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 21)
Place of birth Preston, Lancashire, England
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) [2]
Position Right-back
Team information
Current team
 Wigan Athletic
(on loan from Liverpool)
Number 2
Youth career
–2024 Liverpool
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2024– Liverpool 0 (0)
2025– → Wigan Athletic (loan) 2 (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 as of 23:51, 25 August 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 00:15, 5 November 2023 (UTC)

Isaac Angus Mabaya (born 22 September 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back for EFL League One club Wigan Athletic, on loan from Premier League club Liverpool. [3]

Contents

Early life

Mabaya was born in Preston, Lancashire to Zimbabwean parents, David Mabaya and Rosina Mugabe. He joined Liverpool aged six years-old. [4] [5]

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. [6] He signed his first professional contract with the club in September 2021. [7] 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. [8]

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. [9] [10]

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. [11]

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. [12] [13]

On 9 February 2025, 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. [14] [15]

In August 2025 he joined Wigan Athletic on a season-long loan. [16]

International career

An England youth international, he was called up to the England U18 side for the first time in March 2022. [17] He scored on his debut, against Sweden U18. [18]

Mabaya later received his first call-up to the England U19 side in September 2022. [19] He made his debut that month in a 6–0 home win against Georgia, providing an assist for Liverpool teammate Oakley Cannonier. [20] [21]

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. [22] [23] However, he did not feature in the finalised squad for the matches. [24] [25]

Career statistics

As of match played 12 August 2025 [26]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeague FA Cup EFL Cup EuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Liverpool U21 2021–22 [27] ————1 [a] 010
2022–23 [28] ————1 [a] 010
Total————2020
Liverpool 2024–25 [29] Premier League 001000000010
Wigan Athletic (loan) 2025–26 [30] League One 200010—0030
Career total201010002060
  1. 1 2 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

References

  1. ↑ "Latest updated Premier League squad lists for 2023/24". Premier League. 8 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  2. ↑ https://www.premierleague.com/players/72455/Isaac-Mabaya/overview
  3. ↑ "Isaac Mabaya". Soccerway. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  4. ↑ "Isaac Mabaya signs new contract with Liverpool FC". New Zimbabwe. 14 May 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  5. ↑ "'Its too complicated for my son to play for Zimbabwe'". Soccer24.co.zw. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  6. ↑ Doyle, Ian (1 November 2020). "Liverpool youngster responds to extra demand as new right-back emerges". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  7. ↑ Chigandiwa, Tafadzwa (July 6, 2022). "Zim starlet Isaac Mabaya (17) trains with Liverpool FC senior team". Nehandadio.com. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "Young Zimbabwean Liverpool player turns down Warriors for England". Zimbabwe Mail. March 22, 2022. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  9. ↑ McDonald, Kiefer (22 July 2023). "Liverpool have transfer plan for forgotten starlet who shone against Manchester United". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ Holt, Matthew (13 May 2023). "Liverpool agree contract with young defender who has caught Vitor Matos' eye". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  12. ↑ "PSV VS. LIVERPOOL". Soccerway. 29 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  13. ↑ Hunter, Andy (28 January 2025). "Arne Slot to rest nine senior Liverpool players in Champions League shuffle". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  14. ↑ McNulty, Phil (9 February 2025). "Plymouth Argyle 1–0 Liverpool". BBC Sport . Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  15. ↑ Gorst, Paul (9 February 2025). "Liverpool defender distraught after new injury as Isaac Mabaya makes debut against Plymouth". Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  16. ↑ "Wigan bring in Liverpool youngster Mabaya on loan". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  17. ↑ Chikamhi, Eddie (22 March 2022). "Mabaya, Nydam Warriors we could lose". Herald.co.zw. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  18. ↑ "Agony for Zimbabwe as Mabaya strikes on England U-18 debut". Soccer24.co.zw. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  19. ↑ Chigandiwa, Tafadzwa (September 21, 2022). "Zimbabwean teen sensation Isaac Mabaya gets England U-19 call up". Nehandaradio. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  20. ↑ "ENGLAND U19 VS GEORGIA U19 6-0". Soccerway. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  21. ↑ "Mabaya makes England Under-19 debut". Herald.co.zw. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  22. ↑ Rushwaya, Simba (1 November 2023). "Warriors coach Brito names provisional squad for World Cup qualifiers". Zim Live. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  23. ↑ "Brito Justifies Warriors Team Selection". Zimeye.net. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  24. ↑ "My son wont play for zimbabwe against super eagles". Owngoalnigeria. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  25. ↑ "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.
  26. ↑ Isaac Mabaya at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  27. ↑ "Isaac Mabaya | Football Stats | Liverpool | Season 2021/2022 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  28. ↑ "Isaac Mabaya | Football Stats | Liverpool | Season 2022/2023 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  29. ↑ "Isaac Mabaya | Football Stats | Liverpool | Season 2024/2025 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  30. ↑ "Isaac Mabaya | Football Stats | Liverpool | Season 2025/2026 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
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