Field Insider

based on the 2025/26 season · updated 18 Aug 2026

Profile

Full nameNelson Khumbeni
PositionCentral midfielder
NationalityEngland
Age23
Date of birth14 Oct 2002
BirthplaceLilongwe
Height171 cm
Shirt number#27
ClubGillingham
Central midfielder
17
Appearances
0
Goals
1
Assists
746
Minutes

Domestic-league season · Gillingham.

Scout report

Squad depthCentral midfielder

N. Khumbeni is a 23-year-old central midfielder at Gillingham, rated 28.5 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 55th of 134 on scout potential in the League Two. An emerging talent, he has been a fringe squad member this season (18% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 1.69 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Khumbeni.

Judged on this season alone, Khumbeni graded 5 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 32nd of 32 of the 32 central midfielders in the League Two, on 0 goals, 1 assist and 1.689 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a drop on last season (Season 13 → 5). Over the 3 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2023/24.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 29, top 38% of the 32 central midfielders in the League Two. At 23 Khumbeni is still climbing toward his ceiling, and a market index of 3.1 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report
Read the full career report →

Past his 2023/24 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2023/24Trending downRemarkably consistent
28.5
Ratingi
12th of 32 central midfielders
5
Seasoni
below regular-starter level
18%
Minutes
limited game time
1.69
Def. actions / 90
light defensive volume

Output in context · Gillingham finished 17th of 24 · a lower-table side

17
Apps
1.69
Def. / 90
7
Tackles
5
Interceptions
2
Clean sheets

1.69 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — light defensive volume, with 2 clean sheets across 17 appearances. Doing that for a lower-table side (17th of 24) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight. Going forward he chipped in 0 goals and 1 assist — a useful bonus from the back.

Watch points

  • Game time. Only 18% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
  • Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 28.5, Khumbeni carries the 12th-highest potential of the central midfielders in the League Two of 32 — though on just 17 appearances this season, so the standing rests on a small sample. Defensively he reads as light defensive volume (1.69 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 2×) with the best seasons likely ahead.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among central midfielders in the League Two with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals0

Passing

Assists1

Defending

Tackles7
Interceptions5
Blocks2

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards3
Red cards0

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.