KVC Wilrijk sign Belgian-Congolese striker Jean-Francois Mbuba on free transfer

Belgian-Congolese centre-forward Jean-Francois Mbuba has joined KVC Wilrijk on a free transfer from Royal Cappellen.

The 35-year-old completed the move on 1 September 2026, beginning a new chapter with Wilrijk in the 2de Nationale VV B. Mbuba is listed as a centre-forward and stands 1.90m tall, with his right foot recorded as his preferred foot.

Mbuba arrives after one season at Royal Cappellen, whom he joined from Greek club Asteras Vari on a free transfer in August 2025. His move to Wilrijk keeps him in the same league, with both clubs competing in the 2de Nationale VV B.

The striker has spent recent years moving between clubs in Belgium and Greece. Before joining Cappellen, he played for Asteras Vari and Ialysos, having previously represented Pylio and Eolikos. He also had spells in Italy with Pineto and Agnonese, as well as time at RWDM, La Louviere, RE Virton, KSV Roeselare and KSC Grimbergen.

Mbuba’s career includes a scoring accolade from the 2016-17 season, when he finished as the top scorer in the Eerste klasse amateurs with 20 goals. The achievement remains the clearest individual honour recorded in his playing career.

He began his senior career at KSC Grimbergen before moving to KSV Roeselare in 2013. A free transfer to RE Virton followed in 2015, and he later switched to RWDM in 2017. His time at La Louviere in 2020 came on loan from RWDM before he returned to the Brussels-based club.

Mbuba subsequently left RWDM and joined Agnonese in October 2020, later moving to Pineto in February 2021. His career then continued with Eolikos, Pylio, Ialysos, Asteras Vari and Cappellen before the latest move.

KVC Wilrijk have therefore added an experienced Belgium and DR Congo-qualified forward to their squad, with Mbuba’s transfer from Royal Cappellen completed without a fee.