Mikael Ndjoli

Mikael Bongili Ndjoli (born 8 October 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Gibraltar League club Lions Gibraltar.

Ndjoli is a product of the Millwall and Brentford academies and signed his first professional contract with Bournemouth in 2016. He failed to make a first team appearances for the club, but gained experience on loan at EFL club Gillingham and Scottish Premiership clubs Kilmarnock and Motherwell. Following his departure from Bournemouth in 2021, Ndjoli played a three-year spell in non-League football, bisected by a short period with American lower-league club Virginia Beach City FC. In 2024, Ndjoli transferred to Lions Gibraltar.

Career

Youth years A forward, Ndjoli began his career with spells at Tottenham Hotspur and Watford, before entering the academy at Brentford. He was a part of the U15 team which won the Junior category at the 2012 Milk Cup. He moved on to join the academy at Millwall and embarked on a two-year scholarship in 2014. Despite scoring 20 goals in 24 matches for the U18 team and breaking into the U21 team during the 2015–16 season, Ndjoli progressed sufficiently during the 2017–18 season to win his only first team call-up for a FA Cup fourth round match versus Wigan Athletic on 18 January 2018 and he remained an unused substitute during the 3–0 defeat. it was announced in May 2018 that Ndjoli had signed a new one-year contract. which was later extended until the end of the 2018–19 season. He made 31 appearances and scored five goals during the season, with four of the goals coming in a four-game spell in late-July and early-August 2018.

After signing a new two-year contract at the end of the 2018–19 season, Ndjoli spent much of the COVID-19-affected 2019–20 season away on loan at League One club Gillingham and Scottish Premiership club Motherwell. He made 20 appearances and scored three goals across both spells. Ndjoli did not win a call into a first-team squad during the first half of the 2020–21 season.

Barrow On 1 February 2021, Ndjoli joined League Two club Barrow on a free transfer and signed a contract until the end of the 2020–21 season. He made two substitute appearances before dropping out of the squad in late March and was released when his contract expired.

Aldershot Town On 5 October 2021, Ndjoli signed a contract with National League club Aldershot Town on a free transfer. He ended the 2021–22 season with 23 appearances and a career-high six goals. Ndjoli was offered a new contract in May 2022, but elected to depart the club.

Virginia Beach City FC In June 2022, Ndjoli moved to the United States, to transfer to National Premier Soccer League club Virginia Beach City FC. He made 10 appearances during the first two months of the 2022–23 season and scored twice in a 2–0 EFL Trophy group stage win over Harrogate Town on 30 August 2022. He scored one goal in six appearances during his spell and was a part of the club's 2022–23 Manchester Premier Cup-winning squad.

Following Hartlepool's relegation to the National League at the end of the 2022–23 season, manager John Askey reported that he did not see Ndjoli as part of his plans for the 2023–24 season. He was not allocated a squad number and spent much of the season on loan at National League North clubs Blyth Spartans and Spennymoor Town. Ndjoli was released at the end of the 2023–24 season, when his contract expired.

Lions Gibraltar In July 2024, Ndjoli signed a contract with Gibraltar League club Lions Gibraltar on a free transfer.

Career statistics

Honours Radcliffe Manchester Premier Cup: 2022–23