Giannelli Imbula

Giannelli Imbula, born on September twelfth, nineteen ninety-two, is a professional footballer renowned for his role as a defensive midfielder. Although he was born in Belgium, Imbula's youth football journey began in France, where he showcased his talent before ultimately switching his international allegiance to represent the DR Congo national football team.

Imbula's professional career took off at French club Guingamp, where he advanced through the youth ranks to make his debut in October two thousand nine. His contributions were pivotal in helping Guingamp secure promotion from the Championnat National during the two thousand ten to eleven season. His impressive performances in Ligue 2 earned him the Ligue 2 Player of the Year Award, solidifying his status as one of the standout players in the division.

His success at Guingamp caught the attention of Ligue 1 side Marseille, who signed him for a fee of seven million euros. After two seasons at the Stade Vélodrome, Imbula made a significant move to Portuguese giants Porto in the summer of two thousand fifteen for twenty million euros. However, after a brief stint of seven months, he transferred to English club Stoke City for a club record fee of eighteen point three million pounds.

Despite a promising start at Stoke, the two thousand sixteen to seventeen season proved challenging for Imbula, leading to loan spells at various clubs including Ligue 1's Toulouse in two thousand seventeen to eighteen, La Liga's Rayo Vallecano in two thousand eighteen to nineteen, and Serie A's Lecce in two thousand nineteen to twenty.