Yannick Yankam (born 12 December 1997) is a Maltese professional footballer and rapper who plays as a midfielder for Lexington SC of USL League One and the Malta national team.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Yannick Yankam | ||
| Date of birth | 12 December 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | Qormi, Malta | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Lexington SC | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2015 | Qormi | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2019 | Qormi | 89 | (9) |
| 2019–2023 | Birkirkara | 90 | (10) |
| 2024– | Lexington SC | 5 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023– | Malta | 10 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 December 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 December 2023 | |||
Club career edit
Yankam started his career with Qormi, where he played for as a youth player.[2] In 2019, he joined Birkirkara.[3] He made his senior team debut on 23 August 2019 in a 1–0 league loss against Floriana.[4] He scored his first goal on 22 February 2020 in a 2–1 league win against Hibernians.[5] However, while playing football, he has received racist abuse during games.[6][7] In 2023, after scoring his first international goal, Yankam was regarded as a prospect in Maltese football.[8]
On 8 January 2024, Yankam joined American club Lexington SC in the USL League One on a permanent deal, signing a two-year contract.[9][10]
International career edit
Yankam made his senior team debut on 23 March 2023, scoring in a 2–1 UEFA European Championship qualifying defeat against North Macedonia.[11]
Style of play edit
Yankam mainly operates as a midfielder.[12]
Music career edit
Yankam is also a rapper who goes by the name Yannick.[13][14] He was a part of the Maltese rap collective 215collective, together with rappers Caro and Eddie Fresco.[15] In 2019, he released his debut EP.[16] He was nominated for the 2020 Bay Music Awards Best Hip Hop/ RnB Artist.[17]
Personal life edit
Yankam was born in Malta to a Cameroonian father and a Maltese mother.[18]
Career statistics edit
Club edit
- As of 26 March 2023[1]
| Club | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qormi | 2015–16 | 22 | 0 |
| 2016–17 | 20 | 2 | |
| 2017–18 | 25 | 3 | |
| 2018–19 | 27 | 4 | |
| Birkirkara | 2019–20 | 14 | 1 |
| 2020–21 | 24 | 4 | |
| 2021–22 | 26 | 2 | |
| 2022–23 | 24 | 6 | |
| Total | 182 | 22 | |
International edit
- As of 1 December 2023[1]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malta | 2023 | 10 | 1 |
| Total | 10 | 1 | |
International goals edit
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 23 March 2023 | Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia |  North Macedonia |
1–2 |
1–2 |
UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
Honours edit
Club edit
Birkirkara
References edit
- ^ a b c Yannick Yankam at Soccerway
- ^ "Birkirkara jakkwistaw lil Yannick Yankam mingħand Qormi". netnews.com.mt.
- ^ "Yannick Yankam joins Birkirkara". maltafootball.com.
- ^ "Birkirkara vs. Floriana – 23 August 2019". Retrieved 26 March 2023.
- ^ "Birkirkara vs. Hibernians – 22 February 2020". Retrieved 26 March 2023.
- ^ "Monkey chants, name-calling... the prevalent racial abuse in Maltese football". timesofmalta.com.
- ^ "Black And Maltese! Three Youths Speak Out About Their Experiences With Racism In Eye-Opening Video". loveinmalta.com.
- ^ "Yannick Yankam Scores First International Goal Playing For Malta". ohmymalta.com.mt.
- ^ "LEXINGTON SPORTING CLUB SIGNS MALTA NATIVE YANNICK YANKAM". Lexington Sporting Club. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ Camilleri, Valhmor (9 January 2024). "Yankam bids farewell to Birkirkara FC as Lexington FC move confirmed". SportsDesk. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "Gowl ta' Yankam mhux biżżejjed għal Malta kontra l-Maċedonja ta' Fuq". newsbook.com.mt.
- ^ "Tabone, Yankam and Nwoko make final Malta squad for North Macedonia trip". sportsdesk.com.mt.
- ^ "YANNICK – The Gen Z rapper set to revolutionise Malta's hip hop scene". trackagescheme.com.
- ^ "Remember Last Week's Maltese Rap Feud? Turns Out We Were Only Getting Started". lovinmalta.com.
- ^ "7 bands from Malta you should be paying attention to". musiccrowns.org.
- ^ "Tekken And Chill – Young Maltese Hip Hop Artist Releases Nostalgic Video For Debut EP's First Single". lovinmalta.com.
- ^ "Meet The BMAs Nominees – Best Hip Hop/ RnB Artist". bay.com.mt.
- ^ "Young, black, Maltese: Birkirkara footballer Yannick Yankam on the reality of racism in Malta". MaltaToday.com.mt.
External links edit
- Birkirkara FC – Player Profile at birkirkarafc.com