Castello Lukeba

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Castello Lukeba
File:Castello Lukeba in 2022.png
Lukeba with Lyon in 2022
Personal information
Full name Junior Castello Lukeba[1]
Date of birth (2002-12-17) 17 December 2002 (age 23)[1]
Place of birth Lyon, France
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
RB Leipzig
Number 23
Youth career
2009–2011 Saint-Genis Laval
2011–2021 Lyon
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Lyon B 9 (0)
2021–2023 Lyon 58 (4)
2023– RB Leipzig 68 (2)
International career
2018–2019 France U17 6 (0)
2021 France U20 1 (0)
2022–2025 France U21 27 (0)
2024 France Olympic 10 (0)
2023 France 1 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  France
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2024
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:04, 12 December 2025 (UTC)

Junior Castello Lukeba (born 17 December 2002) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Bundesliga club RB Leipzig.

Club career

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Lukeba was born in Lyon.[3] Having joined the Olympique Lyonnais Academy in 2011, Lukeba signed his first professional contract with the club on 1 July 2021.[4] He made his professional debut for Lyon on the 7 August 2021 as a starter against Brest on 2021–22 Ligue 1 opening round. He played full 90 minutes during the match but it eventually ended in a 1–1 draw.[5] Lukeba made his European football debut on 25 November 2021 on a 3–1 against Brøndby in 2021–22 UEFA Europa League group stage. He scored his first goal for the club on 22 December 2021 against Metz with a header, assisted by Rayan Cherki with a cross following a corner.[6] In January 2022, he extended his contract until 2025.[7]

RB Leipzig

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On 11 August 2023, Lukeba moved to the Bundesliga club RB Leipzig for a total reported fee of €34 million, signing a five-year contract.[8][9] Lukeba repeatedly emphasised his excitement and eagerness to join RB Leipzig, saying "I was extremely keen on joining RB Leipzig and moving to the Bundesliga, so I’m really happy that the move is now complete. I’m excited by the training ground, the stadium, the city and, above all, the team with all the young players – I can’t wait to play football here."[10] He made his debut for Leipzig on 19 August 2023 in a 3–2 loss against Bayer Leverkusen, being substituted on for Nicolas Seiwald in the 62nd minute.[11] He scored his first goal for RB Leipzig in a 2–2 draw against Bayern Munich on 30 September 2023.[12]

International career

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Born in France, Lukeba is of Angolan descent.[13] He decided to represent France at the international level and received his first call up in France U-21 in November 2021, where he joined his club mates Maxence Caqueret, Rayan Cherki, and Malo Gusto.[14]

On 9 October 2023, Lukeba received his first call-up to the France national team for matches against the Netherlands and Scotland, replacing the injured Axel Disasi.[15]

Career statistics

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As of match played 12 December 2025[16]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Lyon B 2020–21 CFA 2 7 0 7 0
2021–22 CFA 2 2 0 2 0
Total 9 0 9 0
Lyon 2020–21 Ligue 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
2021–22 Ligue 1 24 2 0 0 6[b] 0 30 2
2022–23 Ligue 1 34 2 4 0 38 2
Total 58 4 4 0 6 0 68 4
RB Leipzig 2023–24 Bundesliga 32 1 2 0 7[c] 0 0 0 41 1
2024–25 Bundesliga 23 0 3 0 5[c] 0 31 0
2025–26 Bundesliga 13 1 2 0 15 1
Total 68 2 7 0 12 0 0 0 87 2
Career total 134 6 11 0 18 0 0 0 164 6
  1. ^ Includes Coupe de France, DFB-Pokal
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International

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As of match played 17 October 2023[17]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
France 2023 1 0
Total 1 0

Honours

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RB Leipzig

France U23

Orders

References

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  15. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  16. ^ Castello Lukeba at SoccerwayLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
  17. ^ Castello Lukeba at National-Football-Teams.comLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
  18. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  20. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
[edit | edit source]
  • Profile at the RB Leipzig website
  • Castello Lukeba at the French Football Federation (in French)Lua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
  • Castello LukebaUEFA competition record (archive)Lua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
  • Castello Lukeba at Olympics.comLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
  • Castello Lukeba at Équipe de France (in French)Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
  • Castello Lukeba on InstagramLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).