Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo signing a four-year deal at Celtic days after his 24th birthday is a classic good news/bad news for supporters. Strength in depth or the new number one left back? And all the implications hanging over that questions.
But we are here to welcome Bolingoli-Mbombo!
Background
Bolingoli-Mbombo is Belgian by citizenship but born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As such he will likely be fluent in French to join the burgeoning enclave at Celtic Park.
He is a cousin to the Lukaku brothers Jordan and Romeo.
After an initial stint at Club Brugge, he became an established first team player at Rapid Vienna over the last two seasons.
He has not represented a national team at any level. I assume he is eligible for DR Congo and Belgium.
Position
Overall, he has 158 career appearances over 10,622 minutes.
Whilst he has appeared on the right and even as a striker, he is predominantly a left sided player. With 75 appearances at left back this is his primary role. But he seems adaptable.
Of 158 appearances, 118 have been for the full 90 minutes.
It is only in the last two seasons in Austria he has broken 2000+ minutes in a season.
Attacking Threat
Bolingoli-Mbombo has 10 career goals and 12 career assists.
This gives his 0.08 G90 and 0.1 A90 combining to an overall Scoring Contribution per 90m (SC90) of 0.18. For comparison, Tierney has a SC90 of 0.28 from 37 assists and 8 goals.
Most of Bolingoli-Mbombo’s attacking productivity has been in the last two seasons where he has become established as first choice at Rapid Vienna. 13 of his 22 scoring contributions have come in the last two years.
Discipline
He has a career record of 21 yellow cards and 2 red cards. This equates to 0.2 cards per 90m. This is broadly equivalent to Lustig’s record.
Europe
He has 30 appearances and 1704 minutes experience of European football.
Of that, 4 appearances have been in Champions League Qualification and 3 appearances in the Champions League Group Stage with Club Brugge.
He has mainly been a Europa League player with 3 goals and 2 assists coming in that competition.
Injury
Throughout his career he has missed a total of 16 matches to injury.
Last season the main problem was a hamstring injury that resulted in a 35-day absence.
Silverware
Bolingoli-Mbombo has 1 Belgian League and 1 Belgian Cup so will be hungry for medals at Celtic.
As we saw last season in the Europa League campaign, Rapid Vienna were a very limited side and they finished 3rd then 8th in the Austrian Bundesliga with him in the side. All other team are a long way behind the excellent RB Salzburg side Celtic played.
Detailed Stats
Data is not available in the public domain for the Austrian Bundesliga. However, Europa League Group Stage data for last season is available. This is of course very limited but I will pick out a few highlights.
Although not possessing a particularly bad card record, with 2.2 fouls per 90m, he commits more than any other Celtic full back since I started collecting data. The next highest would be Janko in 2015/16 season with 2.17.
More positively he blocks 0.4 crosses per 90m which is high by Celtic full back standards. His 3.6 interceptions per 90m is in line with Celtic full back averages.
His ability to run with the ball is shown with 1.2 successful dribbles and 0.8 failed. His overall Dribble Success of 60% is up there with Tierney’s usual performances.
Aerially he wins 1.4 challenges per 90m but loses 2 which is again similar to Tierney. Although the Belgian is 5ft 11in so the taller man.
Where he seems to lack accuracy is in shooting – 0.4 shots per 90m were all either blocked or off target.
And crossing: only 0.4 of 2.2 attempted crosses were successful per 90m.
With 0.8 Key Passes to go alongside a career assist rate of 0.1 his Chances Created will be 0.9 per 90m. Low by Celtic standards but should increase in a more dominant side.
Transfermarkt Ratings
The Transfermarkt.co.uk side has a ranking system. I am not sure how it is calculated but, for what it is worth here you go!
Bolingoli-Mbombo is ranked 1st amongst Rapid Vienna players and 9th amongst Austrian Bundesliga players. Rated the 53rd best player in Belgium he is ranked 131st best left back in world football. Tierney is ranked 42nd. To buy the 42nd best left back in World Football probably costs, oh let me pluck a random number from thin air, around £25m.
All good-natured nonsense I am sure.
Summary
At £3m and 24 years-old, Bolingoli-Mbombo represents a potential Moneyball signing. Not widely known due to not having an international record, he has established himself in a league that still represents value for money in Austria.
It seems likely he will replace a departing Tierney. This will probably mean forever negatively being compared. But Tierney will be genuinely World Class if he isn’t already. His career I am sure will be as stellar as Wanyama and Van Dijk.
So, let’s judge Bolingoli-Mbombo on his own merits and bonne chance Boli!
I’m sure he will do well given the chance he’s now part of the Celtic family let’s all get behind him stats look good
He’s replaced a departed Izaguirre and given we paid £650k for Izzy and £3m for Mbombo this should be regarded as an upgrade.
You don’t think Tierney will leave?
He will leave if the Clubs valuation is met and Tierney wants the move.
The fact remains though Izaguirre has left.
One factor that seems to be continually ignored regards Tierney is his injury issue and his current state f repair.
Until he is classed as 100% fit I don’t see any Club taking him at the prices being mentioned.
Like Turnbull has just proven if they aren’t 100% then it’s a massive risk and especially at Tierneys price.