Jardell Kanga
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 13 December 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Stockholm, Sweden | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Ilves | ||
| Number | 30 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2016–2021 | Brommapojkarna | ||
| 2022–2024 | Bayer Leverkusen | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2022 | Brommapojkarna | 23 | (5) |
| 2022–2024 | Bayer Leverkusen | 0 | (0) |
| 2024 | → De Graafschap (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2024– | Hammarby IF | 1 | (0) |
| 2024– | → Hammarby TFF | 10 | (2) |
| 2025– | Ilves | 13 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021–2022 | Sweden U17 | 12 | (7) |
| 2023– | Sweden U19 | 5 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20 July 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 10 September 2023 | |||
Jardell Kanga (born 13 December 2005) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Finnish Veikkausliiga club Ilves.
Club career
Kanga is a youth product of Brommapojkarna.[1] He began his senior career with them in 2021 in the Ettan and became their youngest ever debutant at 15 years old and 3 months, their youngest ever goalscorer, and helped them achieve promotion into the Superettan that season.[2] On 20 January 2022, he signed with German Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen, and was assigned to their under-19s.[3] In September 2022, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2005 worldwide.[4]
On 1 February 2024, Kanga joined De Graafschap in the Dutch second-tier Eerste Divisie on loan until the end of the season.[5] He made his debut for the Superboeren on 9 February, replacing David Flakus Bosilj in the 74th minute of a 2–0 home loss to Willem II.[6][7]
On 13 July 2024, Kanga signed for Swedish side Hammarby IF on a contract until December 2028.[8]
On 2 April 2025, Kanga was loaned to Veikkausliiga club Ilves with an option-to-buy.[9] On 19 July, his transfer was made permanent for an undisclosed fee. Kanga and Ilves signed a contract until the end of 2027.[10]
International career
Kanga is a youth international for Sweden having played for the Sweden U17s, and is their record goalscorer at that level.[11] He represented the country at the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, where they were eliminated at the group stage.
Personal life
Born in Sweden, Kanga is of DR Congolese descent.[12] He is the cousin of the Swedish footballer Josafat Mendes.[13]
Career statistics
- As of 20 July 2025[14]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Brommapojkarna | 2021 | Ettan Norra | 23 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 5 | ||
| Bayer Leverkusen | 2021–22 | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2022–23 | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| De Graafschap (loan) | 2023–24 | Eerste Divisie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Hammarby TFF | 2024 | Ettan | 10 | 2 | — | — | — | 10 | 2 | |||
| Hammarby | 2024 | Allsvenskan | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| Ilves | 2025 | Veikkausliiga | 13 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 |
| Career total | 48 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 10 | ||
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
References
- ^ "Talangporträtt: Jardell Kanga". Ettanfotboll. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ "AVSLÖJAR: Flera storklubbar spionerar på svenskt underbarn". Fotbolldirekt – Experten på svensk fotboll. 23 August 2021.
- ^ "Swedish talent Jardell Kanga strengthens U19 squad". Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Press release). 20 January 2022. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ Christenson, Marcus; Bloor, Steven; Blight, Garry (28 September 2022). "Next Generation 2022: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ "De Graafschap trekt Jardell Kanga aan" [De Graafschap signs Jardell Kanga] (in Dutch). De Graafschap. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "De Graafschap vs. Willem II 0–2: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ "Willem II verstiert feestje ter ere van 70 jaar De Graafschap". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 9 February 2024. Archived from the original on 10 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ "Jardell Kanga klar för Bajen" (in Swedish). Hammarby IF. 13 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ Jardell Kanga liittyy Ilveksen riveihin lainasopimuksella, ilvesfootball.com, 2 April 2025
- ^ ILVES KÄYTTI OSTO-OPTIONSA – JARDELL KANGALLE KAUDEN 2027 LOPPUUN ULOTTUVA SOPIMUS, ilvesfootball.com, 19 July 2025
- ^ "Jardell Kanga med svenskt målrekord i P17-EM". Svensk Fotboll (in Swedish). 21 May 2022. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ "Euro U-17 stars today, African superstars tomorrow?". GOAL. 17 May 2022. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ Parker, Cindy (24 May 2022). "Jardell kanga längd". Duffy's Blog (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 28 September 2022.
- ^ Jardell Kanga at Soccerway
External links
- Jardell Kanga at Soccerway
- Jardell Kanga at the Swedish Football Association (in Swedish)