Transfer window: Willy Kambwala joins Como on loan with €10 million buyout option

Willy Kambwala is now officially a Como player. The 22-year-old defender arrives from Villarreal on loan with a purchase option.

Como 1907 has announced the arrival of Willy Kambwala from Villarreal. The French-Congolese centre-back joins on loan until the end of the 2026-2027 season, with a buyout clause set at €10 million. Should the transfer become permanent, the player will sign a deal running until 2031, in what is being called a 1+4 contract. This is a new chapter for the former Manchester United player, who joins an ambitious squad under the management of Cesc Fàbregas.

A new adventure in Italy

Kambwala arrives at Como with the clear objective of quickly establishing himself in a team that finished fourth in Serie A last season and secured a Champions League berth. The defender will therefore get the chance to experience Europe’s elite competition under Fàbregas’s guidance.

The Spanish manager is especially fond of his new signing’s attributes.

“Willy is a young defender with great qualities. Fast, powerful, and comfortable in defensive play, he also has the character and desire to improve,” Fàbregas explained.

The manager believes that Como’s environment can help the defender take his game to the next level.

From Manchester United to Villarreal

Trained in France at FC Sochaux, Kambwala joined Manchester United’s youth academy in 2020. He made his first-team debut for the Red Devils in December 2023 against West Ham.

During the 2023-2024 season, he featured in 10 matches for Manchester United, including eight Premier League appearances, and was part of the squad that lifted the FA Cup.

In the summer of 2024, the defender opted to continue his development in Spain by joining Villarreal. In his debut season, he played 21 matches in La Liga and the Copa del Rey, helping the club to a fifth-place finish and qualification for the Champions League.

At Como, Kambwala now hopes to take another big step forward.

“I am determined never to give up and will do everything to make the club and the fans proud,” the defender declared after his arrival.

Nouya M'toama

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Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.

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