Stephen Mfuni
Country: England/DR Congo
Date of birth: 12/02/2008 (16 years old)
Place of birth: Wigan (England)
Height: —
Youth career: Manchester City
Current club: Manchester City
Squad number: —
Current national team: England U-17
Position: central defender, left-back
Preferred foot: left
Market value (by transfermarkt.de): —
Tournaments participated in: UEFA Youth League 2023/2024 (1/0), 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification elite round (2/0), 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship (2/0)
Contract until: unknown
Player’s agent: unknown
Transfer rumours: —
Similar type of player: Virgil van Dijk/Micky van de Ven
Strengths:
– pace 
– tackling
– anticipation
– positioning
– aerial duels
– passing 
– technique
– football IQ
To improve:
– a very complete profile of a centre-back of his age, who still needs to work hard to keep improving his already extremely impressive physical and technical skillset
Style of play:
– complete, dominant, and elegant centre-back
– tall and strong for his age/should develop extremely well physically in the coming years
– tactically astute and technically capable of playing in various tactical systems
– suitable to play as a LCB in a three-man line or even left-back if needed
– excellent top speed
– good acceleration and agility for his size
– likes an active style of defending by getting into challenges and pressing opponents
– often leaves the line and tries to anticipate the play and outpace his opponents/likes high-risk, high-reward playstyle
– able to play in a high-line
– composed and elegant in the build-up process
– highly press-resistant
– good confidence in possession, understanding of the game, and an above-average technical capacity
– cultured passer with a proclivity for breaking the lines with intricate vertical balls or spreading play with good long-range diagonals
– likes to maraud forward with the ball at his feet and assess options on the move
– tenacious and accurate tackler, both standing and sliding
– concentrated, committed, and positively aggressive in duels
– superb determination, work rate, and recovery pace when tracking back
– often cuts or intercepts passes and crosses near or inside his penalty area thanks to his ability to read the game, anticipation, positioning, and reaction time
– knows how to use his upper-body strength in challenges/wins most of the physical duels
– extremely dominant in the air
– very accomplished and mature for his age/potential leader of the defensive line
Mfuni keeps the pace of a counter-attacking striker and stops a dangerous attack with an excellent tackle.
Mfuni reads the game well, makes a good tackle, and wins the ball back.
Mfuni spots his teammate’s move and plays a brilliant long diagonal.
Heatmap by Wyscout:
He is best suited to playing as:
Central defender in 4-3-3.
Video:
Achievements:
FA Youth Cup 2023/2024 winner with Manchester City.
League summary (as of 29 November 2024):
No senior team appearances yet.
Description:
Stephen Mfuni is a product of the Manchester City youth academy. He is considered to be one of the most exciting teenage prospects in England. In June 2024, he was the youngest member of his national team at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship, where England showed a very interesting generation of players such as Ethan Nwaneri, Chris Rigg, Christian McFarlane, Divine Mukasa, Harry Amass, Shumaira Mheuka, George Hemmings, Luca Fletcher, Jack Fletcher, Kian Noble, and Callum Olusesi.
Quotes:
“Stephen is an excellent left-footed defender who oozes class and personality both on and off the pitch and has done so since joining City’s Academy at a young age.”
(mancity.com)
Football Talent Scout potential rating:
10/10 
World-class potential.
Links: