Manchester United have a proud history of bringing through players through their Academy, and Willy Kambwala is the latest player to make a first-team debut.
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The 6ft 4in centre-back was given his Premier League debut against West Ham United by Erik ten Hag, becoming the 248th player to graduate from Man Utd's Academy, and the fourth under the Dutch manager.
Kambwala, 19, started in place of Raphael Varane, who was absent through illness, and the youngster looked assured in the heart of defence alongside the experienced Jonny Evans.
But who is the 19-year-old centre-back signed from Sochaux on transfer deadline day in October 2020?
Kambwala's beginnings
Kambwala was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo on 25 August 2004 and moved to France at the age of five. He was raised in the suburbs of Paris and began his football journey at Sochaux.
He excelled from an early age and captained France's Under-16s, which brought him to the attention of Man Utd.
The Red Devils paid a reported fee of £3.5million for a player who was also reportedly on Liverpool's radar.
Kambwala featured once in the Under-18 Premier League in the 2020/21 season, producing an outstanding performance in a 4-0 win against Derby County, where he displayed his defensive intelligence and speed.
However, a serious ankle injury forced him to miss 11 months of action, including United's FA Youth Cup triumph in 2022.
Kambwala made his return the following season and played 12 times in the U18 Premier League, scoring once, as well as playing once in the UEFA Youth League against Villarreal.
He stepped up again in 2022/23 and featured in six Premier League 2 matches.
As more time passed, Kambwala continued to progress. And on 17 December, he was named in Ten Hag's matchday squad for the first time against Liverpool, where he watched from the bench as his side got a 0-0 draw at Anfield.
Six days later Kambwala started against West Ham.
“He’s calm. He made a good impression in training,” Ten Hag told TNT Sports, explaining the decision to give the youngster his debut. “But of course he’s inexperienced and it’s a big moment for him. He’s athletic, so calm on the ball, and now he has his opportunity.”
Kambwala's debut made it another proud day for the club's academy as he started alongside four other Man Utd graduates - Evans, Scott McTominay, Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho.
