Khanya Leshabela

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Khanya Leshabela
Personal information
Full name Thakgalo Khanya Leshabela[1]
Date of birth (1999-09-18) 18 September 1999 (age 22)
Place of birth Soshanguve, South Africa
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Leicester City
Youth career
2008–2009 Parklands Tigers
2009–2013 Gregory Celtics
2013–2021 Leicester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– Leicester City 1 (0)
2021–2022 → Shrewsbury Town (loan) 3 (0)
National team
2019 South Africa U20
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:41, 27 January 2022 (UTC)

Thakgalo Khanya Leshabela (born 18 September 1999) is a South African soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Leicester City.

Born in Soshanguve, South Africa, Leshabela grew up in Northampton, England. He started his career at Leicester City where he signed his first professional contract in January 2019 before making his Premier League debut in March 2021.

Early life[]

Leshabela was born in the township of Soshanguve, near Pretoria, though his parents were originally from Limpopo.[3] At the age of 2, Leshabela moved from South Africa to Northampton, England.[3] He was educated at Northampton Academy.[4]

Club career[]

He began his career with the academies of Parklands Tigers and Gregory Celtics, before moving to Leicester City in 2013.[3] He signed a three-and-a-half year professional contract with the club in January 2019.[5] Leshabela made his Premier League debut with Leicester as an 81st-minute substitute during a 5–0 victory against Sheffield United on 14 March 2021.[6][7] Following his debut, manager Brendan Rodgers praised Leshabela, stating that "he's a young player who has worked very hard", adding that "he has got qualities and he came into the game and showed a nice confidence".[8]

On 19 August 2021, Leshabela joined EFL League One club Shrewsbury Town on a season-long loan.[9] He made his League One debut on 21 August 2021 as a 71st minute substitute during a 0-3 defeat against Plymouth Argyle.[10] After struggling for game time, mananger Steve Cotterill said that Leshabela's loan had been a 'punt' and his position at the club would be reassessed in the January transfer window.[11] On 27 January 2022, his loan spell was terminated.[12]

International career[]

Leshabela has represented South Africa at under-20 level, having played at the 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[13]

Style of play[]

Leshabela plays primarily as a winger but can also play as an attacking midfielder.[14] In August 2019, Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers praised Leshabela, stating that "he's dynamic, he is physical, he has good fitness, a nice touch of the ball and he has an understanding of how to play the game tactically, which is very important."[15]

References[]

  1. ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists". premierleague.com. Premier League. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Khanya Leshabela". www.lcfc.com. Leicester City F.C. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Sobayeni, Prince (21 April 2020). "The journey: Khanya Leshabela goes from strength to strength". FARPost. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  4. ^ N'pton Academy PE [@northacadPE] (25 March 2021). "Massive congratulations to former @northacad student Thakgalo (Khanya) Leshabela who made his Premier League debut for @LCFC in their 5-0 win over @SheffieldUnited Hopefully the start of many more!!..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. ^ Khan, Zain (9 January 2019). "South Africans react to Leshabela's Leicester contract". Goal. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  6. ^ Poole, Harry (14 March 2021). "Iheanacho scores hat-trick against sorry Blades". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  7. ^ Appolis, Dylan (15 March 2021). "SA youngster Khanya Leshabela makes EPL debut for Leicester". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  8. ^ Gillion, Baden (16 March 2021). "'He has got qualities' - Brendan Rodgers praises SA youngster after Leicester City debut". News24. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Youngster Leshabela In Shrewsbury Loan". Leicester City Football Club. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Shrewsbury Town 0-3 Plymouth Argyle". BBC Sport. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  11. ^ Cox, Lewis (22 September 2021). "Steve Cotterill: Khanya Leshabela Leicester loan was a 'punt' for Shrewsbury Town". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Khanya Leshabela returns to Leicester City". Shrewsbury Town. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  13. ^ Ditlhobolo, Austin (14 March 2021). "South African starlet Leshabela makes Premier League debut for Leicester City". Goal. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  14. ^ Blackwell, Jordan (8 January 2019). "Who is Khanya Leshabela? Lowdown on City youngster". LeicestershireLive. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  15. ^ Blackwell, Jordan (10 August 2019). "City starlets should be ready for first-team call-ups – Rodgers". LeicestershireLive. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
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