Willy Kambwala made 10 senior appearances for Manchester United before being sold to Villarreal in 2024. The 21-year-old centre back is currently nursing an injury that has kept him out of action since pre-season.
After graduating from the Manchester United academy, Willy Kambwala was given opportunities under former manager Erik ten Hag, but his time at the club came to an end over a year ago.
Ineos decided to cash in on Kambwala to benefit the club’s profit and sustainability rating, with the same excuse used that summer for Scott McTominay’s transfer to Napoli before the Scotland midfielder went on to win the Serie A title in his first season.
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Villarreal made an initial payment of £4.63 million to sign Kambwala. It could rise to £9.6 million depending on achievements and bonuses.
Sadly, though, Kambwala’s move to Villarreal has not gone to plan as he hopes to prove himself once he fully recovers from an injury which has ruled him out of action so far this season.
Kambwala made 21 appearances for Villarreal in his first season at the club. His eagerly awaited return will come as a boost to Marcelino Garcia Toral, who is responsible for taking him to Spain.
Willy Kambwala playing against Sevilla FC
Photo by Jose Miguel Fernandez/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Willy Kambwala limited by injuries at Villarreal
Unfortunately for Kambwala, his first season at Villarreal was also heavily defined by a severe injury.
This meant Kambwala missed a lot of football due to rehabilitation before returning in January 2025.
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Kambwala was primarily used as a rotation option at centre-back and showed glimpses of his potential.
This season hasn’t been any better for the former United defender. The last update from Villarreal came in the summer after he picked up a hamstring injury in a friendly against Genoa.
It was decided that surgery was the best option for Kambwala’s recovery, but there are fears that he may not return to action until the new year.
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Kambwala needs a run in the team and to avoid any more injuries before the end of the season.
What did Erik ten Hag say about Willy Kambwala?
In April 2024, Kambwala made his home debut against Liverpool after being put on the fringes following his first senior appearance against West Ham at the end of 2023.
Speaking about Kambwala at the time, Ten Hag waxed lyrical about the young defender, as quoted by The Independent.
“[Kambwala] has been training a while with us and progressing well,” he said.
“The next generation need to step in and he is doing brilliant. The challenge for him is doing it consistently.
“Great opportunity for him. We have other options, like bringing Casemiro in at centre-half, but today he deserved it and he showed it on the pitch.”