Julien Lomboto Lompombi

Julien Lomboto Lompombi left France without a senior appearance there. In August 2022, he joined Rio Ave as a free agent and signed his first professional contract. The club has since extended it to 2028.

He came through the Amiens academy until 2020, playing alongside that for US Camon in regional football — National U17 and Régional 1 — where he captained the youth team. In March 2020 he signed a trainee deal at RC Strasbourg Alsace and spent two seasons with Strasbourg II in National 3, making 26 appearances and scoring twice. Of Congolese descent, he has no call-ups to French or DR Congo squads.

His first year in Portugal was largely spent with the under-23s in the Liga Revelação: three matches, one goal. The senior debut came on 17 March 2023, as a substitute in a 2-0 Primeira Liga win over Santa Clara.

Two loans in Liga Portugal 2 followed. Oliveirense gave him 12 matches and no goals in 2023/24. Torreense, a year later, gave him considerably more: 26 league appearances, one goal, and a Taça de Portugal tie.

He returned to Rio Ave for 2025/26 and has made seven Primeira Liga appearances. On 16 May 2026, against Arouca, he turned the ball into his own net on 53 minutes; Rio Ave lost 0-2.

The right-footed defender has collected no individual awards, and no serious injury appears on his record. Every move so far — academy to region, region to Strasbourg, Strasbourg to Portugal, and out on loan twice — has gone through without dispute.