Bright Akwo Arrey-Mbi (born 26 March 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Primeira Liga club Braga. Born in Cameroon, he has represented England and Germany at youth levels internationally.

Bright Arrey-Mbi
Arrey-Mbi playing for Bayern Munich U19 in 2021
Personal information
Full name Bright Akwo Arrey-Mbi
Date of birth (2003-03-26) 26 March 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Kumba, Cameroon[1]
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Braga
Number 26
Youth career
0000–2014 SG Kaarst
2014 Norwich City
2014–2019 Chelsea
2019–2020 Bayern Munich
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2022 Bayern Munich II 34 (2)
2021–2023 Bayern Munich 0 (0)
20221. FC Köln (loan) 0 (0)
20221. FC Köln II (loan) 9 (0)
2022–2023Hannover 96 (loan) 15 (0)
2023–2024 Hannover 96 32 (0)
2024– Braga 5 (0)
International career
2016 England U15 8 (0)
2018–2019 Germany U16 6 (0)
2019–2020 Germany U17 9 (0)
2021–2022 Germany U19 9 (0)
2023– Germany U21 9 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 September 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10:20, 16 October 2024 (UTC)

Early life

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Arrey-Mbi moved to England at age 11.[3] He was educated at St Thomas More School in Bedford, England.[4]

Club career

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Bayern Munich

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Bright Arrey-Mbi made his professional debut for Bayern Munich II on 19 September 2020 in a 3. Liga game against Türkgücü München.[5] Later he made his Champions League debut for Bayern Munich senior team on 1 December 2020 against Atlético Madrid.[6]

Loan to 1. FC Köln

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On 30 January 2022 German sports magazine Kicker reported that Arrey-Mbi would join Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln, on loan for 18 months until 30 June 2023.[7]

Hannover 96

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After he did not feature in any first-team matches while at the club, Bayern Munich decided to terminate the loan agreement with Köln in August 2022, he was then loaned out to 2. Bundesliga club Hannover 96 on a deal until June 2023.[8] He joined Hannover 96 permanently on 1 July 2023.[9]

Braga

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On 17 July 2024, Arrey-Mbi joined Portuguese Primeira Liga club Braga for a transfer fee of €6.2 million.[10]

International career

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Born in Cameroon, Arrey-Mbi grew up in England and Germany.[11] He moved to England at a young age and represented the England U15s eight times, before switching back to represent Germany internationally.[12] He remains eligible to play for England, Germany or Cameroon internationally.[13]

Style of play

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Arrey-Mbi mainly operates as a centre-back and can also play as a left-back.

Career statistics

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As of match played 28 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bayern Munich II 2020–21 3. Liga 15 0 15 0
2021–22 Regionalliga Bayern 19 2 19 2
Total 34 2 34 2
Bayern Munich 2020–21 Bundesliga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2021–22 Bundesliga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1. FC Köln (loan) 2021–22 Bundesliga 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022–23 Bundesliga 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0
1. FC Köln II (loan) 2021–22 Regionalliga West 6 0 6 0
2022–23 Regionalliga West 3 0 3 0
Total 9 0 9 0
Hannover 96 (loan) 2022–23 2. Bundesliga 15 0 1 0 16 0
Hannover 96 2023–24 2. Bundesliga 32 0 1 0 33 0
Braga 2024–25 Primeira Liga 5 0 1 0 0 0 9[a] 0 15 0
Career total 95 2 3 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 107 2
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

References

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  1. ^ "Neuer Defensivspieler für 96: Bright Arrey-Mbi kommt vom FC Bayern München nach Hannover". hannover96.de. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Bright Arrey-Mbi". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  3. ^ "16-year-old Bright Arrey-Mbi becomes the youngest player to join Bayern Munich in Qatar". bavarianfootballworks.com. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  4. ^ "right Arrey-Mbi: From St Thomas More school to the Champions League". Bedford Independent. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Bayern München II vs. Türkgücü-Ataspor". soccerway.com. 19 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Atletico Madrid vs. Bayern Munich". soccerway.com. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Köln leiht Bayern-Talent Arrey-Mbi aus: Kimmichs "Biest" soll sich entwickeln". kicker.de (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Arrey-Mbi beendet Leihe in Köln - und wechselt nach Hannover". kicker (in German). Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Hannover 96 verpflichtet Bayern-Leihgabe Arrey-Mbi fest". kicker.de (in German). kicker. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Für über 6 Millionen Euro: Arrey-Mbi verlässt Hannover gen Portugal". kicker.de (in German). kicker. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  11. ^ Lesley, Angu (19 August 2020). "Bayern's Bright Arrey-Mbi, a son who resembles his father".[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ "Bayern Munich sign 16-year-old Chelsea talents Jamal Musiala and Bright Arrey-Mbi". bundesliga.com. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  13. ^ Bolton, Josh (8 December 2020). "The Bedford schoolboy playing Champions League football for Bayern Munich". HertsLive. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
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