Biography
Who is Axel Tuanzebe?
Early life and education
Axel Tuanzebe was born in Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo. He relocated to England with his family in 2002 while he was still a young child. During his youth in England, he attended St Cuthbert's RC High School. He joined the Manchester United academy system when he was eight years old.
Manchester United career
He began his professional path with Manchester United. In 2014, he served as the captain of the youth squad that won the Milk Cup. By May 2015, he earned the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award. Academy coach Paul McGuinness noted that he was likely the first first-year scholar to captain the under-18 side since Gary Neville.
In October 2015, at the age of 17, Axel appeared on the substitutes bench for a Premier League match against Crystal Palace. He made his official competitive debut for the club on 29 January 2017 during an FA Cup victory over Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford. That same year, he won the Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year award. In September 2019, he became the youngest player to captain Manchester United since Norman Whiteside in 1985 during an EFL Cup match against Rochdale.
Club transfers and loans
Axel Tuanzebe spent time on loan with various clubs throughout his career. He had three separate loan spells at Aston Villa, especially helping the team achieve promotion to the Premier League in 2019 after a victory over Derby County in the play-off final. He also had loan periods at Napoli in 2022 and Stoke City in 2023.
Following his departure from Manchester United, he joined Ipswich Town in September 2023. While at Ipswich, he established himself as a starting right-back and contributed to the club's promotion back to the Premier League. In June 2025, he signed with Burnley on a free transfer following Ipswich Town's relegation. By September 2026, he moved to France to play for Ligue 1 club Auxerre on a deal valid until 2028.
International football
Axel Tuanzebe represented England at youth international levels, including the under-19, under-20, and under-21 squads. His debut for England at the under-19 level occurred in June 2016 against Mexico. He was part of the under-20 squad that won all three matches at the Four Nations tournament later that year.
In 2024, he switched his international allegiance and made his debut for the senior DR Congo national team. He played in a World Cup qualifier against Senegal at the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium in June 2024. In May 2026, he was selected for the DR Congo squad to compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Playing style and personal life
His preferred position on the field is centre-back, though he has also performed as a right-back and holding midfielder. His playing style has drawn comparisons to former teammates and defenders like Eric Bailly and Javi Martínez.
Throughout his career, he has faced various physical setbacks, including injuries to his ankle, hamstring, and hip. In October 2024, he suffered a unique injury involving his thumb while washing dishes, which required surgery.
Birthday and age
Axel Tuanzebe was born on November 14, 1997, which makes Axel 29 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. Axel shares the date with 65 other famous people.
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