Christian Kabasele

Christian Kabasele (born 24 February 1991) is a professional footballer who currently plays as a centre-back for Serie A club Udinese.

After progressing through the youth system at Eupen, Kabasele was promoted to the first team ahead of the 2008–09 season and signed a four–year contract with them.

He made his debut for the club, starting a match and played 81 minutes before being substituted, in a 3–0 loss against Lierse on 12 October 2008.

Kabasele then found his playing time, mostly from the substitute bench.

At the end of the 2008–09 season, he went on to make five appearances in all competitions.

Following this, it was announced on 7 June 2009 that Kabasele signed a contract with Eupen, keeping him until 2013.

Having spent the most of the 2009–10 season on the sidelines, Kabasele then made two appearances for Eupen, as they were promoted to Belgian Pro League.

He then made five appearances for the side throughout the first half of the 2010–11 season.

As a result of his lack of playing time at the end of the 2010–11 season, Kabasele made four appearances and scoring once for KV Mechelen in all competitions.

On 27 January 2011, Mechelen confirmed Kabasele has joined on loan until the end of the season.

Kabasele made his debut on 12 February 2011 in a 3–1 home win against Westerlo, coming on as a substitute for Jonathan Wilmet.

He scored his first league goal for Mechelen in a 2–1 away victory against Lierse on 8 April 2011.

His next two appearances then came from the substitute bench, playing both matches against Cercle Brugge.

On 22 August 2011, Kabasele joined Bulgarian club Ludogorets Razgrad on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

Upon joining the club, he was given a number twenty–seven shirt for the side.

Kabasele didn't make an appearance for Ludogorets Razgrad until making his debut for the club against Lokomotiv Sofia on 5 November 2011, coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute, and setting up the Ludogorets Razgrad's fourth goal of the game for Stanislav Genchev, in a 4–0 win.

Two weeks later on 19 November 2011, Kabasele opened his account for the club, scoring a last-minute goal in a 2–0 home win over Kaliakra Kavarna in an A PFG match.

Despite being on the sidelines on four occasions throughout the 2011–12 season, Kabasele remained in the first team for the club, as he made fourteen appearances and scoring six times in all competitions.

After two more goals for Ludogorets Razgrad in the Bulgarian Cup, he then scored twice for the club, having come on as a second half substitute, in a 5–0 win against Svetkavitsa Targovishte on 18 March 2012.

A month later on 11 April 2012, Kabasele scored his sixth goal for the club in the Bulgarian Cup semi–finals against Septemvri Simitli, winning 4–1.

He then helped Ludogorets Razgrad win both the league and the Bulgarian Cup.

Following this, Ludogorets Razgrad said they decided to let Kabasele leave the club ahead of the 2012–13 season.

On 16 August 2012, Kabasele re-joined his first team Eupen on a two-year contract.

Kabasele made his Eupen debut, starting the whole game, in a 1–0 win against Dessel Sport in the opening game of the season.

He then set up the club's first goal of the game, in a 2–1 loss against FC Brussels on 21 September 2012.

After being absent on two occasions between September and October, Kabasele scored his first goal for Eupen, as well as, setting up the club's second goal of the game, in a 3–0 win against Westerlo on 2 November 2012.

Three weeks later on 24 November 2012, he scored his second goal for Eupen, in a 3–2 win against Oudenaarde.

Despite being absent later in the 2012–13 season, Kabasele made twenty–seven appearances and scoring four times for Eupen.

His third goal for the club then came on 12 January 2013, in a 2–1 win against K.S.K. Heist.

It wasn't until on 13 April 2013 when Kabasele scored his fourth goal for Eupen, in a 4–1 win against Oudenaarde.

Although starting out of the defending position, he played in the striker position along the way, becoming a first team regular for the club.

At the start of the 2013–14 season, Kabasele started the season well when he helped Eupen keep four clean sheets in the first five league matches of the season.

It wasn't until on 18 October 2013 when he scored his first goal of the season, in a 1–1 draw against Lommel United.

Despite being absent at least seven occasions throughout the 2013–14 season, he went on to make twenty–nine appearances and scoring two times in all competitions.

His second goal of the season came on 8 February 2014, in a 2–0 win against ASV Geel.

Kabasele continued to regain his first team place, playing in the centre–back position.

Born in Zaire, Kabasele played for the Belgium national team between 2016 and 2017.

Kabasele began his football career at RFC Chaudfontaine when he was seven years old.

Kabasele then joined Eupen at thirteen years old where they converted him from playing in a striker position to a defender position.

While progressing through the youth system at the club, he said: "My best year was with the U16, I scored 29 times in 29 games. I was captain of the team at Eupen, while I was a year younger than the rest. The national youth coaches followed me, Standard informed me several times. even then I was too timid to take that step. In the meantime, Eupen had quickly transferred me to the reserve team and the A-team, partly to keep me satisfied."