Isaac Mabaya

Last updated
Isaac Mabaya
FC RB Salzburg vs. Liverpool FC (2022-07-27, Testspiel) 30.jpg
Mabaya playing for Liverpool 2022
Personal information
Full name Isaac Angus Mabaya [1]
Date of birth (2004-09-22) 22 September 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Preston, Lancashire, England
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Liverpool
Number 52
Youth career
–2022 Liverpool
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2022- Liverpool 0 (0)
International career‡
2019 England U15 1 (0)
2019 England U16 5 (0)
2022 England U18 1 (1)
2022 England U19 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 November 2023 00:15 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 November 2023 00:15 (UTC)

Isaac Angus Mabaya (born 22 September 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Liverpool. [2]

Contents

Early life

Mabaya was born in Preston, Lancashire to Zimbabwean parents, David Mabaya and Rosina Mugabe. He joined Liverpool aged six years-old. [3] [4]

Club career

Mabaya progressed through the academy system at Liverpool. He initially played as a midfielder but transitioned to right-back during the 2020-21 season. [5] He signed his first professional contract with the club in September 2021. [6] In January 2022, he made the Liverpool first-team match day squad for the first time when he was an unused substitute in the FA Cup against Shrewsbury Town. [7]

Mabaya impressed enough during the 2021-22 season, playing at right-back for the Liverpool under-18 side, that he was chosen to tour the Far East with the Liverpool first-team squad during the summer of 2022. He had game time on the tour, and featured against Manchester United in Bangkok. [8] [9]

Mabaya's 2022-23 season was curtailed by a season-ending ankle injury in October 2022. He signed a new professional contract with Liverpool in May 2023. [10]

He was included in the Liverpool first-team squad for the UEFA Champions League tie against PSV Eindhoven on 29 January 2025 and was named amongst the match-day substitutes. [11] [12]

On 9 February, he made his competitive debut in the fourth round of the FA Cup away to Plymouth Argyle, coming on in the 11th minute for injured captain Joe Gomez. [13] [14]

International career

An England youth international, he was called up to the England U18 side for the first time in March 2022. [15] He scored on his debut, against Sweden U18. [16]

Mabaya later received his first call-up to the England U19 side in September 2022. [17] He made his debut that month in a 6-0 home win against Georgia U19, providing an assist for Liverpool teammate Oakley Cannonier. [18] [19]

In November 2023, Mabaya was called-up by Baltemar Brito to the senior Zimbabwe national football team for FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Nigeria. [20] [21] However, he did not feature in the finalised squad for the matches. [22] [23]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 9 February 2025 [24]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeague FA Cup EFL Cup EuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Liverpool 2024–25 Premier League 0010000010
Career total0010000010

    References

    1. ↑ "Latest updated Premier League squad lists for 2023/24". Premier League. 8 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
    2. ↑ "Isaac Mabaya". Soccerway. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
    3. ↑ "Isaac Mabaya signs new contract with Liverpool FC". New Zimbabwe. 14 May 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
    4. ↑ "'Its too complicated for my son to play for Zimbabwe'". Soccer24.co.zw. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
    5. ↑ Doyle, Ian (1 November 2020). "Liverpool youngster responds to extra demand as new right-back emerges". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
    6. ↑ Chigandiwa, Tafadzwa (July 6, 2022). "Zim starlet Isaac Mabaya (17) trains with Liverpool FC senior team". Nehandadio.com. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
    7. ↑ "Young Zimbabwean Liverpool player turns down Warriors for England". Zimbabwe Mail. March 22, 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
    8. ↑ McDonald, Kiefer (22 July 2023). "Liverpool have transfer plan for forgotten starlet who shone against Manchester United". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
    9. ↑ Ndoro, Tim. E. (July 13, 2022). "Liverpool Fans Praise 17-Year-Old Zimbabwean Isaac Mabaya Following Lively Performance Against Manchester United". Iharare.com. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
    10. ↑ Holt, Matthew (13 May 2023). "Liverpool agree contract with young defender who has caught Vitor Matos' eye". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
    11. ↑ "PSV VS. LIVERPOOL". Soccerway. 29 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
    12. ↑ Hunter, Andy (28 January 2025). "Arne Slot to rest nine senior Liverpool players in Champions League shuffle". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
    13. ↑ McNulty, Phil (9 February 2025). "Plymouth Argyle 1–0 Liverpool". BBC Sport . Retrieved 9 February 2025.
    14. ↑ Gorst, Paul (9 February 2025). "Liverpool defender distraught after new injury as Isaac Mabaya makes debut against Plymouth". Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 9 February 2025.
    15. ↑ Chikamhi, Eddie (22 March 2022). "Mabaya, Nydam Warriors we could lose". Herald.co.zw. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
    16. ↑ "Agony for Zimbabwe as Mabaya strikes on England U-18 debut". Soccer24.co.zw. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
    17. ↑ Chigandiwa, Tafadzwa (September 21, 2022). "Zimbabwean teen sensation Isaac Mabaya gets England U-19 call up". Nehandaradio. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
    18. ↑ "ENGLAND U19 VS GEORGIA U19 6-0". Soccerway. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
    19. ↑ "Mabaya makes England Under-19 debut". Herald.co.zw. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
    20. ↑ Rushwaya, Simba (1 November 2023). "Warriors coach Brito names provisional squad for World Cup qualifiers". Zim Live. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
    21. ↑ "Brito Justifies Warriors Team Selection". Zimeye.net. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
    22. ↑ "My son wont play for zimbabwe against super eagles". Owngoalnigeria. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
    23. ↑ "5 England based players shun invitation by Zimbabwe to play against Super Eagles in World Cup qualifiers". Owngoalnigeria. 18 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
    24. ↑ Isaac Mabaya at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
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