Lionel Mpasi is one of the most resilient goalkeeper stories in French football. After nearly a decade in Ligue 2, he finally broke into the top division with Le Havre.
This article covers his net worth, salary, career earnings, and everything you want to know about his financial profile.
Lionel Mpasi’s Biography
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lionel Mpasi-Nzau |
| Date of Birth | August 1, 1994 |
| Age | 31 years old |
| Place of Birth | Meaux, France |
| Nationality | DR Congo / France (dual) |
| Height / Weight | 182 cm / 78 kg |
| Position | Goalkeeper |
| Current Club | Le Havre AC (Ligue 1) |
| Shirt Number | #77 |
| Turned Professional | 2016 (Rodez AF) |
| Net Worth | Approximately $500,000 |
| Annual Salary | €640,000 gross (2025–26) |
| Contract Expiry | June 30, 2027 |
| Market Value | €400,000 |
Early Life and Career
Lionel Mpasi-Nzau was born on August 1, 1994, in Meaux — a town in the eastern suburbs of Paris — to Congolese parents who had settled in France.
He acquired French nationality in August 2000 through the collective naturalization of his father, giving him the dual citizenship he holds today.
Mpasi started playing organized football with local club US Torcy, where he spent nine years developing as a goalkeeper from 2000 to 2009.
At just 15, he earned a spot at the prestigious Paris Saint-Germain academy, one of the most competitive youth systems in France.
He trained there for three years, sharing the goalkeeping ranks with players who would later make it professionally — including Mory Diaw, who would become his teammate again at Le Havre more than a decade later.
After leaving PSG’s youth system in 2012, Mpasi joined Toulouse FC. He spent four seasons there but only featured for the reserve team, never breaking into the first team.
It was a frustrating period, but it shaped him mentally. In July 2016, he made the smart decision to leave on a free transfer and join Rodez AF in the Championnat National, France’s third tier, where he finally got competitive senior minutes.
Professional Career
Rodez AF proved to be the making of Lionel Mpasi. He joined when the club was in the third division, and he played a key role as they earned promotion to Ligue 2 in 2019.
That promotion opened the door to consistent second-tier football, and Mpasi became a regular starter over eight seasons at the club.
According to his Transfermarkt profile, Mpasi made 124 Ligue 2 appearances for Rodez, conceding 144 goals and recording 32 clean sheets — solid numbers for a lower-budget Ligue 2 side that regularly competed for survival.
On the international stage, Mpasi had represented France at youth level — earning 12 caps across the U16, U17, and U18 sides.
In 2022, he switched allegiance to the DR Congo senior national team. He became a key figure for the Leopards and played a crucial role in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.
In November 2025, he started the full 120 minutes plus penalties in the play-off final against Nigeria, helping DR Congo win 4–3 on spot kicks to secure their World Cup berth.
His Ligue 1 journey began on July 13, 2025, when he signed a two-year contract with Le Havre AC.
He made his top-flight debut on January 18, 2026, in a Ligue 1 match against Stade Rennais and quickly showed he belonged at this level, recording strong save percentages in his early appearances as tracked by ESPN’s player profile.
Lionel Mpasi’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Lionel Mpasi’s has an estimated net worth of approximately $500,000.
He built this wealth through nearly a decade of professional contracts in French football, primarily in Ligue 2 with Rodez AF, and more recently through his Ligue 1 move to Le Havre AC.
Contract
Mpasi signed with Le Havre AC on July 13, 2025, on a free transfer from Rodez AF.
According to data from Capology’s salary database, the deal is a two-year contract running until June 30, 2027, with a total gross value of approximately €1,280,000 over its duration.
He joined as the second-choice goalkeeper behind fellow PSG academy graduate Mory Diaw. While his role started as backup, injuries and rotation gave him Ligue 1 debut minutes in January 2026, and he performed well enough to earn further appearances.
Salary
Mpasi earns an estimated gross annual salary of €640,000 (approximately €12,308 per week) at Le Havre for the 2025–26 season, per figures reported by Capology. This represents a significant step up from his Ligue 2 earnings at Rodez.
For context, his salary at Le Havre places him among the lower-paid players in the Ligue 1 squad — the club’s highest earner, Gautier Lloris, takes home approximately €1.45M per year. As a backup goalkeeper, Mpasi’s wages are appropriate for his squad status.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Club | Division | Estimated Annual Salary (Gross) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | Rodez AF | Championnat National | Undisclosed |
| 2017–18 | Rodez AF | Championnat National | Undisclosed |
| 2018–19 | Rodez AF | Championnat National | Undisclosed |
| 2019–20 | Rodez AF | Ligue 2 | Undisclosed |
| 2020–21 | Rodez AF | Ligue 2 | Undisclosed |
| 2021–22 | Rodez AF | Ligue 2 | Undisclosed |
| 2022–23 | Rodez AF | Ligue 2 | Undisclosed |
| 2023–24 | Rodez AF | Ligue 2 | Undisclosed |
| 2024–25 | Rodez AF | Ligue 2 | Undisclosed |
| 2025–26 | Le Havre AC | Ligue 1 | €640,000 |
Career Statistics
| Season | Club | Competition | Appearances | Clean Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Rodez AF | Ligue 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020–21 | Rodez AF | Ligue 2 | 21 | 6 |
| 2021–22 | Rodez AF | Ligue 2 | 37 | 14 |
| 2022–23 | Rodez AF | Ligue 2 | 27 | 7 |
| 2023–24 | Rodez AF | Ligue 2 | 18 | 1 |
| 2024–25 | Rodez AF | Ligue 2 | 20 | 2 |
| 2025–26 | Le Havre AC | Ligue 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Rodez AF Total | Ligue 2 | 124 | 30 | |
FAQs
What is Lionel Mpasi’s net worth?
Lionel Mpasi has an estimated net worth of approximately $500,000. He accumulated this primarily through professional contracts in French football, spanning nine seasons at Rodez AF and his current deal at Le Havre.
How much does Lionel Mpasi earn at Le Havre?
He earns an estimated €640,000 gross per year at Le Havre, equivalent to roughly €12,308 per week. His two-year contract runs until June 30, 2027, with a total gross value of approximately €1,280,000.
What national team does Lionel Mpasi play for?
He plays for DR Congo. Although he represented France at youth level through the U16, U17, and U18 teams, he switched senior allegiance to the DR Congo national team in 2022 and has been a key player in their squad since.
Did Lionel Mpasi qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. He started the full 120 minutes of DR Congo’s World Cup play-off final against Nigeria in November 2025. DR Congo won 4–3 on penalties, earning their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
Where did Lionel Mpasi play before Le Havre?
He spent nine seasons with Rodez AF in Ligue 2 after signing as a free agent in 2016. Before that, he trained in the youth academies of Paris Saint-Germain and Toulouse FC without making a senior first-team appearance at either club.
