Paul-José M'Poku Ebunge (born 19 April 1992) is a Congolese former professional footballer who last played as a winger or as an attacking midfielder for Saudi club Al-Batin.
Born in Kinshasa, Zaire, M'Poku moved to Belgium as a child. Prior to joining Tottenham Hotspur in June 2008, he had played for Belgian club Standard Liège and signed his first professional contract on 24 April 2009.
Representing Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier Academy League, he was a prolific scorer and was included in the squad for the FA Cup replay against Bolton Wanderers on 26 February 2010.
On 24 September 2010, M'Poku moved to Leyton Orient on a month's loan, to last until 23 October.
He made his professional debut coming on as a substitute for Orient against Walsall on 28 September. After impressing Orient manager Russell Slade, M'Poku's loan was extended until 8 January 2011. He scored his first goal in English football with Orient's third in the 8âÂÂ2 thrashing of Droylsden in the FA Cup on 7 December. His loan was subsequently extended until the end of the season. He scored two league goals for Orient: their third in the 4âÂÂ2 win over Colchester United on 3 January, and a late 25-yard winner against Oldham Athletic on 12 March. He made 35 appearances for Orient in all competitions.
Without making a first team appearance at Tottenham Hotspur, he was transferred back to Standard Liège in July 2011 for an undisclosed fee, signing a four-year contract.
MâÂÂPoku remained out of the first team at the start of the 2011âÂÂ12 season until on 28 August 2011, he made his first team appearance as an un-used substitute, in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Beerschot. MâÂÂPoku then made his Standard Liege debut, where he came on as a substitute for Geoffrey Mujangi Bia in the last minutes, in a 2âÂÂ1 win over Club Brugge on 6 November 2011. In his first season at Standard Liege, MâÂÂPoku was featured less in the first team under the management of José Riga., as he made eight appearances for the club.
The 2012âÂÂ13 season saw MâÂÂPoku get more playing time at the club under the new management of Mircea Rednic. M'Poku scored his first goal on 23 November 2012 in a 3âÂÂ0 win against Lierse. MâÂÂPoku then provided a double assist, in a 3âÂÂ0 win over Beerschot on 27 December 2012. In the Play-Offs, MâÂÂPoku went to score five more goals against Zulte Waregem (scored against them in another encounter), Genk, Lokeren and Club Brugge despite suffering from a knee injury, but managed to recover from it. MâÂÂPoku then scored a hat-trick in a 7âÂÂ0 win over Gent on 26 May 2013 to help the club qualify for the Europa League next season. MâÂÂPoku finished the 2012âÂÂ13 season, making thirty one appearance and scoring nine times in all competitions.
The 2013âÂÂ14 season saw MâÂÂPoku being linked with a move to rivals, Anderlecht, though the club's owner, Roland Duchâtelet, said there were no offers made for MâÂÂPoku from Anderlecht. Despite this, MâÂÂPoku remained at the club. MâÂÂPoku started the 2013âÂÂ14 season well when he scored his first goals of the season, in a 3âÂÂ1 win over KR in the first leg of second round of Europa League and scored his first league goal of the season, in a 2âÂÂ0 win over Genk on 11 August 2013. MâÂÂPoku scored in the second leg of the Europa League Qualification Round, in a 3âÂÂ0 win over Minsk and scored his second league goal, in a 2âÂÂ0 win over Kortrijk. By the end of 2013, MâÂÂPoku scored against Bruxelles, Cercle Brugge, Red Bull Salzburg, Lierse and Genk. MâÂÂPoku later added three goals in the 2013âÂÂ14 season against Cercle Brugge, Zulte Waregem and Lokeren. At the end of the 2013âÂÂ14 season, which saw Standard Liege failing to win the league, MâÂÂPoku made fortyâÂÂnine appearances and scored twelve times. He was also nominated for the Ebony Shoes, but lost out to Thorgan Hazard. Despite this, MâÂÂPoku was rewarded with a new contract with the club, keeping him until 2018.
In the 2014âÂÂ15 season, MâÂÂPoku continued to attract interests around Europe and Qatar, but remained at the club. MâÂÂPoku started the season well when he scored in the second leg of the third round of Champions League, in a 2âÂÂ1 win over Panathinaikos and was awarded Man of the Match by Sporza. Then on 21 September 2014, MâÂÂPoku scored his first league goal of the season and set up a goal, in a 2âÂÂ0 win over Waasland-Beveren. He also four more goals by November against Zulte Waregem, Anderlecht, Mechelen, regaining Europa League Champions Sevilla and Genk. However, MâÂÂPoku suffered injuries by the end of 2014.
In the January transfer window, MâÂÂPoku continued to attract interests and was on a verge of joining Qatar side Al-Arabi and expected to be loaned out to a European club. However, the move suffered a huge setback over his fitness and the move was eventually cancelled. After the move was broken down, MâÂÂPoku was then linked with a move to Bundesliga side Mainz 05 and Serie A side Inter Milan.
On 1 February 2015, M'Poku signed for Cagliari on loan until the end of the season. Upon joining the club, MâÂÂPoku revealed that then-Manager Gianfranco Zola persuaded him to join the club.
MâÂÂPoku made his Cagliari debut, where he came on as a substitute for Alejandro González in the 61st minute, and scored his first goal for the club, in a 2âÂÂ1 loss against Roma on 8 February 2015. Two weeks later, on 23 February 2015, MâÂÂPoku made his first start, playing 90 minutes, in a 2âÂÂ1 loss against Inter Milan. MâÂÂPoku scored his second Cagliari goal and set up one of the goals, in a 4âÂÂ0 win over Parma on 4 May 2015. In the last game of the season, MâÂÂPoku scored his third Cagliari goal and set up one of the goals, in a 4âÂÂ3 win over Udinese. MâÂÂPoku made sixteen appearances and scoring three times, but was unable to help the club survive relegation to Serie B next season.
After being unregistered by Standard Liege ahead of the new season, it was announced on 13 July 2015, MâÂÂPoku was loaned out to another Italian club by joining Chievo on a season-loan deal for the 2015âÂÂ16 season.
MâÂÂPoku made his Chievo debut in the opening game of the season, where he made his first start and played 45 minutes before being substituted, in a 3âÂÂ1 win over Empoli. However, in a 1âÂÂ0 loss against Inter Milan on 23 September 2015, MâÂÂPoku suffered an injury after colliding with Inter's Felipe Melo and was substituted after playing 14 minutes. MâÂÂPoku then made his return to the first team on 28 October 2015, where he came on as a substitute in the second half, in a 1âÂÂ0 loss against A.C. Milan. However, MâÂÂPoku struggled to score goal, like he did at Cagliari, as he made twenty appearances and scoring none, as he spent most of the season on the substitute bench.
After a loan spell at Chievo, MâÂÂPoku joined the club on a permanent basis, signing a threeâÂÂyear contract on 31 May 2016.
On 31 August 2016, M'Poku signed a year long-term loan with Greek giants Panathinaikos on loan from Chievo, for an undisclosed fee. On 30 October he scored his first goal with the club in a 2âÂÂ0 home League game against Iraklis.
On 3 July 2017, MâÂÂPoku decided to leave Panathinaikos as he agreed to return to his former club of Standard Liege. According to various sources, the Belgian Club moved to sign the Congolese winger, by putting on the table a bid of â¬1.5 million. MâÂÂPoku underwent medical examinations before signing a five-year contract.
On 17 March 2018 he played as Standard Liege beat Genk 1âÂÂ0 in extra time to win the 2018 Belgian Cup Final and qualify for the UEFA Europa League.
On 21 January 2020, Al Wahda signed M'Poku from Standard Liège.
On 12 December 2022, M'Poku has joined Incheon United FC of South Korean K League 1.
In 17 February 2025, M'Poku signed a contract with Romanian Liga I club FC UTA Arad.
On 10 September 2025, M'Poku joined Saudi FDL club Al-Batin. He retired in March 2026.
M'Poku represented Belgium at youth level, such as, Belgium U15, Belgium U16, Belgium U17, Belgium U18, Belgium U19, and Belgium U21.
On 19 February 2015, M'Poku announced his decision to play for DR Congo despite being monitored by the senior team. M'Poku scored on his DR Congo debut in the friendly match on 28 March 2015, in a 2âÂÂ1 loss against Iraq. In January 2017 M'poku was selected in DR Congo's final squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.
Though he was linked with a move to Anderlecht, MâÂÂPoku stated he expressed his dislike towards the club on his Twitter account.
M'Poku's brother Albert Sambi Lokonga is also a professional footballer.
|- |align=center| 1. || 28 March 2015 || Khalid Bin Mohammed Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates || || || || Friendly |- |align=center| 2. ||rowspan="2"| 5 June 2016 ||rowspan="2"| Rabemananjara Stadium, Mahajanga, Madagascar ||rowspan="2"| || align=center|2âÂÂ0 ||rowspan="2" align=center|6âÂÂ1 ||rowspan="2"| 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |- |align=center| 3. || |- |align=center| 4. || 24 January 2017 || Stade de Port-Gentil, Port-Gentil, Gabon || || || || 2017 Africa Cup of Nations |- |align=center| 5. || 29 January 2017 || Stade d'Oyem, Oyem, Gabon || || || || 2017 Africa Cup of Nations |- |align=center| 6. || 5 September 2017 || Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, DR Congo || || || || 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
Standard Liège