Axel Tuanzebe


Axel Tuanzebe is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for club Manchester United.
He has represented England at under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels.

Club career

Manchester United

Early years

Tuanzebe was associated with the Manchester United academy from the age of eight. He was a member of Milk Cup winning youth sides in 2013 and 2014. In May 2015, Tuanzebe won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award. Academy coach Paul McGuinness noted that Tuanzebe was the first first-year scholar to captain the under-18 side since Gary Neville.
On 31 October 2015, Tuanzebe was named on the substitutes bench for a match against Crystal Palace in the Premier League, the first time he had been a member of a first-team squad.

2016–17 season

On 29 January 2017, Tuanzebe made his Manchester United debut as a 68th-minute substitute, replacing Timothy Fosu-Mensah during a 4–0 FA Cup victory over Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford. Four days later, he extended his contract at Manchester United until 2020, with the option of a further year. On 7 May 2017, Tuanzebe started a senior match for the first time, in a 2–0 defeat against Arsenal in the Premier League. He won the Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year award in May 2017.

2017–18 season

Tuanzebe made his first start of the season against Swansea City in the EFL Cup on 24 October 2017, playing a key part in the second goal of the 2–0 victory. On 5 December 2017, he made his European debut in a 2–1 victory over CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Champions League.

Loans to Aston Villa

On 25 January 2018, Tuanzebe joined Championship side Aston Villa on loan for the remainder of the season. However, injuries meant he was only able to make five appearances before returning to Manchester United. He joined Aston Villa on loan again for the 2018–19 season.

International career

Tuanzebe began his international career in June 2016, when he made his first appearance for England at under-19 level, against Mexico. He was a member of the under-20 squad which won all three matches at the Four Nations tournament in October 2016. Tuanzebe was withdrawn from selection for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup due to club commitments.
On 10 November 2017, Tuanzebe made his debut for England under-21 against Ukraine.

Style of play

Tuanzebe's preferred position is at centre-back, but he can also play as a right-back, and has featured as a holding midfielder. His playing style has been compared to that of teammate Eric Bailly and Bayern Munich's Javi Martínez. Tuanzebe's performance on his first-team debut in a friendly against Wigan Athletic in July 2016 led manager José Mourinho to remark, "10 minutes is enough! The potential is there, you see it immediately."

Personal life

Tuanzebe was born in Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo. He attended St Cuthbert's RC High School in Rochdale and captained the Year 7 football team to the final of the English National Schools Cup at Stamford Bridge in 2009. In the same year, he was awarded Sports Boy of the Year by the Mayor of Rochdale. He also represented his school in cross-country and triple-jump. He is the younger brother of ex-Clitheroe striker Dimitri Tuanzebe.
In July 2018, he broke the Guinness World Record for fastest time to clear a game of Hungry Hungry Hippos.

Career statistics

Honours

Manchester United
Aston Villa
Individual