Ezechiel Banzuzi

Ezechiel Banzuzi

Personal information
Date of birth	(2005-02-16) 16 February 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth	Zwijndrecht, Netherlands [1]
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team	OH Leuven
Number	6
Youth career
0000–2016	VVGZ
2016–2021	NAC Breda
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2023	NAC Breda	51	(5)
2023–	OH Leuven	47	(3)
International career‡
2021–2022	Netherlands U17	9	(2)
2022–2023	Netherlands U18	5	(7)
2023–2024	Netherlands U19	10	(4)
2024–	Netherlands U21	1	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing   Netherlands UEFA European Under-17 Championship Runner-up 2022 Israel
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:08, 14 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 October 2024

Ezechiel Banzuzi (born 16 February 2005) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Belgian Pro League club OH Leuven. Born in the Netherlands, he is of Congolese descent.

Club career

NAC Breda

Banzuzi progressed through VVGZ and NAC Breda's youth teams, joining the latter at age eleven. He made his professional debut for the club on 26 October 2021, in a cup match against VVV-Venlo, which NAC won on penalties. Banzuzi entered the match as a substitute in the 75th minute, replacing Pjotr Kestens. ^[2] At the age of sixteen, he appeared in ten matches for NAC without signing a professional contract, attracting interest from other clubs. On 8 January 2022, prior to a match against Eindhoven, Banzuzi hinted at a possible departure through a Snapchat post, which led to his demotion back to the youth team. ^[3] However, in February 2022, he was reinstated to the first team. ^{[4] [5]}

Following this, Banzuzi saw increased playing time in league matches during the 2021–22 season, making a total of 20 appearances, nine of which were as a starter. ^[6] NAC Breda qualified for the promotion play-offs, where they were eliminated in the first round by ADO Den Haag. ^[7] In the subsequent season, Banzuzi again helped NAC reach the play-offs, where they initially advanced past MVV in the first round but were eliminated by Emmen. ^{[8] [9]} During the regular season, he made 31 appearances, contributing five goals and four assists to the team's qualification for the play-off rounds. ^[6]

OH Leuven

On 20 June 2023, Banzuzi signed a three-year contract with Belgian Pro League club OH Leuven. ^{[10] [11]}

International career

Born in the Netherlands, Banzuzi is of Congolese descent. ^[12]

Career statistics

As of match played 5 October 2024 ^[6]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
NAC Breda	2021–22	Eerste Divisie	20	0	2	0	2 [lower-alpha 1]	1	24	1
	2022–23	Eerste Divisie	31	5	0	0	4 [lower-alpha 1]	1	28	2
	Total		51	5	2	0	6	2	59	7
OH Leuven	2023–24	Belgian Pro League	37	2	3	1	—		40	3
	2024–25	Belgian Pro League	10	1	0	0	—		10	1
	Total		47	3	3	1	0	0	50	4
Career total			98	8	5	1	6	2	109	11

1. Appearances in Eredivisie promotion/relegation playoffs

References

1. "De eerste van Banzuzi". De Klok (in Dutch). 95: 7. 19 November 2022.
2. "Ezechiel Banzuzi tekent op 17e verjaardag eerste profcontract bij NAC". Zundertse Bode (in Dutch). 17 February 2022. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
3. Kerkdijk, Daniël Cabot (11 January 2022). "NAC-tiener uit selectie gezet na curieuze Snapchat-publicatie". Voetbalzone (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 October 2024.
4. "Ezechiel Banzuzi tekent eerste profcontract". NAC Breda (in Dutch). 16 February 2022. Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
5. Blanco, Yadran (3 February 2022). "NAC sluit Banzuzi in de armen, middenvelder tekent alsnog contract en blijft in Breda". BN De Stem (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 October 2024.
6. Ezechiel Banzuzi at Soccerway
7. Abbenhuijs, Marijn (14 May 2022). "ADO Den Haag beslist beladen tweestrijd met NAC Breda en blijft in de race voor promotie". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 October 2024.
8. "NAC zet eerste stap richting eredivisie met overtuigende zege op MVV". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 27 May 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
9. "Emmen neemt met zege op NAC eerste horde richting lijfsbehoud en staat in finale play-offs". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 3 June 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
10. "Ezechiel Banzuzi vertrekt naar OH Leuven". NAC Breda (in Dutch). 20 June 2023. Archived from the original on 15 July 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
11. "Eerste zomertransfer voor OH Leuven". OHL – Oud-Heverlee Leuven (in Dutch). 14 October 2024. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
12. Blanco, Yadran (2 November 2021). "Oudere broer waakt als een engel over NAC-talent Banzuzi" [Older brother watches over NAC talent Banzuzi . like an angel]. bndestem.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 May 2022.(subscription required)