Nat Kalembo
A versatile defender comfortable anywhere across the backline, Nat Kalembo combines composure in possession with a strong passing range and maturity beyond his years.
65NathanaelJames Kalembo
Mid
Country
GBEnglandJoined Team
14.09.2614 September 2026
All time
Palace career
2
Appearances
1
Goals
Kalembo's rapid rise through the Academy ranks has seen him progress from the Under-18s to the Under-21s and first-team involvement in the space of just a few months.
Comfortable in possession and particularly mature in his reading of the game, he made his competitive U18 debut as a substitute in April 2026, coming off the bench in a 6-3 Premier League South victory at Ipswich Town.
He impressed during pre-season ahead of 2026/27 and began the new campaign on the right side of a back three in the U18s’ opening-day win over West Ham United. An injury briefly interrupted his progress, but he returned to feature regularly across league and cup competition before stepping up to Darren Powell’s Under-21s in September.
His competitive U21 debut came in the EFL Trophy victory over Swindon Town, when he was introduced from the bench for the final 18 minutes. Further late appearances against Blackburn Rovers and Plymouth Argyle followed, giving him valuable experience of senior Academy football.
His rapid progression was then rewarded during the September-October international break, when the 15-year-old was included in the first-team squad for the mid-season friendly against Bristol City.
Player Statistics2026/27
1
2
Player StatisticsCareer
1
2
Season by season
Season
Games
Goals
Crystal Palace U21
26/27
2
1