Steve Kapuadi made history in February with the most expensive transfer between two Polish clubs ever.
Here is everything you need to know about his net worth, salary, career earnings, and professional journey.
Steve Kapuadi’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Steve Nkanu Kapuadi |
| Date of Birth | April 30, 1998 |
| Age | 28 |
| Place of Birth | Le Mans, France |
| Nationality | DR Congo / France |
| Height | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) |
| Weight | 93 kg (205 lbs) |
| Position | Centre-Back |
| Current Club | Widzew Łódź (Poland) |
| Turned Professional | 2016 |
| Net Worth | ~$500,000 (estimated) |
| Current Annual Salary | Undisclosed |
| Player Agent | DWMA |
Early Life and Career
Steve Nkanu Kapuadi was born on April 30, 1998, in Le Mans, France, to parents of Congolese origin.
Growing up in France, he came through the youth ranks of his hometown club Le Mans, developing as a physically imposing centre-back through his formative years up to the U17 level.
After leaving Le Mans, Kapuadi crossed the border to Belgium, joining the youth setup at Zulte Waregem before linking up with the reserves of KAA Gent, one of Belgium’s top clubs.
Known as Jong KAA Gent, the reserve team competed in the Belgian First Division B, and Kapuadi spent three years there from 2016 to 2019, gaining consistent senior-level experience.
The exposure to competitive football at a relatively young age laid the foundation for what would follow.
Standing at 196 cm and built for physical battles in the air, Kapuadi developed the aerial dominance and composure on the ball that would later attract clubs across Central and Eastern Europe.
His preference for his left foot also made him a rare commodity, something Widzew Łódź would later cite as a decisive factor in signing him.
Despite coming through a prominent Belgian academy setup, his path to the top was not straightforward.
Unlike many prospects who break into Jupiler Pro League action early, Kapuadi spent his formative professional years in reserve and lower-league football before steadily climbing through Slovakia and Poland.
Professional Career
After leaving Gent’s reserves in 2019, Kapuadi made his first move to senior top-flight football with Inter Bratislava in Slovakia’s Super Liga.
His stay was brief, spanning just six months before he switched to AS Trenčín — a club with a partnership with Inter Bratislava — in January 2020.
At Trenčín, he made his professional debut on February 15, 2020, playing the full 90 minutes in an 8–1 win over Zemplín Michalovce in the Fortuna Liga.
He went on to make roughly 25 appearances during his time at the club, developing into a reliable starting centre-back.
In June 2022, Transfermarkt confirmed Kapuadi’s move to Polish Ekstraklasa club Wisła Płock on a free transfer. He made 28 league appearances in the 2022–23 season, scoring one goal, before the club suffered relegation.
That solid campaign caught the attention of Legia Warszawa, Poland’s most decorated club, who signed him on August 22, 2023, for a reported fee of €450,000.
At Legia, Kapuadi became a key figure in the defensive setup over two-and-a-half seasons, making 69 league appearances and adding 31 outings in European competition, including the UEFA Europa League and Conference League.
He helped Legia secure notable wins over Real Betis and Chelsea in European play, scoring twice in continental action. He also won the Polish Cup (2024–25) and the Polish Super Cup (2025–26) with the club.
On February 25, 2026, Kapuadi completed a landmark move to Widzew Łódź for a reported €2 million plus up to €1 million in add-ons — the highest-ever fee paid between two Polish clubs.
He has since established himself in Widzew’s starting eleven, registering 1 goal and over 2,300 minutes in the 2025–26 Ekstraklasa season.
On the international stage, ESPN notes Kapuadi received his first DR Congo call-up in May 2025 and made his debut on June 8 that year in a 3–1 win over Madagascar.
Steve Kapuadi’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Steve Kapuadi’s has an estimated net worth of approximately $500,000.
He built this wealth through a decade of professional football across Belgium, Slovakia, and Poland, with his earnings increasing substantially after joining Legia Warszawa in 2023 and Widzew Łódź in 2026.
Contract
Widzew Łódź confirmed Kapuadi’s signing on February 25, 2026, on a contract running through June 30, 2030 — a four-year deal that ties him to the club into his early 30s.
The transfer fee was reported at €2 million, with up to €1 million in performance-based add-ons, making it the largest domestic transfer in Polish football history.
Reports ahead of the transfer indicated his salary was set to be approximately doubled compared to his Legia Warszawa terms, suggesting Widzew paid a significant premium to secure both the player and his long-term commitment.
Salary
Kapuadi’s exact salary at Widzew Łódź has not been officially disclosed. Based on Polish Ekstraklasa salary benchmarks tracked by Capology and the pre-transfer reports that described a near doubling of his Legia wages, his current annual compensation is estimated in the range typical for a key defensive starter at an ambitious Ekstraklasa club.
During his time at Legia Warszawa — a club with significantly higher wage spending than most Polish sides — his salary was in the mid-range bracket for established squad players.
His highest earning season is 2026 onward, with his new Widzew contract representing the peak of his career earnings to date.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Club | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2016–2019 | Jong KAA Gent (Belgium) | Reserve-level wages |
| 2019–2020 | Inter Bratislava / AS Trenčín (Slovakia) | Entry-level professional wages |
| 2020–2022 | AS Trenčín (Slovakia) | Fortuna Liga level wages |
| 2022–2023 | Wisła Płock (Poland) | Ekstraklasa debut season |
| 2023–2024 | Legia Warszawa (Poland) | Significant salary increase |
| 2024–2025 | Legia Warszawa (Poland) | Won Polish Cup; European football |
| 2025–2026 | Legia / Widzew Łódź (Poland) | Record transfer; salary reportedly doubled |
- Specific salary figures for each season are not publicly available. Career earnings estimates are based on verified transfer data and league-level benchmarks.
Career Statistics
| Season | Club | Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | AS Trenčín | Fortuna Liga | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020–21 | AS Trenčín | Fortuna Liga | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021–22 | AS Trenčín | Fortuna Liga | ~10 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | Wisła Płock | Ekstraklasa | 28 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023–24 | Legia Warszawa | Ekstraklasa + Europe | 37 | 2 | 0 |
| 2024–25 | Legia Warszawa | Ekstraklasa + Europe | 32 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025–26 | Legia / Widzew Łódź | Ekstraklasa | 27 | 1 | 0 |
| Career Total | ~169 | 8 | 1 |
FAQs
What is Steve Kapuadi’s net worth?
Steve Kapuadi’s estimated net worth is approximately $500,000. He built this through professional football contracts across Belgium, Slovakia, and Poland, with his peak earnings beginning at Legia Warszawa and continuing at Widzew Łódź.
What club does Steve Kapuadi play?
He plays for Widzew Łódź in Poland’s top division, the Ekstraklasa. He joined the club on February 25, 2026, on a contract running until June 30, 2030, in a record-breaking Polish domestic transfer.
How much did Widzew Łódź pay for Steve Kapuadi?
Widzew Łódź paid a reported €2 million for Kapuadi, with up to €1 million in potential add-ons. The deal set a new record as the highest-ever transfer fee between two clubs within Polish football.
Which national team does Steve Kapuadi represent?
He represents DR Congo at international level. Although born in France, he chose to play for the Congolese national team and made his senior debut on June 8, 2025, in a 3–1 friendly win over Madagascar.
What trophies has Steve Kapuadi won?
He won the Polish Cup in the 2024–25 season and the Polish Super Cup in 2025–26, both with Legia Warszawa. He has not yet won a league title at club level.
