| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nelson Wilfred Khumbeni | ||
| Date of birth | 14 October 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Lilongwe, Malawi | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Gillingham | ||
| Number | 27 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2011–2021 | Norwich City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2022 | Norwich City | 0 | (0) |
| 2022–2025 | Bolton Wanderers | 0 | (0) |
| 2023 | → AFC Fylde (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Morecambe (loan) | 18 | (1) |
| 2024–2025 | → Accrington Stanley (loan) | 18 | (1) |
| 2025– | Gillingham | 3 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 12:23, 8 February 2025 (UTC) | |||
Nelson Wilfred Khumbeni (born 14 October 2002) is a Malawian footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Gillingham.
Khumbeni came through the Norwich City Academy, joining at U9 level. He signed his first professional contract with Norwich City on 7 July 2021, penning a one-year deal. [1] Upon the expiration of his deal, he joined Bolton Wanderers on 16 June 2022, linking up with the newly formed 'B' team. [2]
Khumbeni made his Bolton debut on 9 August 2022 in a 5–1 victory against Salford City in the EFL Cup, coming on in the 83rd minute as a substitute for MJ Williams. [3] On 25 May 2023, he signed a new two-year deal with the option of a further year after captaining the B Team for the season. [4]
In October 2023, Khumbeni joined National League club AFC Fylde on a 28-day loan deal. [5]
On 31 January 2024, Khumbeni joined EFL League Two club Morecambe on loan until the end of the season. [6] On 22 May, Bolton confirmed that they had activated an option to extend his contract with the club. [7] On 16 August 2024, Khumbemi joined another League Two club, Accrington Stanley, on loan. [8]
In January 2025, Khumbeni joined Gillingham of League Two on a permanent contract for an undisclosed fee. [9]
Born in Malawi, Khumbeni moved to England at a young age. [10]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Norwich City U-23s | 2019–20 [11] | — | — | — | — | 1 [a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2020–21 [12] | — | — | — | — | 2 [a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Total | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||||
| Bolton Wanderers | 2022–23 [13] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023–24 [14] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||
| AFC Fylde (loan) | 2023–24 [14] | National League | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| Morecambe (loan) | 2023–24 [14] | League Two | 18 | 1 | — | — | — | 18 | 1 | |||
| Career total | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 32 | 2 | ||