherki, and Malo Gusto. [13]
On 9 October 2023, Lukeba received his first call-up to the France national team for matches against the Netherlands and Scotland, replacing the injured Axel Disasi. [14]
Club | Season | League | National cup [lower-alpha 1] | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Lyon B | 2020–21 | CFA 2 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
2021–22 | CFA 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
Total | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||||
Lyon | 2020–21 | Ligue 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
2021–22 | Ligue 1 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 [lower-alpha 2] | 0 | — | 30 | 2 | ||
2022–23 | Ligue 1 | 34 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 2 | |||
Total | 58 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 68 | 4 | |||
RB Leipzig | 2023–24 | Bundesliga | 32 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 [lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 1 |
2024–25 | Bundesliga | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 [lower-alpha 3] | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | ||
Total | 38 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 1 | ||
Career total | 105 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 126 | 5 |
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
France | 2023 | 1 | 0 |
Total | 1 | 0 |
RB Leipzig
France U23
Olympique Lyonnais, commonly referred to as simply Lyon or OL, is a French professional football club based in Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. With origins dating back to 1899, they were founded in 1950 and compete in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club won its first Ligue 1 championship in 2002, beginning a national record-setting streak of seven successive titles. Lyon has also won eight Trophées des Champions, five Coupes de France, and three Ligue 2 titles.
Olympique Lyonnais Féminin is a French women's professional football club based in Lyon. The club has been the female section of Olympique Lyonnais since 2004. It is the most successful club in the history of the Première Ligue, with seventeen league titles as Olympique Lyonnais and four league titles as FC Lyon before the acquisition.
Kevin Kampl is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bundesliga club RB Leipzig. Born in Germany, he has represented the Slovenia national team at international level. Besides Germany, he has played in Austria.
Corentin Tolisso is a French professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Ligue 1 club Lyon.
Abdou-Lakhad Diallo, known as Abdou Diallo, is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Qatar Stars League club Al-Arabi. Born in France, he plays for the Senegal national team.
Nordi Mukiele Mulere is a French professional footballer who plays as a right-back or centre-back for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen, on loan from Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain.
Benjamin Paa Kwesi Henrichs is a German professional footballer who plays as a full-back or midfielder for Bundesliga club RB Leipzig and the Germany national team.
Christopher Alan Nkunku is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward, second striker or attacking midfielder for Premier League club Chelsea and the France national team.
Bruno Génésio is a French football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is currently the head coach of Ligue 1 club Lille.
Panagiotis Retsos is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Super League club Olympiacos and the Greece national team.
Houssem-Eddine Chaâbane Aouar is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad. Born in France, he plays for the Algeria national team.
Ikoma-Loïs Openda is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Bundesliga club RB Leipzig and the Belgium national team.
Adam Hložek is a Czech professional footballer who plays as a forward for Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim and the Czech Republic national team.
The 2019–20 season was Olympique Lyonnais's 70th professional season since its establishment in 1950 and the club's 31st consecutive season in the top flight of French football. In addition to the domestic league, Lyon participated in this season's edition of the Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue and the UEFA Champions League.
Mathis Rayan Cherki is a French professional footballer who plays as attacking midfielder or left winger for Ligue 1 club Lyon.
Sinaly Diomandé is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a center-back or right-back for Ligue 1 side Auxerre and the Ivory Coast national team.
Malo Arthur Gusto is a French professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Premier League club Chelsea and the France national team.
Bradley Laurent Barcola is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the France national team. Widely considered one of the best young wingers in the world, he is known for his speed, work-rate, dribbling, and finishing.
The 2023–24 season was the 74th season in the history of Olympique Lyonnais and their 35th consecutive season in the top flight. The club participated in Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France, reaching the final of the latter competition.
Sekou Bable Georges Lega is a French footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Lyon.