25 Facts About Axel Tuanzebe

Axel Tuanzebe was born on 14 November 1997 and is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL Championship club Stoke City, on loan from Premier League club Manchester United.

Axel Tuanzebe made his competitive debut in an FA Cup game against Wigan Athletic in January 2017.

Axel Tuanzebe has had three spells on loan at Aston Villa and helped them to win promotion to the Premier League in 2019.

Axel Tuanzebe was associated with the Manchester United academy from the age of eight.

Axel Tuanzebe was captain of the Milk Cup winning youth side in 2014.

In May 2015, Axel Tuanzebe won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award.

Academy coach Paul McGuinness noted that Axel Tuanzebe was likely the first first-year scholar to captain the under-18 side since Gary Neville.

On 31 October 2015, at the age of 17, Axel Tuanzebe was named on the substitutes bench for a match against Crystal Palace in the Premier League, the first time he had been a member of a first-team matchday squad.

Axel Tuanzebe won the Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year award in May 2017.

On 25 January 2018, Axel Tuanzebe joined Championship side Aston Villa on loan for the remainder of the season.

In July 2019, Axel Tuanzebe signed a new contract with Manchester United until June 2022, with an option for an additional year.

Axel Tuanzebe became the youngest player to captain United since Norman Whiteside in 1985, during an EFL Cup victory against Rochdale in September 2019.

On 8 January 2022, Axel Tuanzebe was recalled from his Aston Villa loan, and loaned to Serie A team Napoli.

Axel Tuanzebe is eligible to represent England or the Democratic Republic of the Congo at international level.

Axel Tuanzebe has played youth international football for England at under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels.

Axel Tuanzebe began his international career in June 2016, when he made his first appearance for England at under-19 level, against Mexico.

Axel Tuanzebe was a member of the England under-20 squad which won all three matches at the Four Nations tournament in October 2016.

Axel Tuanzebe was withdrawn from selection for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup due to club commitments.

On 10 November 2017, Axel Tuanzebe made his debut for England at under-21 level, against Ukraine.

Axel Tuanzebe's preferred position is at centre-back, but he can play as a right-back, and has featured as a holding midfielder.

Axel Tuanzebe's playing style has been compared to that of teammate Eric Bailly and former Spain international Javi Martinez.

Axel Tuanzebe was born in Bunia, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Axel Tuanzebe relocated to England with his family at the age of four.

Axel Tuanzebe attended St Cuthbert's RC High School in Rochdale and captained the Year 7 football team to the final of the English National Schools Cup at Stamford Bridge in 2009.

Axel Tuanzebe is the younger brother of ex-Clitheroe striker Dimitri Tuanzebe.