Chanka Solomon Zimba (born 29 December 2001) is a Zambian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Scottish League One club Inverness Caledonian Thistle and the Zambia national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Chanka Solomon Zimba[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 29 December 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Zambia | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Blackburn Rovers | |||
| 2020–2021 | Cardiff City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2024 | Cardiff City | 1 | (0) |
| 2022 | → Northampton Town (loan) | 12 | (1) |
| 2022 | → Newport County (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → Maidenhead United (loan) | 24 | (4) |
| 2024–2025 | Marine | 5 | (0) |
| 2025– | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 32 | (11) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2026– | Zambia | 1 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10:10, 3 May 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 14:10, 1 April 2026 (UTC) | |||
Early and personal life
editZimba was born in Zambia.[2]
Club career
editZimba began his career with Blackburn Rovers; he was released in summer 2020, and signed with Cardiff City in September 2020.[3] He was called to the first-team for the first time in December 2020, due to injury problems and suspensions.[2] He signed a new contract with the club in August 2021.[4] He made his senior debut on 20 November 2021.[5]
Zimba moved on on loan to Northampton Town in January 2022.[6] In July 2022 he joined Newport County on loan for the 2022–23 season.[7] Zimba made his debut for Newport on 30 July 2022 in the 1–1 League Two draw against Sutton United as a second-half substitute.[8] He scored his first goal for Newport on 9 August 2022 in the 3–2 EFL Cup first round win against Luton Town.[9] He was released back to his parent club by Newport on 29 December 2022.[10]
In August 2023, Zimba joined Maidenhead United on loan until January 2024.[11] The loan was later extended until the end of the season.[12]
He was released by Cardiff at the end of the 2023–24 season.[13]
In September 2024, Zimba joined National League North club Marine.[14]
On 1 August 2025, Zimba signed for Scottish League One club Inverness Caledonian Thistle.[15] On 25 May 2026 it was announced that Zimba was one of 9 players who would be leaving Inverness upon the expiration of his contract.[16]
International career
editCareer statistics
edit- As of match played 2 May 2026
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Cardiff City | 2021–22[5] | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2022–23[18] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24[19] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Northampton Town (loan) | 2021–22[5] | League Two | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| Newport County (loan) | 2022–23[18] | League Two | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3[b] | 1 | 20 | 2 |
| Maidenhead United (loan) | 2023–24[20] | National League | 24 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 4 |
| Marine | 2024–25[20] | National League North | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 2025–26[21] | Scottish League One | 32 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9[c] | 7 | 43 | 19 |
| Career total | 87 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 106 | 26 | ||
- ↑ Appearance in League Two play-offs
- ↑ Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.
- ↑ Appearances in the Scottish League Challenge Cup
References
edit- ↑ "CLUB LIST OF REGISTERED PLAYERS AS AT 15th May 2021" (PDF). English Football League. p. 13. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- 1 2 Williams, Glen (16 December 2020). "Kieron Evans, Chanka Zimba and Keenan Patten all included for Birmingham clash". WalesOnline.
- ↑ "Striker Zimba signs for Cardiff City after Rovers release". Lancashire Telegraph.
- ↑ "Chanka Zimba signs new City deal | Cardiff". www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk.
- 1 2 3 "Games played by Chanka Zimba in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ↑ "Cobblers sign Zimba on loan from Cardiff". BBC Sport.
- ↑ "Newport sign Cardiff striker Zimba on loan". BBC Sport.
- ↑ "Bogle scores on Newport debut to secure point". BBC Sport.
- ↑ "Newport come back to knock out Championship Luton". BBC Sport.
- ↑ "Newport loan players to return to parent clubs". BBC Sport.
- ↑ "Loan | Chanka Zimba joins Maidenhead United". Cardiff City FC.
- ↑ "Loan | Chanka Zimba extends spell with Maidenhead United". Cardiff City FC.
- ↑ "2023/24 Retained List | Cardiff". www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ↑ "Chanka Zimba joins Marine". marinefc.com. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ↑ Media, ICTFC (1 August 2025). "Chanka Zimba signs for ICTFC".
- ↑ "Caley Jags confirm release of nine players at the end of their contracts". Inverness Courier. 25 May 2026. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- ↑ "Argentina vs Zambia: Friendlies stats & head-to-head". BBC Sport.
- 1 2 "Games played by Chanka Zimba in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ↑ "Games played by Chanka Zimba in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- 1 2 Chanka Zimba at Soccerway. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ↑ "Games played by Chanka Zimba in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
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