Nathanael Mbuku joins St. Truiden on loan from Augsburg

Nathanaël Mbuku has completed a season-long loan move from FC Augsburg to Belgian side VV St. Truiden, the Bundesliga club confirmed on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old Congolese international forward first extended his contract with Augsburg until 2028 before finalising the temporary switch, which includes a reported 2.5 million euro purchase option for the Jupiler Pro League outfit.

Mbuku’s departure marks another chapter in a spell at Augsburg that began three and a half years ago when he arrived from Stade Reims. Despite his pedigree, the attacker struggled to establish himself as a regular starter in Bavaria, leading to a series of loan spells away from the WWK Arena in recent seasons.

Previous temporary moves saw him gain experience with AS Saint-Etienne in France, Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia and most recently HSC Montpellier back in Ligue 1. Each stint offered valuable minutes, yet a consistent role at Augsburg remained elusive for the DR Congo international, who has earned 22 caps for his country.

The move to Belgium presents Mbuku with another opportunity to showcase his pace, dribbling and finishing ability in a competitive European league. For Augsburg, securing a sell-on clause ensures they retain a financial stake should St. Truiden trigger the option or another club pursue the forward in future.