Andrew Farai Rinomhota (born 21 April 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL Championship club Cardiff City. Born in England, he plays for the Zimbabwe national team.

Andy Rinomhota
Personal information
Full name Andrew Farai Rinomhota[1]
Date of birth (1997-04-21) 21 April 1997 (age 27)[2]
Place of birth Leeds, England
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Cardiff City
Number 35
Youth career
0000–2014 AFC Portchester
2015–2018 Reading
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2015 AFC Portchester 30 (10)
2018–2022 Reading 125 (3)
2022– Cardiff City 48 (0)
2024Rotherham United (loan) 16 (0)
International career
2023– Zimbabwe 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:29, 19 November 2023 (UTC)

Club career

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Rinomhota was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, to a Zimbabwean father and an English mother. He started his career in the youth team of AFC Portchester before he was promoted to the first team in the Wessex League due to an injury crisis.[3] After impressing for the first team, scoring ten goals in 30 league games,[4] manager Graham Rix contacted Reading to send a scout to watch Rinomhota in action, which subsequently resulted in a two-week trial.[5] In April 2015, he signed for EFL Championship side Reading on an initial two-year contract with the option of a further twelve-month extension.[6] He spent the majority of his first season with the club with under-18 and under-21 sides, moving up to the under-23 side in the 2016–17 season to play for the side in the EFL Trophy, amassing a total of thirty-nine appearances in all competitions.[7] He was promoted to the first team in the summer of 2017 and joined the side on the pre-season tour of the Netherlands.[7] In August 2017, he made his professional debut in the 2–0 EFL Cup win over Gillingham, playing the full ninety minutes.[7] On 8 December 2017, Rinomhota signed a new contract with Reading until the summer of 2021.[8] On 25 February 2019, Rinomhota signed a new three-year contract with Reading, lasting until the summer of 2022.[9] Rinomhota scored his first goal for Reading against top of the table Norwich City on 10 April 2019 in the last minute of added time (90 7') in a 2–2 draw at Carrow Road. After an exceptional debut season, Rinomhota was awarded the 2018–19 player of the season.[10]

On 24 June 2022, it was announced that Rinomhota would join Cardiff on a three-year deal from 1 July 2022.[11]

Rinomhota joined Rotherham United on loan until the end of the season on transfer deadline day, 1 February 2024.[12]

International career

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In December 2017, Zimbabwe explored the option of convincing Rinomhota to represent them at international level, which he is qualified to play for through his father.[13] In May 2018, Rinomhota was named in Zimbabwe's provisional squad for the 2018 COSAFA Cup.[14] However, Zimbabwe faced difficulties in getting Rinomhota into their squad, as Zimbabwean law required him to renounce his British citizenship in order to get a local passport.[15]

Career statistics

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As of match played 2 March 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Reading 2015–16[16] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2016–17[17] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2017–18[18] Championship 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0
2018–19[19] Championship 26 1 1 0 1 0 28 1
2019–20[20] Championship 37 1 5 1 3 0 45 2
2020–21[21] Championship 42 1 0 0 1 0 43 1
2021–22[22] Championship 20 0 1 0 0 0 21 0
Total 125 3 7 1 7 0 0 0 139 4
Cardiff City 2022–23[23] Championship 39 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 41 0
2023–24[24] Championship 3 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 7 0
Total 42 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 48 0
Rotherham United (loan) 2023–24[24] Championship 6 0 6 0
Career total 173 3 10 1 10 0 0 0 193 4

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Zimbabwe 2023 1 0
Total 1 0

References

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  1. ^ "EFL Released and Retained List 2016-17" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Andy Rinomhota". 11v11. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  3. ^ Gee, Wendy (17 May 2015). "Portchester bright spark Rinomhota on brink of joining Reading". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Andy Rimonhota". The F.A. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Andy Rinomhota - From The Creek to the Madejski". A.F.C. Portchester. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  6. ^ "Royals sign young midfielder". Reading F.C. 3 April 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  7. ^ a b c "Andy Rinomhota profile". Reading F.C. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Rinomhota pledges future to Royals until 2021". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  9. ^ "Rinomhota extends Reading deal until 2022". readingfc.co.uk/. Reading F.C. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  10. ^ "Home of the Royals!".
  11. ^ "Andy Rinomhota signs for the Bluebirds | Cardiff". www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk.
  12. ^ "Millers Land Loan Deal For Bluebirds Midfielder". Rotherham United F.C. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Zimbabwe eyes Reading starlet". thestandard.co.zw. The Standard. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  14. ^ "Chidzambwa Announces COSAFA 2018 Provisional Squad". zimeye.net. Zimeye. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  15. ^ "Zimbabwe delay announcing Afcon squad due to England based players citizenship". goal.com. Goal.com. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  16. ^ "Games played by Andy Rinomhota in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  17. ^ "Games played by Andy Rinomhota in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  18. ^ "Games played by Andy Rinomhota in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  19. ^ "Games played by Andy Rinomhota in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  20. ^ "Games played by Andy Rinomhota in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  21. ^ "Games played by Andy Rinomhota in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  22. ^ "Games played by Andy Rinomhota in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  23. ^ "Games played by Andy Rinomhota in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Games played by Andy Rinomhota in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
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