A decent enough centre half, decent enough to earn 4 Caps for an excellent French side, Yanga-Mbiwa was actually born in Bangui (Central Africa).

But having come through the ranks at Montpellier and progressed to play for their senior team for 6 seasons, earning him that place in the International side, he decided to take his chances in English football, helping Newcastle to a respectable 10th place in the Premier League, having joined the January before and helping his team avoid the drop, just.

He played just one season however for the Magpies before leaving for AS Roma.