{{Short description|Wales international footballer (born 2000)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Rabbi Matondo |image = Rangers v Livingston 12 August 2023 (Rabbi Matondo).jpg |caption = Matondo with Rangers in 2023 |full_name = Rabbi Matondo<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/844127 |title=2018/19 Premier League squads confirmed |publisher=Premier League |date=3 September 2018 |access-date=21 November 2018}}</ref> |birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|9|9|df=y}} |birth_place = Liverpool, England |height = 1.75 m<ref name="WF">{{cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe447048/rabbi-matondo/|title=Rabbi Matondo|website=worldfootball.net|date=28 March 2021 |access-date=14 August 2022}}</ref> |currentclub = Brann |clubnumber = 26 |position = Winger |youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = Cardiff City |youthyears2 = 2016–2019 |youthclubs2 = Manchester City |years1 = 2019 |clubs1 = Schalke 04 II |caps1 = 2 |goals1 = 0 |years2 = 2019–2022 |clubs2 = Schalke 04 |caps2 = 30 |goals2 = 2 |years3 = 2021 |clubs3 = → Stoke City (loan) |caps3 = 10 |goals3 = 1 |years4 = 2021–2022 |clubs4 = → Cercle Brugge (loan) |caps4 = 26 |goals4 = 9 |years5 = 2022–2026 |clubs5 = Rangers |caps5 = 45 |goals5 = 7 |years6 = 2025 |clubs6 = → Hannover 96 (loan) |caps6 = 10 |goals6 = 1 |years7 = 2026– |clubs7 = Brann |caps7 = 3 |goals7 = 0 |nationalyears1 = 2015 |nationalteam1 = England U15 |nationalcaps1 = |nationalgoals1 = |nationalyears2 = 2015–2016 |nationalteam2 = Wales U17 |nationalcaps2 = 10 |nationalgoals2 = 0 |nationalyears3 = 2017–2018 |nationalteam3 = Wales U21 |nationalcaps3 = 8 |nationalgoals3 = 0 |nationalyears4 = 2018– |nationalteam4 = Wales |nationalcaps4 = 15 |nationalgoals4 = 1 |pcupdate = 14:27, 25 May 2025 (UTC) |ntupdate = 19:00, 9 June 2025 (UTC) }}
'''Rabbi Matondo''' (born 9 September 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Eliteserien club Brann and the Wales national team.
Matondo played youth football for Cardiff City and Manchester City. He joined German club Schalke 04 in January 2019, where he made 32 first-team appearances and was sent on loan to Stoke City and Cercle Brugge. He had a three-and-a-half year spell at Rangers before moving to Norwegian side Brann.
Born in England to parents from the DR Congo, Matondo was eligible to play for either country, as well as Wales, where he grew up. Having played for the England under-15 team, he later opted to represent Wales and played at under-17 and under-21 levels before making his debut for the senior national team in November 2018.
==Early life== Matondo was born in Liverpool, England but moved to south Wales as a child.<ref name="poached">{{cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-one-wales-brightest-11929955 |title=Cardiff City have one of Wales' brightest young talents snatched away from them by Manchester City |website=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |last=Abbandonato |first=Paul |date=23 September 2016 |access-date=20 November 2018}}</ref> He grew up in the Tremorfa area of Cardiff where he first played football in local parks with his father and brothers.<ref name="kid">{{cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-citys-rabbi-matondo-cardiff-15244426 |title=Manchester City's Rabbi Matondo: The Cardiff kid who's grown up to be the fastest player at one of the world's biggest clubs |website=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |last=Coleman |first=Tom |date=9 October 2018 |access-date=20 November 2018}}</ref> His father Dada played football in his native DR Congo. Two of his brothers, Cedrick and Japhet, also played football for Cardiff City, Newport County and Stoke City at youth level.<ref name="kid"/> As a teenager he attended Llanishen High School.<ref name="kid"/>
==Club career==
===Early career=== Matondo began his career as a youth player with Cardiff City. In 2016, he moved to Premier League side Manchester City for a small compensation fee under the Elite Player Performance Plan, an initiative created by the Premier League regarding movement of youth players.<ref name="poached"/> Cardiff appealed against the move and Matondo was blocked from playing for Manchester City until March 2017 when the appeal was denied. However, a fee of £500,000 was reported to have been agreed.<ref name="cleared">{{cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-city-starlet-rabbi-matondo-12734503 |title=Manchester City starlet Rabbi Matondo cleared to play after being snatched away from Cardiff City |website=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |last=Vittles |first=Jack |date=13 March 2017 |access-date=20 November 2018}}</ref>
He made his debut for the Manchester City U21 side in the EFL Trophy on 15 August 2017 against Rotherham United,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mancity.com/news/eds/match-report/2017/august/rotherham-united-man-city-eds-checkatrade-trophy-match-report |title=Rotherham United 1–1 City |publisher=Manchester City F.C. |last=Edwards |first=John |date=15 August 2017 |access-date=20 November 2018}}</ref> scoring his first goal in the side's next match, a 2–1 defeat to Bradford City.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mancity.com/citytv/match%20highlights/2017/october/~/link.aspx?_id=4151928D76C64F719BDB0E23801ADA6A&_z=z&=1 |title=Bradford City 2–1 City |publisher=Manchester City F.C. |last=Edwards |first=John |date=24 October 2017 |access-date=20 November 2018}}</ref> He added two more goals in the 2018–19 EFL Trophy, the game's only away to Tranmere Rovers in the final group game,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Garnett |first1=Richard |title=Tranmere knocked out of the Checkatrade Trophy by Manchester City U21s |url=https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/17190826.tranmere-knocked-out-of-the-checkatrade-trophy-by-manchester-city-u21s/ |access-date=20 February 2019 |work=Wirral Globe |date=31 October 2018}}</ref> and one more in a 3–3 draw at Barnsley in the second round, as well as netting in the subsequent penalty shootout win.<ref>{{cite news |title=Reds out of trophy after shoot-out loss to City kids |url=https://www.barnsleychronicle.com/article/barnsley-3-manchester-city-u21s-3-2018-12-04 |access-date=20 February 2019 |work=Barnsley Chronicle |date=4 December 2018}}</ref>
===Schalke 04=== On 30 January 2019, Matondo signed for Bundesliga club Schalke 04 for a reported fee of up to £11 million on a four-and-a-half-year deal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-city-rabbi-matondo-schalke-15755225|title=Rabbi Matondo transfer: Manchester City starlet completes £11million Schalke switch|publisher=Manchester Evening News|date=30 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47030685|title=Rabbi Matondo: Schalke sign Manchester City and Wales winger|date=30 January 2019|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=30 January 2019}}</ref> He made his professional league debut three days later in a 2–0 home loss to Borussia Mönchengladbach, as a 75th-minute substitute for Sebastian Rudy; on 16 February he was given a start in a goalless home draw with SC Freiburg.<ref>{{cite news|title=Former Manchester City youth player Rabbi Matondo: "It's been easy to adapt at Schalke"|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/ex-man-city-youth-player-rabbi-matondo-makes-full-bundesliga-debut-schalke-3377-2429|access-date=20 February 2019|publisher=Bundesliga|date=16 February 2019}}</ref> On 28 September 2019, he scored his first goal for Schalke in a 3–1 away victory over RB Leipzig.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/rabbi-matondo-schalke-i-think-we-can-keep-this-going-now-7249|title=Schalke's Rabbi Matondo: "I think we can keep this going now"|publisher=Bundesliga|date=29 September 2019}}</ref>
On 7 January 2021, Matondo joined EFL Championship club Stoke City on a loan deal until the end of the 2020–21 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2021/january/Matondo-completes-loan-move/|title=Matondo completes loan move|date=7 January 2021|website=Stoke City}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55580553|title=Rabbi Matondo: Stoke City sign Wales winger on loan from FC Schalke 04|date=7 January 2021|website=BBC Sport}}</ref> He played 11 times for Stoke, scoring once in a 1–1 draw with Nottingham Forest on 24 April 2021.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56781840|title=Nottingham Forest 1-1 Stoke|publisher=BBC |date=24 April 2021 |access-date=26 April 2021}}</ref>
On 9 August 2021, Matondo agreed to join Cercle Brugge on a season-long loan with an option to make the move permanent.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://schalke04.de/en/team/rabbi-matondo-moves-loan-cercle-brugge/|title=Rabbi Matondo moves on loan to Cercle Brugge|website=FC Schalke 04|date=9 August 2021}}</ref>
===Rangers=== On 12 July 2022, Rangers announced the signing of Matondo on a four-year deal, subject to international clearance.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62134902 |title=Rabbi Matondo: Rangers sign Wales winger from Schalke on four-year deal |website=BBC Sport |date=12 July 2022 |accessdate=12 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rangers Sign Rabbi Matondo |url=https://www.rangers.co.uk/Article/rangers-sign-rabbi-matondo/2XKonGDxT6rHWIrjyECCFj |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=www.rangers.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref> He made his debut for the club against Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise during a UEFA Champions League qualifier loss on 2 August.<ref>{{ cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62377416 | title=Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 Rangers | work=BBC Sport | date=2 August 2022 }}</ref> On 4 October 2022, he made his 5th UEFA Champions League appearance for Rangers away against Liverpool as a substitute. Rangers lost 2-0, however their first big chance in the game came through Matondo in the 84th minute (3 minutes after he came on), where his pace allowed him to breeze past Joel Matip and nutmeg Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, but had his shot cleared off the line by Kostas Tsimikas before it could be tapped into the net by Fashion Sakala.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/kostas-tsimikas-liverpool-aces-incredible-goal-line-clearance-vs-rangers-35962425|title=Kostas Tsimikas: Liverpool ace's incredible goal line clearance vs Rangers|publisher=One Football |date=4 October 2022 |access-date= 5 October 2022}}</ref> Matondo scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in a 1st leg Qualifier on 22 August 2023 vs PSV Eindhoven slotting home a first-time finish into the bottom corner after a counter-attack to equalise.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/685787|title=Rangers 2-2 PSV Eindhoven (22 Aug, 2023) Final Score|publisher=ESPN |date=22 August 2023 |access-date=8 January 2024}}</ref> He left Rangers in March 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rabbi Matondo Joins SK Brann|url=https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/rabbi-matondo-joins-sk-brann/w6EWu0vVDv0BcFLa582jS |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=www.rangers.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref>
===Loan to Hannover 96=== On 30 January 2025, Matondo signed for Hannover 96 on loan from Rangers for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hannover96.de/newscenter/news/details/34807-debuet-unter-weltfussball-legende-fuenf-fakten-ueber-rabbi-matondo.html|title=Five Facts About Rabbi Matondo|website=hannover96.de|date=30 January 2025}}</ref> Matondo scored 34 minutes into his debut against Hamburger SV.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rangersreview.co.uk/news/24903625.watch-rangers-loanee-matondo-scores-stunning-solo-goal-debut/|title=Watch as Rangers loanee Matondo scores stunning solo goal on debut|publisher=Rangers Review|date=2 February 2025}}</ref>
===SK Brann===
On 31 March 2026, Matondo joined Brann on a permanent deal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rabbi Matondo Joins SK Brann|url=https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/rabbi-matondo-joins-sk-brann/w6EWu0vVDv0BcFLa582jS |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=www.rangers.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref>
==International career== Matondo was eligible to represent DR Congo, England or Wales at international level.<ref name="kid"/> He represented England at under-15 level before switching allegiance to Wales at under-17 level.<ref name="cleared"/> He made 10 appearances for the under-17 team.<ref name="walesu17u21stats">{{cite web |url=https://www.besoccer.com/player/matches/r-matondo-319498 |title=R. Matondo |website=besoccer.com |access-date=14 August 2022}}</ref> He received his first call up to the Wales under-21 squad in September 2017,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41428832 |title=Wales add Cian Harries and Rabbi Matondo |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 September 2017 |access-date=21 November 2018}}</ref> making his debut for the side in a 3–1 victory over Liechtenstein.<ref name="Soccerway">{{Soccerway|426966|accessdate=21 November 2018}}</ref> After appearing in four qualifying matches as a substitute,<ref name="Soccerway"/> he made his first start for the under-21 side in a 1–1 draw with Georgia in the second of two friendlies against the nation in June 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sofascore.com/georgia-u21-wales-u21/hwcsyCc |title=Georgia U21 1–1 Wales U21 |website=sofascore.com |access-date=21 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.faw.cymru/en/news/u21-squad-announced-georgia-double-header/ |title=U21 Squad Announced For Georgia Double Header |publisher=Football Association of Wales |date=20 May 2018 |access-date=21 November 2018}}</ref> He played eight games in total at under-21 level.<ref name="walesu17u21stats"/>
In November 2018, Matondo received his first call up for the senior Welsh squad for a friendly against Albania.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wales-add-manchester-citys-rabbi-15431237 |title=Wales add Manchester City's Rabbi Matondo to squad for Albania friendly and fans are loving it |website=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |last=Davies |first=Matthew |date=18 November 2018 |access-date=20 November 2018}}</ref> He made his international debut during the match on 20 November as a 78th-minute substitute in place of Sam Vokes as Wales lost 1–0 in Elbasan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/45710849 |title=Albania 1–0 Wales |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 November 2018 |access-date=20 November 2018}}</ref>
In May 2019, after travelling back to England from a Welsh national team training camp in Portugal, Matondo was escorted from the plane by police after "behaving disruptively".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48465481|title=Rabbi Matondo: Police escort 'disruptive' Wales winger from flight|date=30 May 2019|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref>
On 8 October 2020, Matondo started for Wales in a friendly against England.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54366319|title=England 3-0 Wales: Dominic Calvert-Lewin debut goal helps England beat Wales |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 October 2020 |access-date=8 October 2020}}</ref>
On 1 June 2022, Matondo came on as a half time substitute for Wales in a Nations League Group A game against Poland. Wales lost 2–1 with Matondo providing the assist for Jonny Williams's Wales goal.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61574469|title=Poland 2-1 Wales: Much changed visitors impress in Nations League defeat|publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 June 2022 |access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref>
On 22 March 2025, Matondo came on in the second half for Wales in a World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan. Wales won 3-1 with Matondo scoring his first international goal in the closing stages of the match.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c625rzpeld6t | title=Reaction as Wales beat Kazakhstan 3-1 in their opening 2026 World Cup qualifier }}</ref>
==Career statistics==
===Club=== {{updated|match played 20 May 2025}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan=2|Club !rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National cup{{efn|Includes DFB-Pokal, FA Cup, Belgian Cup, Scottish Cup}} !colspan=2|League cup{{efn|Includes Scottish League Cup}} !colspan=2|Europe !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan=3|Manchester City U21 |2017–18<ref>{{soccerbase season|107017|2017|access-date=14 August 2022}}</ref> |—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||2{{efn|name=EFT|Appearances in EFL Trophy}}||1||2||1 |- |2018–19<ref name="sb1819">{{soccerbase season|107017|2018|access-date=14 August 2022}}</ref> |—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||4{{efn|name=EFT}}||2||4||2 |- !colspan=2|Total !colspan=2|—!!colspan=2|—!!colspan=2|—!!colspan=2|—!!6!!3!!6!!3 |- |rowspan=3|Schalke 04 II |2018–19<ref name="WF"/> |Oberliga Westfalen |1||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||1||0 |- |2019–20<ref name="WF"/> |Regionalliga West |1||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||1||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !2!!0!!colspan=2|—!!colspan=2|—!!colspan=2|—!!colspan=2|—!!2!!0 |- |rowspan=4|Schalke 04 |2018–19<ref name="sb1819"/> |Bundesliga |7||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||colspan=2|—||8||0 |- |2019–20<ref>{{soccerbase season|107017|2019|access-date=14 August 2022}}</ref> |Bundesliga |20||2||1||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||21||2 |- |2020–21<ref name="sb2021">{{soccerbase season|107017|2020|access-date=14 August 2022}}</ref> |Bundesliga |3||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||3||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !30!!2!!2!!0!!colspan=2|—!!0!!0!!colspan=2|—!!32!!2 |- |Stoke City (loan) |2020–21<ref name="sb2021"/> |Championship |10||1||1||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||11||1 |- |Cercle Brugge (loan) |2021–22<ref name="WF"/> |Belgian Pro League |26||9||1||1||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||27||10 |- |rowspan=4|Rangers |2022–23<ref>{{soccerbase season|107017|2022|access-date=27 May 2023}}</ref> |Scottish Premiership |19||0||1||0||1||0||7{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}||0||colspan=2|—||28||0 |- |2023–24<ref>{{soccerbase season|107017|2023|access-date=11 June 2024}}</ref> |Scottish Premiership |19||5||5||0||1||0||6{{efn|Two appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||1||colspan=2|—||31||6 |- |2024–25<ref>{{soccerbase season|107017|2024|access-date=11 June 2024}}</ref> |Scottish Premiership |6||2||0||0||1||0||1{{efn|Two appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||colspan=2|—||8||2 |- !colspan=2|Total !44!!7!!6!!0!!3!!0!!14!!1!!colspan=2|—!!67!!8 |- |Hannover 96 (loan) |2024–25 |2. Bundesliga |10||1||0||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||10||1 |- |Brann |2026 |Eliteserien |3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3||0 |- !colspan=3|Career total !122!!18!!10!!1!!2!!0!!13!!1!!6!!3!!153!!23 |} {{notelist}}
===International=== {{updated|match played 2 February 2026}}<ref name="NFT">{{NFT player |id=72690 |name=Rabbi Matondo |access-date=11 June 2024}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan=8|Wales |2018||1||0 |- |2019||3||0 |- |2020||3||0 |- |2021||1||0 |- |2022||3||0 |- |2024||1||0 |- |2025||3||1 |- |2026||0||0 |- !colspan=2|Total!!15!!1 |}
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of international goals scored by Rabbi Matondo |- !scope=col|No. !scope=col|Date !scope=col|Venue !scope=col|Opponent !scope=col|Score !scope=col|Result !scope=col|Competition |- |align="center"|1||22 March 2025||Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales||{{fb|KAZ}}||align="center"|3–1||align="center"|3–1||2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |}
==Honours== '''Rangers''' *Scottish League Cup: 2023–24<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67684521|title=Rangers 1-0 Aberdeen|website=BBC|date=17 December 2023|accessdate=17 December 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Commons category}}
{{SK Brann squad}}
{{Portal bar|Association football|Wales}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matondo, Rabbi}} Category:2000 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Liverpool Category:Welsh men's footballers Category:21st-century Welsh sportsmen Category:Wales men's youth international footballers Category:Wales men's under-21 international footballers Category:Wales men's international footballers Category:English men's footballers Category:Welsh people of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent Category:Sportspeople of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent Category:Black British sportsmen Category:21st-century Black British people Category:Cardiff City F.C. players Category:Manchester City F.C. players Category:Men's association football wingers Category:FC Schalke 04 players Category:FC Schalke 04 II players Category:Stoke City F.C. players Category:Cercle Brugge KSV players Category:Rangers F.C. players Category:Hannover 96 players Category:SK Brann players Category:Bundesliga players Category:2. Bundesliga players Category:Regionalliga players Category:Oberliga (football) players Category:English Football League players Category:Belgian Pro League players Category:Scottish Professional Football League players Category:Eliteserien players Category:Welsh expatriate men's footballers Category:Welsh expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:Welsh expatriate sportspeople in Belgium Category:Welsh expatriate sportspeople in Norway Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Norway Category:Footballers from Cardiff Category:21st-century English sportsmen