Kabongo Tshimanga (born 22 July 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Barnet.
Tshimanga came through the youth ranks at Milton Keynes Dons, later spending time on loan with non-league sides Aldershot Town, Chelmsford City, Corby Town, Nuneaton Town, Chesham United as well as Icelandic side Þróttur and EFL League Two side Yeovil Town. He later had a spell with Boston United before a prolific spell with Oxford City that yielded 24 league goals in 42 games. In 2019 he moved to Boreham Wood where he notched up a further 38 goals in 79 appearances. In 2021 he signed for Chesterfield. Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tshimanga has previously represented the England C team.
Club career
Milton Keynes Dons
Tshimanga joined Milton Keynes Dons at U10 level. After scoring 27 youth team goals, Tshimanga was rewarded with a squad number early in the 2014–15 season despite only recently turning 18. He made his first team debut on 8 November, coming on as a late substitute for Benik Afobe in a 4–3 FA Cup first round victory over Port Vale at Vale Park. Tshimanga signed his first professional contract with the club on 3 January 2015. On 30 January 2015, Tshimanga joined Aldershot Town of the Conference on loan having scored 42 goals in 25 games for MK Dons U18 team.
Tshimanga spent the entire 2015–16 season on loan to several non-League clubs, including brief spells with Corby Town, Nuneaton Town and Chesham United. On 18 August 2015 he scored an eight-minute hat-trick for Corby Town against Hednesford Town. Following the conclusion of the season, Tshimanga briefly joined Icelandic Úrvalsdeild side Throttur Reykjavik on a short-term loan deal until July 2016.
Tshimanga found more first team opportunities with the Dons during the first half of the 2016–17 season following the club's relegation, and made his first team debut as an 87th-minute substitute on 20 August 2016 away to Rochdale. However, after spending the second half of the season on loan to Yeovil Town, Tshimanga was released from the club in June 2017.
Boston United Following his release, Tshimanga joined National League North side Boston United on 1 July 2017, signing a one-year deal before going on to make 34 league appearances and scoring 8 goals.
Oxford City Following the expiry of his contract, Tshimanga opted to join National League South side Oxford City in June 2018. On 10 November 2018, Tshimanga scored a hat-trick in an FA Cup first round 3–3 draw away to Tranmere Rovers. Tshimanga ended his first season as top scorer with 29 goals in all competitions, and was also the recipient of the club's Supporters' and Players' Player of the Year awards. He was later named in the 2018–19 National League South Team of the Year.
Boreham Wood On 1 July 2019, Tshimanga signed for National League club Boreham Wood on a two-year deal. In his first season he helped the club to a play-off finish, scoring 19 goals in 37 appearances in the process.
Chesterfield On 10 August 2021, despite rumoured interest from Football League sides, Tshimanga joined National League side Chesterfield for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal. After scoring nine goals in his first six weeks of the season, he was awarded the league's Player of the Month award for August/September 2021. Tshimanga finished the campaign with 25 goals in 31 appearances in all competitions, and was named in the league's Team of the Year for the third consecutive season.
Peterborough United On 31 January 2023, Tshimanga joined League One side Peterborough United after agreeing a loan deal until the end of the season ahead of a permanent transfer in the summer. Tshimanga joined Fleetwood Town on loan in the summer of 2023 but was recalled by Peterborough on 1 February 2024, on which day he returned to Boreham Wood on loan until the end of the season.
On 12 May 2024, Peterborough announced the player had been transfer-listed.
Swindon Town loan On 27 August 2024, Tshimanga joined League Two side Swindon Town on loan for the season. He scored his first goal for the club in a 4–0 win against Newport on 14 September 2024.
On 6 May 2024, Peterborough announced the player would leave the club in June when his contract expired.
Crawley Town On 1 July 2025, Tshimaga joined League Two side Crawley Town on a two-year contract.
Barnet On 22 January 2026, Tshimanga signed for fellow League Two club Barnet for an undisclosed fee, scoring two goals on his debut at home to Oldham Athletic F.C.
Personal life Tshimanga's parents live in the UK. He has two brothers, Claude and Roman, and two sisters, Jily and Rosalie, who also live in the UK.
International career Tshimanga is eligible to play for both England and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In April 2019, he was called up to the England C squad for a friendly fixture, on 9 April 2019, against a Bedfordshire FA XI to mark the association's 125th anniversary.
Style of play Speaking in November 2014, then Milton Keynes Dons manager Karl Robinson described Tshimanga as "quick, powerful, he wants to run at people and he's a constant threat."
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsMilton Keynes Dons2014–15League One00100000102015–16Championship000000—002016–17League One60102130121Total60202130131Aldershot Town (loan)2014–15Conference Premier20———20Chelmsford City (loan)2014–15Conference South40———40Corby Town (loan)2015–16National League North10520—10135Nuneaton Town (loan)2015–16National League North51——2172Chesham United (loan)2015–16SL Premier Division70———70Þróttur (loan)2016Úrvalsdeild6011——71Yeovil Town (loan)2016–17League Two00———00Boston United2017–18National League North34833—113812Oxford City2018–19National League South422467—665437Boreham Wood2019–20National League371910—3041192020–21National League421943—104722Total793853—408841Chesterfield2021–22National League272441—0031252022–23National League17751—00228Total443192—005333Peterborough United (loan)2022–23League One80——1090Peterborough United2023–24League One20002000402024–25League One0000000000Total2000200040Fleetwood Town (loan)2023–24League One14020—42202Boreham Wood (loan)2023–24National League167———167Swindon Town (loan)2024–25League Two39112100314413Crawley Town2025–26League Two234001120265Barnet2025–26League Two211200000021122026–27League Two7400110085Total28160011002917Career total3691453217632711434176
Honours Individual National League South Team of the Year: 2018–19 National League Team of the Year: 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22 National League Player of the Month: August/September 2021 Oxford City Players' Player of the Year: 2018–19 Oxford City Player of the Year: 2018–19 Chesterfield Players' Player of the Year: 2021–22 Chesterfield Player of the Year: 2021–22
References
External links