Ezechiel Banzuzi

Ezechiel Banzuzi

Personal information
Date of birth	(2005-02-16) 16 February 2005 (age 20)
Place of birth	Zwijndrecht, Netherlands [1]
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team	RB Leipzig
Number	6
Youth career
0000–2016	VVGZ
2016–2021	NAC Breda
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2023	NAC Breda	51	(5)
2023–2025	OH Leuven	71	(4)
2025–	RB Leipzig	2	(0)
International career‡
2021–2022	Netherlands U17	9	(2)
2022–2023	Netherlands U18	5	(7)
2023–2024	Netherlands U19	10	(4)
2024–	Netherlands U21	5	(1)
Medal record Men's football Representing   Netherlands UEFA European Under-17 Championship Runner-up 2022 Israel
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 30 August 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 10 April 2025

Ezechiel Banzuzi (born 16 February 2005) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Bundesliga club RB Leipzig.

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]}

RB Leipzig

On 9 April 2025, RB Leipzig officially announced that they had signed a deal with Banzuzi until 30 June 2030, ^[12] officially joining on 1 July 2025 for a fee of around €16 million. ^[13]

Banzuzi made his competitive debut for RB Leipzig on 16 August 2025, coming on in the 62nd minute and heading in Castello Lukeba's long pass in the 79th minute to give Leipzig a 3–2 lead in a DFB-Pokal first-round tie away to SV Sandhausen; Xavi Simons added a late fourth as Leipzig won 4–2 after twice falling behind. ^{[14] [15]}

International career

Born in the Netherlands, Banzuzi is of Congolese descent. ^[16]

Career statistics

As of match played 30 August 2025 ^[6]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup [a]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
NAC Breda	2021–22	Eerste Divisie	20	0	2	0	2 [b]	1	24	1
	2022–23	Eerste Divisie	31	5	0	0	4 [b]	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	34	2	2	1	—		36	3
	Total		71	4	5	2	0	0	76	6
RB Leipzig	2025–26	Bundesliga	2	0	1	1	0	0	3	1
Career total			124	9	8	3	6	2	138	14

1. Includes KNVB Cup, Belgian Cup, DFB-Pokal
2. 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. "First summer signing complete – Ezechiel Banzuzi to join RB Leipzig". RB Leipzig. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
13. "Official | RB Leipzig complete the signing of Ezechiel Banzuzi from Leuven". OneFootball. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
14. "Zwei Neue treffen: Leipzig bezwingt Sandhausen nach zweimaligem Rückstand" [Two new signings score: Leipzig beat Sandhausen after twice going behind]. kicker (in German). 16 August 2025. Archived from the original on 17 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
15. "RBL through to second round of DFB-Pokal after 4–2 win at Sandhausen". RB Leipzig. 17 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
16. 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)