Ethan Kena Kabeia

Ethan Kena Kabeya's route into professional football ran entirely through French academies before an unexpected international detour. Born in Lagny-sur-Marne, the defender started out at US Torcy, moving through the under-15 and under-17 age groups there before switching to LB Châteauroux in 2022 following a trial. He spent two seasons in Châteauroux's youth setup, playing for the under-17 and then the under-19 side, before Clermont Foot 63 signed him in July 2024 straight from that academy.

His first year at Clermont was spent largely out of the spotlight, playing for the club's under-19 and reserve teams while wearing the number 4 shirt. That changed in the summer of 2025, when Clermont sent him out on loan to FC Villefranche Beaujolais for the season, a move confirmed by both clubs, with Kabeya due back at Clermont afterwards.

The more striking turn in his career so far has come away from club football. Despite coming through the French system, Kabeya has not featured for any French youth national team. Instead, he was called up by DR Congo's under-20 side, for whom he made five appearances at the Maurice Revello Tournament — a tournament regularly used as a showcase for emerging talent from national federations around the world.

At 186cm, Kabeya fits the profile clubs look for, though his senior career is still in its early stages. The loan to Villefranche Beaujolais will be the clearest test yet of whether his form in Clermont's reserve ranks translates into regular first-team football.