# Michy Batshuayi

**Michy Batshuayi** (full name Michy Batshuayi-Atunga, born 1993 in Brussels) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a center-forward for Abha Club in the [Saudi Pro League](https://www.edgepedia.org/saudi-pro-league) and for the Belgium national team<sup>[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/5640/michy-batshuayi)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/58764/Michy_Batshuayi.html)</sup>. Known by the nickname "Batsman", he has played for [Standard Liège](https://www.edgepedia.org/standard-liege), Olympique de [Marseille](https://www.edgepedia.org/marseille), Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Valencia, Crystal Palace, Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Eintracht Frankfurt, and has won league titles in England and Turkey<sup>[3](https://profis.eintracht.de/2025-2026/kader/michy-batshuayi/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://www.spl.com.sa/en/news/who-is-michy-batshuayi-abha-s-marvel-ous-recruit-offering-pedigree-personality)</sup>.

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1993, Brussels, Belgium; height 185 cm<sup>[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/5640/michy-batshuayi)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/player/michy-batshuayi)</sup> |
| Position | Centre-forward, right-footed<sup>[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/5640/michy-batshuayi)</sup> |
| Breakthrough | 21 goals in 38 Belgian Pro League games for Standard Liège in 2013/14, then a move to Marseille<sup>[2](https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/58764/Michy_Batshuayi.html)</sup> |
| Record transfer | Marseille to Chelsea, 3 July 2016, €39 million fee<sup>[6](https://www.besoccer.com/player/transfers/m-bastshuayi-111856)</sup> |
| Belgium record | 55 FIFA caps, 27 goals<sup>[2](https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/58764/Michy_Batshuayi.html)</sup> |
| Major honors | English champion (2017), English cup winner (2018), Spanish cup winner (2019), Turkish cup winner (2023)<sup>[3](https://profis.eintracht.de/2025-2026/kader/michy-batshuayi/)</sup> |
| Current club | Abha Club (Saudi Pro League), signed August 2026 from Eintracht Frankfurt<sup>[4](https://www.spl.com.sa/en/news/who-is-michy-batshuayi-abha-s-marvel-ous-recruit-offering-pedigree-personality)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[7](https://en.eintracht.de/news/abgang-michy-batshuayi-178707/)</sup> |

## Early career at Standard Liège

Batshuayi was born and raised in Brussels and is of Congolese origin. He made his first-team debut for Standard Liège at 18 and over a three-year spell scored 39 goals in 97 [Belgian Pro League](https://www.edgepedia.org/belgian-pro-league) games, including 21 in his final season, 2013/14<sup>[8](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/10328233/where-will-michy-batshuayi-fit-in-under-antonio-conte-at-chelsea)</sup>. That form earned a move to Marseille in July 2014 for a reported €6.0 million<sup>[8](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/10328233/where-will-michy-batshuayi-fit-in-under-antonio-conte-at-chelsea)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[9](https://www.derbydatahub.com/player/m-batshuayi-2927)</sup>.

## Marseille

In his first season in France he played second fiddle to [André-Pierre Gignac](https://www.edgepedia.org/andre-pierre-gignac), scoring 9 league goals in 2014/15<sup>[10](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/chelsea-batshuayi-profile/ex4p3yob7rt31sh4jpd070hpq)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/58764/Michy_Batshuayi.html)</sup>. In 2015/16, as Marseille's only recognized forward, he carried the scoring burden and produced 17 goals in 36 [Ligue 1](https://www.edgepedia.org/ligue-1) matches<sup>[10](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/chelsea-batshuayi-profile/ex4p3yob7rt31sh4jpd070hpq)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/58764/Michy_Batshuayi.html)</sup>. Across all competitions he scored 33 goals in 78 appearances for the club<sup>[8](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/10328233/where-will-michy-batshuayi-fit-in-under-antonio-conte-at-chelsea)</sup>. During this spell he built a reputation for quick impact from the bench, including a match against St Étienne in February 2015 in which he came on in the 63rd minute and scored twice<sup>[11](https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/assets/The-Get-French-Football-News-100-2015-Low-Quality-2.pdf)</sup>.

## Chelsea and the loan years

Chelsea signed Batshuayi on 3 July 2016 for a fee of €39 million, making him new manager [Antonio Conte](https://www.edgepedia.org/antonio-conte)'s first signing at the club<sup>[6](https://www.besoccer.com/player/transfers/m-bastshuayi-111856)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[8](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/10328233/where-will-michy-batshuayi-fit-in-under-antonio-conte-at-chelsea)</sup>. In his debut season Chelsea won the Premier League, with Batshuayi scoring 5 league goals in 20 appearances<sup>[2](https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/58764/Michy_Batshuayi.html)</sup>. His efficiency from limited minutes was notable: he averaged 29 touches for every Premier League goal that season, a record that stood until [Erling Haaland](https://www.edgepedia.org/erling-haaland) arrived in England in 2022<sup>[4](https://www.spl.com.sa/en/news/who-is-michy-batshuayi-abha-s-marvel-ous-recruit-offering-pedigree-personality)</sup>.

Regular starting football proved hard to secure. Conte publicly described the striker as a squad player rather than a fixed point of the team, and in January 2018 Batshuayi moved on loan to [Borussia Dortmund](https://www.edgepedia.org/borussia-dortmund)<sup>[12](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/football/premier-league/cheksea-transfer-news-michy-batshuayi-leaving-display-vs-brighton-shows-why-latest-updates-a8170806.html)</sup>. His [Bundesliga](https://www.edgepedia.org/bundesliga) debut on 2 February 2018 against Köln brought two goals, and he scored 7 goals in 10 Bundesliga matches that half-season, 9 in 14 games overall<sup>[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/5640/michy-batshuayi)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://www.spl.com.sa/en/news/who-is-michy-batshuayi-abha-s-marvel-ous-recruit-offering-pedigree-personality)</sup>.

The following seasons were spent largely on loan: Valencia in 2018/19 (1 league goal in 15 matches, though the club won the [Copa del Rey](https://www.edgepedia.org/copa-del-rey)), Crystal Palace in 2018/19 and 2020/21, and Beşiktaş in 2021/22, where he scored 14 goals in 33 [Süper Lig](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-lig) games<sup>[2](https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/58764/Michy_Batshuayi.html)</sup>. He remained a Chelsea player until 2020/21, when his final registered Chelsea season produced 1 league goal in 16 appearances<sup>[2](https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/58764/Michy_Batshuayi.html)</sup>.

## Turkey and Germany

Batshuayi's most productive years came in Turkish football. After Beşiktaş, he joined Fenerbahçe, scoring 12 league goals in each of 2022/23 and 2023/24, winning the Turkish cup in 2023 and finishing as the competition's top scorer in both 2023 and 2024<sup>[2](https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/58764/Michy_Batshuayi.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://profis.eintracht.de/2025-2026/kader/michy-batshuayi/)</sup>. A mid-season move to Galatasaray in 2024 brought a Süper Lig title and Turkish cup double in 2024/25, with 5 league goals in 18 games<sup>[2](https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/58764/Michy_Batshuayi.html)</sup>.

In February 2025 he joined [Eintracht Frankfurt](https://www.edgepedia.org/eintracht-frankfurt) from Galatasaray, debuting in the Bundesliga on 8 February 2025 against [Borussia Mönchengladbach](https://www.edgepedia.org/borussia-monchengladbach)<sup>[7](https://en.eintracht.de/news/abgang-michy-batshuayi-178707/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://profis.eintracht.de/2025-2026/kader/michy-batshuayi/)</sup>. He scored 4 goals in 21 competitive games for [Frankfurt](https://www.edgepedia.org/frankfurt), 10 of them in the 2025/26 season across the Bundesliga, DFB Cup, and UEFA Champions League<sup>[7](https://en.eintracht.de/news/abgang-michy-batshuayi-178707/)</sup>. On 17 August 2026, Eintracht announced his transfer to the Saudi Arabian club Abha, agreeing an immediate move despite a contract that ran to 2027<sup>[7](https://en.eintracht.de/news/abgang-michy-batshuayi-178707/)</sup>.

## Belgium national team

Batshuayi debuted for Belgium in a Euro 2016 qualifier against Cyprus in March 2015, scoring with his first touch after coming on with 13 minutes remaining<sup>[10](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/chelsea-batshuayi-profile/ex4p3yob7rt31sh4jpd070hpq)</sup>. At Euro 2016 he was largely overlooked by coach Marc Wilmots during the group stage but scored against Hungary in the 4-0 round-of-16 win, finishing with virtually his first touch of the tournament<sup>[10](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/chelsea-batshuayi-profile/ex4p3yob7rt31sh4jpd070hpq)</sup>. He was in Belgium's 2018 World Cup squad<sup>[13](https://ffm.mk/media/files/142730-World-Cup-Report-2018.pdf)</sup> and played at the 2022 World Cup, where he scored in the 1-0 group-stage win over Canada<sup>[2](https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/58764/Michy_Batshuayi.html)</sup>. His international record stands at 55 FIFA caps and 27 goals, with 2022 his most productive year at 5 goals in 10 matches<sup>[2](https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/58764/Michy_Batshuayi.html)</sup>.

## Playing style and public persona

Batshuayi is a right-footed attacker, 185 cm tall, described as a penalty-box striker who ghosts in behind defenses and can use both feet<sup>[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/5640/michy-batshuayi)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[8](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/10328233/where-will-michy-batshuayi-fit-in-under-antonio-conte-at-chelsea)</sup>. Managers who used him as a lone striker, including Conte, judged his hold-up play and consistency insufficient for that role, and his best returns have come where he felt trusted, as at Dortmund, Marseille, and Fenerbahçe<sup>[12](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/football/premier-league/cheksea-transfer-news-michy-batshuayi-leaving-display-vs-brighton-shows-why-latest-updates-a8170806.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://www.spl.com.sa/en/news/who-is-michy-batshuayi-abha-s-marvel-ous-recruit-offering-pedigree-personality)</sup>.

Off the pitch he is known for his comic-book fandom. He teamed up with Marvel as an ambassador ahead of the 2018 Avengers film release, and at Dortmund he wore a Batman mask in goal celebrations, leaning into his "Batsman" nickname<sup>[4](https://www.spl.com.sa/en/news/who-is-michy-batshuayi-abha-s-marvel-ous-recruit-offering-pedigree-personality)</sup>.

## References

1. [Michy Batshuayi, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/5640/michy-batshuayi)
2. [Michy Batshuayi, National Football Teams](https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/58764/Michy_Batshuayi.html)
3. [Michy Batshuayi 2025/2026 player profile, Eintracht Frankfurt](https://profis.eintracht.de/2025-2026/kader/michy-batshuayi/)
4. [Who is... Michy Batshuayi? Saudi Pro League](https://www.spl.com.sa/en/news/who-is-michy-batshuayi-abha-s-marvel-ous-recruit-offering-pedigree-personality)
5. [Michy Batshuayi player profile, Bundesliga.com](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/player/michy-batshuayi)
6. [Michy Batshuayi transfer history, BeSoccer](https://www.besoccer.com/player/transfers/m-bastshuayi-111856)
7. [Abgang Michy Batshuayi, Eintracht Frankfurt](https://en.eintracht.de/news/abgang-michy-batshuayi-178707/)
8. [Where will Michy Batshuayi fit in under Antonio Conte at Chelsea? Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/10328233/where-will-michy-batshuayi-fit-in-under-antonio-conte-at-chelsea)
9. [Michy Batshuayi career timeline, Derby Data Hub](https://www.derbydatahub.com/player/m-batshuayi-2927)
10. [Who is Chelsea's new €40m striker Michy Batshuayi? Sporting News](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/chelsea-batshuayi-profile/ex4p3yob7rt31sh4jpd070hpq)
11. [The Get French Football News 100 (2015)](https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/assets/The-Get-French-Football-News-100-2015-Low-Quality-2.pdf)
12. [Michy Batshuayi's hit-and-miss display against Brighton, The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/football/premier-league/cheksea-transfer-news-michy-batshuayi-leaving-display-vs-brighton-shows-why-latest-updates-a8170806.html)
13. [2018 FIFA World Cup technical report](https://ffm.mk/media/files/142730-World-Cup-Report-2018.pdf)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of continental Europe › Belgian footballers*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license
