York Rafael(born 17 March 1999) is a professionalfootballerwho plays forSuperettanclubGefle IF,primarily as aleft midfielder.[3]Born in Sweden, he represents theRwanda national team.

York Rafael
Personal information
Date of birth (1999-03-17)17 March 1999(age 25)
Place of birth Gävle,Sweden
Position(s) Left midfielder[1]
Team information
Current team
Gefle IF
Number 24
Youth career
2011–2013 Brynäs IF
2013–2014 Sandvikens IF
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2018 Sandvikens IF 38 (6)
2016Gefle IF(loan) 1 (0)
2017[2]VfL Bochum(loan) 0 (0)
2018–2019 IFK Värnamo 7 (0)
2018Sandvikens IF(loan) 17 (2)
2019–2021 Kalmar FF 37 (0)
2021–2022 AFC Eskilstuna 53 (8)
2023– Gefle IF 44 (1)
International career
2015–2016 Sweden U17 6 (0)
2016–2019 Sweden U19 11 (1)
2021– Rwanda 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 April 2024

Club career

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York Rafael started his football career withGävlesideBrynäs IFin 2011.[4]He joinedSandvikens IF'syouth academy two years later and made his senior debut with them as a 15-year-old inDivision 2.[5]In 2015 Rafael went on trials with European clubsWatfordandLazio,as well with SwedishIFK Göteborgthe previous year, without signing any contracts.[6][7]

After having been linked with a move toAIK,[8]Rafael instead joinedAllsvenskanclub Gefle IF on loan in August 2016.[9]He made his Gefle debut inSvenska Cupen,playing 90 minutes againstSöderhamns FFon August 24.[10]It was followed up with his professional debut in Allsvenskan three days later againstDjurgårdens IF,in which he came on as a substitute in the final minutes.[11]

On 11 December 2017, he joinedIFK VärnamoinSuperettan,Sweden's second tier.[12]During the 2018 season, York returned to his old clubSandvikens IFon loan.[13]On 11 December 2018,Kalmar FFannounced, that they had signed Rafael on a deal until the end of 2021.[14]

International career

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He won his first youth international cup forSweden U17on 4 August 2015, in Sweden's 3–0 win againstIceland.[15]He played six games in total for U17, for which he is still eligible to play for, until he was called up toSweden's U19squad in September 2016. He has scored one goal in three games so far.[4]

Due to his dual citizenship withRwanda,he was invited to play forRwanda national football teamin 2015.[16]He debuted with Rwanda in a 1–02022 FIFA World Cup qualificationloss toUgandaon 7 October 2021.[17]

Personal life

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Rafael was raised inGävle,Sweden,to anAngolanfather andRwandesemother.[18][7][16]He is a practicingChristian.[19]

He citedArjen Robbenas his idol.[20]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 21 October 2016[21]
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Gefle IF 2016 Allsvenskan 1 0 1 0 2 0
Total 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
Career total 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0

References

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  1. ^York Rafaelat WorldFootball.net
  2. ^Officiellt: York Rafael återvänder till Sandvikens IF‚ fotbolltransfers, 3 March 2017
  3. ^York Rafaelat Soccerway
  4. ^ab"York Rafael".svenskfotboll.se.Retrieved23 October2016.
  5. ^"A-lagsman som 15-åring – nu vill supertalangen utomlands"(in Swedish). FotbollDirekt.se. 5 December 2015.Retrieved23 October2016.
  6. ^"Nu testar svenske talangen med Lazio"(in Swedish). Fotbollskanalen.se. 26 November 2015.Retrieved23 October2016.
  7. ^ab"Southampton jagar svenske talangen"(in Swedish). Sportexpressen. 15 September 2015.Retrieved23 October2016.
  8. ^"AIK testar supertalangen"(in Swedish). Sportbladet. 25 May 2016.Retrieved23 October2016.
  9. ^"Tshakasua lånas ut – York Rafael lånas in"(in Swedish). Gefle IF.Retrieved23 October2016.
  10. ^"Matchinformation: Söderhamns FF mot Gefle IF".svenskfotboll.se. 24 August 2016.Retrieved23 October2016.
  11. ^"Matchinformation: Djurgårdens IF mot Gefle IF".svenskfotboll.se. 27 August 2016.Retrieved23 October2016.
  12. ^Välkommen York!‚ ifkvarnamo.se, 11 December 2017
  13. ^"Inget utlandsäventyr för York – tillbaka i SIF".Sandvikens IF. 28 August 2018.Retrieved4 September2018.
  14. ^York Rafael klar för Kalmar FF!,kalmarff.se, 11 December 2018
  15. ^"York Rafael".svenskfotboll.se.Retrieved23 October2016.
  16. ^ab"SIF-talangen får jättechans hos Premier League-lag"(in Swedish). Arbetarbladet.se. 29 September 2015.Retrieved23 October2016.
  17. ^"Match Report of Rwanda vs Uganda - 2021-10-07 - WC Qualification".Global Sports Archive.7 October 2021.Retrieved7 October2021.
  18. ^"Rafael York yahamagawe n'Amavubi U20, ariko ntazakina umukino wa Uganda"(in Kinyarwanda). umuseke.rw. 16 April 2016.Retrieved23 October2016.
  19. ^"Ung talang med prisat stöd i ryggen"(in Swedish).SvT.10 December 2015.Retrieved23 October2016.
  20. ^"York Rafael – Sandvikens IF"(in Swedish). Tonsser. 19 August 2015.Retrieved23 October2016.
  21. ^"Y. Rafael".Soccerway.Retrieved23 October2016.
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