Junior Kabananga Kalonji (born 4 April 1989) is a Congolese former professional footballer who played as a striker. He was a member of DR Congo national team.
Born in Kinshasa, Kabananga began his early career with FC MK Etanchéité.
He made his senior debut for Belgian club Anderlecht in the 2010âÂÂ11 season, although Anderlecht later admitted negligence when transferring the player from Democratic Republic of the Congo after a forged document was used.
He moved on loan to Germinal Beerschot in January 2011, and also spent the 2012âÂÂ13 season on loan at Roeselare.
He signed a permanent two-year contract with Cercle Brugge in July 2013.
In June 2015 he signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Kazakhstan Premier League side FC Astana. In June 2016 he returned from the loan. On 27 July 2017, Kabananga signed a new two-year contract with Astana.
On 1 February 2016, Kabananga joined Kardemir Karabükspor on loan until the end of the 2015âÂÂ16 Turkish season.
On 31 January 2018, Kabananga signed a $2 million two-and-a-half-year contract with Al-Nassr. He returned on loan to Astana in September 2018.
On 10 June 2021, Kabananga joined China League One side Suzhou Dongwu.
In August 2022, Kabananga joined Liga I club Mioveni. He left the club in January 2023.
In February 2023, Kabananga signed a contract with Kazakh club Maktaaral.
Kabananga made his international debut for DR Congo in 2014. In January 2015 he was named in the final squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
Astana
DR Congo
Individual