Joy Mukena

Joy Mukena

Mukena with Crawley Town in July 2024
Personal information
Full name	Joy Richard Mpinga Mukena [1]
Date of birth	(1999-07-03) 3 July 1999 (age 26)
Place of birth	London, England
Position	Defender
Team information
Current team	Yeovil Town
Number	2
Youth career
0000–2016	Tottenham Hotspur
2017	Watford
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2019	Watford	0	(0)
2019–2020	Bracknell Town	9	(3)
2020–2023	St Albans City	83	(1)
2023–2026	Crawley Town	31	(0)
2026–	Yeovil Town	0	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:10, 12 January 2026 (UTC)

Joy Richard Mpinga Mukena (born 3 July 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League club Yeovil Town.

Career

Mukena began his career with Tottenham Hotspur, but moved to Watford in 2017, where he turned professional. He was named on the bench for the senior team's 4–1 win over Chelsea on 5 February 2018, but was ultimately an unused substitute. ^[2]

On 21 August 2020, Mukena signed for National League South side St Albans City. ^[3]

On 3 July 2023, Mukena signed for League Two club Crawley Town on a two-year deal. ^{[4] [5]}

On 24 June 2025, the club announced he had signed a new one-year deal. ^[6]

On 12 January 2026, he transferred to National League club Yeovil Town. ^[7]

Personal life

Mukena was born in England and is also eligible to represent the DR Congo and Belgium at international level. ^[8] Mukena was called up to a DR Congo U20 football camp in March 2018. ^[9]

Career statistics

As of match played 11 November 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Bracknell Town	2019–20 [10]	Isthmian League South Central Division	9	3	0	0	—		3 [a]	0	12	3
St Albans City	2020–21 [11]	National League South	11	0	2	0	—		2 [b]	0	15	0
	2021–22 [11]	National League South	29	1	7	0	—		3 [b]	0	39	1
	2022–23 [11]	National League South	43	0	0	0	—		1 [b]	0	44	0
	Total		83	1	9	0	—		6	0	98	1
Crawley Town	2023–24 [12]	League Two	11	0	0	0	1	0	6 [c]	0	18	0
	2024–25 [13]	League One	19	0	2	0	2	0	2 [d]	0	25	0
	2025–26 [14]	League Two	1	0	0	0	1	0	2 [d]	0	4	0
	Total		31	0	2	0	4	0	10	0	47	0
Yeovil Town	2025–26 [11]	National League	0	0	—		—		0	0	0	0
Career total			123	4	11	0	4	0	19	0	157	4

1. Appearance(s) in Alan Turvey Trophy
2. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
3. 5 appearances in EFL Trophy, 1 appearance in EFL League Two play-offs
4. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

References

1. "List of players under written contract registered between 01/07/2017 and 31/07/2017" (PDF). The Football Association. p. 25. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
2. Begley, Emlyn (5 February 2018). "Watford 4-1 Chelsea - BBC Sport". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
3. "Defender joins City ranks". St Albans City FC. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
4. "JOY MUKENA JOINS LINDSEY'S REDS". www.crawleytownfc.com. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
5. "Crawley sign defender Mukena on two-year deal". BBC Sport.
6. "Crawley Town's Joy Mukena and Ryan Sandford sign new deals". BBC Sport. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
7. https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/sport/football/crawley-town-defender-leaves-to-join-yeovil-town-5472815
8. "Joy Mukena | Watford Football Club". Watfordfc.com. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
9. "U-20 NIGER 2019 : 48 JOUEURS CONVOQUES CONTRE LA TANZANIE". fecofa-rdc.com (in French). Fédération Congolaise de Football Association. 2 March 2018.
10. "Bracknell Town – Appearances – Joy Mukena – 2019-2020". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
11. Joy Mukena at Soccerway. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
12. "Games played by Joy Mukena in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
13. "Games played by Joy Mukena in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
14. "Games played by Joy Mukena in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2026.