Kundai Benyu

Kundai Leroy Jeremiah Benyu (born 12 December 1997) is a professional footballer who last played as a midfielder for ÍBV. Born in England, he represents Zimbabwe at international level.

Kundai Benyu
Personal information
Full name Kundai Leroy Jeremiah Benyu[1]
Date of birth (1997-12-12) 12 December 1997[2]
Place of birth Camden Town, England
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
2007–2016 Ipswich Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Ipswich Town 0 (0)
2016–2017 → Aldershot Town (loan) 23 (5)
2017–2020 Celtic 1 (0)
2017–2018 → Oldham Athletic (loan) 4 (0)
2019 → Helsingborg (loan) 10 (1)
2020–2021 Wealdstone 12 (0)
2021 Vestri 16 (0)
2022 ÍBV 7 (0)
International career‡
2017– Zimbabwe 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 June 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 June 2023

Early life

Benyu was born to Zimbabwean parents on 12 December 1997 in Camden Town, London. He grew up in Harlow, Essex.[3]

Club career

Ipswich Town

Benyu joined Ipswich Town at the age of nine,[3] signing his first professional contract after turning 17.[4]

Aldershot Town (loan)

On 7 December 2016, Benyu joined Aldershot Town on a one-month loan deal.[5] The loan was subsequently extended several times, allowing Benyu to finish the 2016–17 season with the National League side.[6][7][8][9]

Celtic

On 29 June 2017, it was announced that Benyu had signed a four-year contract with Celtic.[10] The midfielder scored on his first appearance for the club's development squad, in a pre-season friendly against East Kilbride.[11] Benyu made his competitive debut in Celtic's 4–0 victory over Linfield at Celtic Park.[12]

Oldham Athletic (loan)

On 6 January 2018, Benyu joined Oldham Athletic on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season.[13] He made his league debut for the club on 13 January 2018 in a 1–1 home draw with Rotherham United. He was subbed off in the 74th minute, and replaced by Aaron Amadi-Holloway.[14]

Helsingborgs (loan)

Benyu joined Swedish club Helsingborg on a season-long loan in February 2019.[15]

Wealdstone

Benyu signed for Wealdstone on 2 October 2020.[16] On 19 February 2021, Benyu departed by mutual consent after making twelve league appearances for the club.[17]

Iceland

In February 2021, he has moved to Icelandic 1. deild side Vestri.[18] In May 2022, he moved up a division to join Besta-deild karla side ÍBV.[19]

International career

Benyu's impressive performances for Aldershot Town earned him international recognition, receiving a call-up from Zimbabwe for their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia.[20]

He made his full international Zimbabwe debut in a 1–0 defeat to Lesotho in Maseru on 8 November 2017.[21]

Career statistics
As of 10 January 2022[22]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Ipswich Town 2014–15 Championship 0000000000
2015–16 0000000000
2016–17 0000000000
Total 0000000000
Aldershot Town (loan) 2016–17 National League 22500—3[lower-alpha 1]0255
Celtic 2017–18 Scottish Premiership 1000102[lower-alpha 2]040
2018–19 Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2019–20 Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 1000102040
Oldham Athletic (loan) 2017–18 League One 400 00 01[lower-alpha 3]050
Helsingborg (loan) 2019 Allsvenskan 10 1 0 0 — 0 0 10 1
Wealdstone 2020–21 National League 12 0 0 0 — 0 0 12 0
Vestri 2021 1. deild karla 16 0 1 0 — 0 0 17 0
Career total 255001060736
  1. Two appearances in the FA Trophy and one in the National League play-offs
  2. Appearances in the Champions League
  3. Appearances in the EFL Trophy

References
  1. "Retained List 2016-17" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  2. "Kundai Benyu". 11v11. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  3. "Kundai: I was watching Cup final when I heard of Celtic's interest". Celtic FC. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  4. @kundaibenyu_ (20 February 2015). "Today I signed my first professional contract with Ipswich Town, thank you everyone who congratulated me #itfc" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. "Shots agree to sign Tractor Boy Kundai". Aldershot Town. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  6. "Kundai extends loan". Aldershot Town FC. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  7. "Kundai extends loan". Aldershot Town FC. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  8. "Kundai extends loan". Aldershot Town FC. 5 March 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  9. "Benyu loan extended for rest of season". Aldershot Town FC. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  10. "Celtic delighted to sign Kundai Benyu on four-year deal". Celtic FC. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  11. "New Bhoy on target as young Celts enjoy pre-season triumph". Celtic FC. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  12. "Celtic 4–0 Linfield". BBC Sport. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  13. "Benyu moves to Oldham on loan". Celtic FC. 6 January 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  14. "Oldham Athletic vs. Rotherham United – 13 January 2018". Soccerway. Perform Group.
  15. "Celtic midfielder Kundai Benyu joins Swedish side Helsingborgs on loan". Sky Sports. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  16. Kundai Benyu: "The whole squad are a good bunch of lads"
  17. "Benyu departs". Wealdstone FC. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  18. "Kundai Benyu til liðs við Vestra" (in Icelandic). vestri. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  19. "FÓTBOLTI - KUNDAI BENYU TIL LIÐS VIÐ ÍBV" (in Icelandic). Íþróttabandalag Vestmannaeyja. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  20. "International call up for Kundai". Ipswich Town FC. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  21. "Lesotho beat Zimbabwe in friendly". COSAFA. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  22. Kundai Benyu at Soccerway. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
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