{{short description|English association football player (born 2008)}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Stephen Mfuni | fullname = Stephen-Nevin Mutanda Mfuni<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4407896/202526-premier-league-squad-lists|title=2025/26 Premier League squad lists|publisher=Premier League|date=12 September 2025|access-date=27 October 2025}}</ref> | birth_place = Wigan, England | height = 1.8m | image = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2008|02|12|df=y}} | position = Centre-back, left-back | currentclub = Watford<br>(on loan from Manchester City) | clubnumber = 21 | youthyears1 = 2016–2026 | youthclubs1 = Manchester City | years1 = 2026– | clubs1 = Manchester City | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2026– | clubs2 = → Watford (loan) | caps2 = 8 | goals2 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2022–2023 | nationalteam1 = England U16 | nationalcaps1 = 7 | nationalgoals1 = 1 | nationalyears2 = 2023–2024 | nationalteam2 = England U17 | nationalcaps2 = 8 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2024 | nationalteam3 = England U18 | nationalcaps3 = 2 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | nationalyears4 = 2024– | nationalteam4 = England U19 | nationalcaps4 = 17 | nationalgoals4 = 0 | club-update = 00:15, 26 May 2026 (UTC) | ntupdate = 01:22, 19 November 2025 (UTC) }} '''Stephen-Nevin Mutanda Mfuni''' (born 12 February 2008) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or left-back for Watford on loan from Manchester City.
==Club career== Mfuni was born in Wigan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Meet the 'incredible' Man City youngster loved by coaches and Pep Guardiola amid transfer interest|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/meet-incredible-man-city-youngster-30801140.amp|first=Joe|last=Bray|website=Manchester Evening News|date=17 January 2025|accessdate=20 May 2025}}</ref> He joined Manchester City at under-9 level.<ref name="debut">{{cite news |url=https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/who-is-stephen-mfuni-1-63903658|title=Who is City’s Stephen Mfuni?|first=Holly|last=Percival|website=Manchester City F.C.|date=10 January 2026|access-date=19 January 2026}}</ref> Capable of playing centre half or left back, he scored for Manchester City as they defeated Leeds United in the 2023–24 FA Youth Cup final.<ref name="FAYC">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ckkev2re1vzo|title=Man City hit four past Leeds to win FA Youth Cup|first=Simon|last=Stone|work=BBC Sport|date=10 May 2024|access-date=27 October 2025}}</ref> Mfuni featured for the Manchester City first team in their preseason tour of North America in 2024. That year, he was included in ''The Guardian''’s ''Next Generation 2024: 20 of the best talents at Premier League clubs'' series in October 2024.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2024/oct/14/next-generation-2024-20-of-the-best-talents-at-premier-league-clubs|title=Next Generation 2024: 20 of the best talents at Premier League clubs|first1=Marcus|last1=Christenson|first2=Steven|last2=Bloor|first3=Garry|last3=Blight|website=The Guardian|date=14 October 2024|accessdate=14 October 2024}}</ref>
During the 2025-26 season, having been on the bench for matches in various competitions including against Manchester United, Napoli and Huddersfield Town,<ref>{{cite web|title='Tough bit now' - What next for Man City academy stars after Huddersfield debuts|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/tough-bit-now-what-next-32550350.amp|first=Tyrone|last=Marshall|website=Manchester Evening News|date=25 September 2025|accessdate=12 January 2026}}</ref> Mfuni made his first team debut on 10 January 2026 as a half-time substitute for Nathan Aké in an FA Cup third round tie against Exeter City, which finished 10-1.<ref name="debut"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Man City player ratings vs Exeter with one 9/10 as two debutants score|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-player-ratings-vs-33206941|first=Simon|last=Bajkowski|website=Manchester Evening News|date=10 January 2026|accessdate=12 January 2026}}</ref> On 30 January 2026, Mfuni joined Championship side Watford on loan until the end of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5y20v3502lo|title=Watford sign Man City's Mfuni on loan|publisher=BBC|date=30 January 2026|accessdate=2 February 2026}}</ref>
==International career== Born in England, Mfuni is of DR Congolese descent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irisfootball.com/actualites-tournee-americaine-joel-ndala-luke-mbete-tabu-et-stephen-mfuni-font-partie-du-groupe-cityzens/|title=Actualités/Tournée américaine : Joël Ndala, Luke Mbete-Tabu et Stephen Mfuni font partie du groupe Cityzens!|first=Timothée-David|last=Luemba|publisher=Iris Football|date=20 July 2024|accessdate=26 June 2025|language=French}}</ref> He is an England youth international. Having already represented England at U16 level, Mfuni was part of the England U17 side at the 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and started their quarter-final defeat against Italy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/ckdd1nrzeddt#Line-ups|title=Italy U17 v England U17|work=BBC Sport|date=30 May 2024|access-date=27 October 2025}}</ref>
Mfuni was a member of the England under-19 squad at the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sport/football/u19-euros-2025-england-squad/|title=England U19 Euros squad 2025 confirmed|first=Michael|last=Potts|publisher=Radio Times|date=11 June 2025|access-date=27 October 2025}}</ref> He started all three of their games during the tournament as England were eliminated at the group stage.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cx2e21yxy21t#Report|title=England knocked out of European U19 Championship after Netherlands defeat|first=Emlyn|last=Begley|work=BBC Sport|date=20 June 2025|access-date=27 October 2025}}</ref>
==Style of play== Mfuni plays as a defender. Left-footed, he is known for his strength and aerial ability.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/a-young-defender-looks-set-for-a-big-future-at-manchester-city-41150383|title=A young defender looks set for a big future at Manchester City|trans-title=|language=en|publisher=OneFootball|date=23 May 2025|access-date=23 May 2025}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 10 January 2026}} {| 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"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|EFL Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Manchester City |2025–26<ref>{{Soccerbase season|189751|2025|accessdate=19 January 2026}}</ref>||Premier League||0||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||1||0 |- |Watford (loan) |2025-26 |EFL Championship |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |0 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !2!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!3!!0 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Manchester City U18''' *FA Youth Cup: 2023–24<ref name="FAYC"/> '''Manchester City''' *EFL Cup: 2025–26<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cy030p56zx4t|title=Carabao Cup final: Nico O'Reilly double helps Man City beat Arsenal at Wembley|first=Phil|last=McNulty|website=BBC Sport}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Instagram|stephmfuni08}} *{{soccerway|new_id=mfuni-stephen/nyqpmutL}}
{{Watford F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mfuni, Stephen}} Category:2008 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Wigan Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:England men's youth international footballers Category:21st-century English sportsmen Category:English people of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent Category:Sportspeople of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent Category:21st-century Black British people Category:Black British sportsmen Category:Manchester City F.C. players Category:Watford F.C. players