Billy Koumetio

Summary

Billy Dawson Koumetio (born 14 November 2002) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL Championship side Blackburn Rovers, on loan from Premier League club Liverpool.[3]

Billy Koumetio
Personal information
Full name Billy Dawson Koumetio[1]
Date of birth (2002-11-14) 14 November 2002 (age 21)
Place of birth Lyon, France
Height 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Blackburn Rovers
(on loan from Liverpool)
Number 14
Youth career
2008–2014 Vaulx-en-Velin
2014–2018 Lyon
2018 Orléans
2018–2020 Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020– Liverpool 0 (0)
2022–2023Austria Wien (loan) 5 (0)
2023–2024Dunkerque (loan) 8 (0)
2024–Blackburn Rovers (loan) 0 (0)
International career
2019 France U18 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 January 2024

Club career edit

Koumetio moved to Liverpool's Academy from French side US Orléans in November 2018. Koumetio was originally on the books of his hometown club Olympique Lyonnais where he was predominantly a winger at first. His height led to coaching staff turning him into a centre-back when he was 14.[4] Koumetio signed his first professional contract with Liverpool in August 2020, when aged 17 and already 1.91 metres (6 ft 3 in).[5]

He was a ball boy at Anfield for the 4–0 semi-final second leg victory over FC Barcelona in the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League in May 2019. In October 2019 he was named on the bench at the age of 16 for the Carabao Cup tie against Arsenal FC at Anfield.[6]

Koumetio featured for Liverpool during the pre-season of the 2020–21 football season in friendly matches in Austria against Red Bull Salzburg and VfB Stuttgart.[7] Koumetio made his first-ever appearance for the Reds’ first team on 9 December 2020 substituting in for Fabinho at the heart of defence in the UEFA Champions League against FC Midtjylland.[8][9][10] In doing so, he became the youngest player to feature for Liverpool in the Champions League, a record that was later broken by Stefan Bajcetic in 2022.[11]

Austria Wien edit

On 23 June 2022, Koumetio signed for Austrian Bundesliga side Austria Wien on a season-long loan.[12] He was recalled on 10 January 2023.[13]

Dunkerque edit

On 29 August 2023, Koumetio joined Ligue 2 side USL Dunkerque on a season-long loan.[14] He made his debut in a league fixture against Grenoble Foot 38 on 16 September, and was sent off after 52 minutes for two bookable offences.[15] He was recalled on 16 January 2024.[16]

Blackburn Rovers edit

On 1 February 2024, Koumetio joined Blackburn Rovers on loan until the end of the season.[17]

International career edit

Born in France, Koumetio is of Cameroonian descent.[18] He is a youth international for France at the Under-18 level.

Personal life edit

Billy Koumetio has a sister, Yzoire who signed for Liverpool Football Club Women’s Academy in September 2023.[19]

Career statistics edit

As of match played 19 December 2023[20]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Liverpool U21 2019–20[21] 1[c] 0 1 0
2020–21 1[c] 0 1 0
2021–22 2[c] 0 2 0
Total 4 0 4 0
Liverpool 2020–21 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[d] 0 0 0 1 0
2021–22 Premier League 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
Austria Wien II (loan) 2022–23 2. Liga 4 0 4 0
Austria Wien (loan) 2022–23 Austrian Bundesliga 9 0 3 0 3[e] 0 15 0
Dunkerque (loan) 2023–24 Ligue 2 8 0 1 0 9 0
Career total 21 0 4 0 1 0 4 0 4 0 33 0
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup, Austrian Cup, Coupe de France
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  4. ^ Appearance in UEFA Champions League
  5. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Europa League, one in UEFA Conference League

References edit

  1. ^ "2023/24 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Billy Koumetio: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  3. ^ "lfc_fixture_academy_player_profile". Liverpool FC.
  4. ^ "Liverpool career stats for Billy Koumetio - LFChistory - Stats galore for Liverpool FC!". www.lfchistory.net. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Koumetio and 9 LFC youngsters to look out for in 2020/21". This Is Anfield. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  6. ^ Pearce, James. "Liverpool's breakthrough star - Billy Koumetio". The Athletic. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Billy Koumetio needed just one pass to show why Jurgen Klopp is excited". Planet Football. 23 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Klopp reassures 'big talent' Koumetio after error in 1st LFC start". This Is Anfield. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  9. ^ Squires, Theo (6 September 2020). "Klopp sends Billy Koumetio message after 'difficult situations'". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 6 September 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  10. ^ Glendenning, Barry (9 December 2020). "FC Midtjylland v Liverpool: Champions League – live!". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  11. ^ "Stefan Bajcetic becomes Liverpool's youngest-ever Champions League player". This is Anfield. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  12. ^ "Billy Koumetio seals loan move to Austria Vienna". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Billy Koumetio returns to Liverpool from Austria Vienna loan". Liverpool FC.
  14. ^ "Billy Koumetio joins USL Dunkerque on season-long loan". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Liverpool defender in nightmare debut for new club – sent off in 52 minutes". This is Anfield. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Billy Koumetio returns to Liverpool from Ligue 2 loan spell - Liverpool FC". www.liverpoolfc.com. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Billy Koumetio joins Blackburn Rovers on loan". Liverpool FC. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  18. ^ Rédaction, La (17 July 2020). "Liverpool va faire signer pro la pépite Billy Koumetio". CamerounSports (in French). Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  19. ^ Lusby, Jack. "Liverpool defender's sister has now signed deal to join LFC Women". This Is Anfield. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  20. ^ Billy Koumetio at Soccerway
  21. ^ "Games played by Billy Koumetio in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 August 2020.

External links edit