YOUTH
Nathan Ngoy signs Lille contract to 2029, valued at €25m
Nathan Ngoy, the 23‑year‑old Belgian centre‑back, has cemented his place in the Red Devils as they prepare for their second World Cup group match against Iran. After a solid display alongside Brandon Mechele in the win over Egypt, Ngoy’s club career has also taken off.
Ngoy currently plies his trade at LOSC Lille, where he has been coached by Rudi Garcia and earned regular call‑ups for Belgium. In a recent friendly against Croatia he impressed with a mistake‑free performance.
He repeated the display in the subsequent fixture versus Egypt, confirming his rising status in the national defence. His consistency has left little doubt that he will start in the upcoming Iran game.
Ngoy’s cousin, Jean‑Baptiste Yakassongo, recounts that a shinbone fracture at age fifteen forced months of rehabilitation, delaying his progress. At the time Ngoy was in the Anderlecht youth set‑up, where coaches deemed him technically too light for a professional contract.
"It was a huge disappointment for Nathan, who loved Anderlecht and dreamed of breaking through as a Brussels player," Yakassongo explains. "When another club presented a concrete offer, Nathan decided not to wait any longer."
Standard Liège secured Ngoy’s services, and his summer move to Lille fetched a €3 million fee for the Liège side. Since joining Lille, he has become a regular, logging 38 appearances last season, with a contract running to mid‑2029 and a market value of €25 million.