Sunderland are a number of Championship clubs being linked with Rabbi Matondo, so it’s time to get to know the Rangers man a little better.
This January transfer window has been something of a rollercoaster ride for Rabbi Matondo, who looks set to leave Rangers this month.
While Sunderland are among those thought to be interested in the 24-year-old, they are not alone. However, a transfer to one Championship rival appeared to fall through just last week.
So, will we see Matondo among the confirmed Sunderland transfers before deadline day? And what kind of player would the Black Cats be getting if so? We’ve got all you need to know about the Rangers ace.
Rabbi Matondo career stats
Rabbi Matondo has had quite the career journey already, with spells in England, Scotland, Belgium, and Germany to his name.
He began his career in the Cardiff City youth setup before making the switch to Manchester City’s development side. Things didn’t work out there, though, and Matondo never made it to Pep Guardiola’s first-team despite impressing at youth level.
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rangers | 67 | 8 | 12 |
| Schalke | 32 | 2 | 0 |
| Cercle Brugge | 27 | 10 | 2 |
| Stoke City | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Man City U21 | 31 | 11 | 5 |
| Man City U19 | 15 | 3 | 2 |
| Man City U18 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
Matondo then jetted off to Germany to join Schalke in a reported £7.5m deal. Loan spells at Stoke City and Cercle Brugge followed, with the latter being particularly successful.
He then sealed a £2.5m transfer to Rangers in 2022. Injuries have certainly hampered Matondo’s progress at Ibrox, and he’s never really been able to put together a meaningful run in the team.
Sunderland transfer rumours as links to Rabbi Matondo intensify
Matondo was first linked with Sunderland at the start of January, but it was said then that the Black Cats would face strong competition for his signature.
He’s since been sidelined by Rangers amid intensifying speculation over his future. A move to Coventry City appeared to be all-but done, but this switch fell through due to a payment issue.
Matondo is still expected to leave before the transfer deadline on February 3rd. Whether he is one of the deals Sunderland are looking at remains to be seen, but there is still a chance he joins the Black Cats in this window for sure.
- READ MORE: Who is Semih Kilicsoy? Everything you need to know about Sunderland’s latest transfer target
What are the lyrics to the Rabbi Matondo song at Rangers?
Rabbi Matondo may be out of favour at Rangers now, but he has endeared himself to the Ibrox faithful during his time in Scotland.
So much so, that Blues fans concocted a song for the winger, to the tune of the hit song ‘Friday I’m in Love’ by The Cure.
The adapted lyrics are as follows: “Running down the Rangers right, playing in blue he’s dynamite. The best young Welshman we all know, he’s Rabbi Matondo. Ohhhh… he’s Rabbi Matondo.”
Rabbi Matondo market value and current salary
According to Transfermarkt, Rabbi Matondo is currently worth just €3m (£2.5m), the same fee Rangers paid for him two-and-a-half years ago.
It is not known at this stage how much Sunderland or any other club would have to pay for Matondo if they were to sign him permanently, though that valuation does feel about right.
As per data from Salary Sport, Matondo is currently paid £23,000 per week, which equates to just over £1.19m per year, making him one of the highest earners at the Glasgow club. His contract runs until the summer of 2026.
What kind of player is Rabbi Matondo?
Rabbi Matondo is a versatile, right-footed winger who can either operate as a touchline-hugger on his natural side, or more of an inverted wide player on the left. He can also play directly through the middle as a false nine.
He’s got a keen eye for a pass, and though he usually plays shorter, more simple passes, he can easily cut open defences with a longer through ball, too.
Matondo is a highly-effective dribbler, and he loves to cut inside from the left to beat his man and either play a dangerous ball into the box, or have a crack at goal himself.
While Matondo may be fairly weak in the air, he’s not afraid to get stuck in, and is a winger with a high work rate who will not shy away from his defensive duties.
Comparing Matondo to current Sunderland players, he is most similar to Romaine Mundle, using trickery, athleticism, and dribbling to make an impact from wide areas.
How fast is Rabbi Matondo?
During his Manchester City days, Matondo caught the eye with his electric pace, clocking faster sprint speeds than the likes of Kyle Walker and Leroy Sane.
That speed has not gone away, either. He’s often regarded as the fastest player at his club wherever he goes, but how fast is he exactly?
Well, as per the Scottish Sun, Matondo recorded a 20-metre time of just 2.62 seconds, which actually makes him faster than Usain Bolt across that distance (Bolt clocked in at 2.87 seconds when he won the 100m gold in Beijing in 2008).
Rabbi Matondo age, height, and weight
Rabbi Matondo was born on September 9, 2000, in Liverpool, England, making him 24-years-old at the time of writing.
He is a fairly diminutive 1.75m tall, and weighs just 66kg, making him a very small, lightweight player — which is not unusual for a winger of course.
Rabbi Matondo’s international career explained
Despite being born in Liverpool, Matondo grew up in Wales and opted to represent the Dragons at international level by the time he reached the Under-17 setup.
He could have chosen to play for England, Wales, or DR Congo. Matondo represented England at Under-15 level, but switched allegiances and has now gone on to turn out for the Wales senior team 12 times since making his debut in 2018.
His last appearance for Wales came in the summer of 2024, in a friendly against Gibraltar, but that was his first outing at international level in two years, with injuries and form keeping him out of the squad.