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Britt Assombalonga reflects on his career and talks about decision to sign for Barnet

Britt Assombalonga reflects on his career and talks about his surprise decision to sign for League Two Barnet earlier this week.

The 32-year-old spoke of his excitement about the move after talks with manager Dean Brennan and assistant Connor Smith.

Reflecting on his career, he started late at Watford (age 17), enjoyed youth spells and loans that built experience, then broke through at Peterborough with his best scoring season.

He spent years in the Championship with Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough—highlighting the league’s competitiveness and his injury setbacks—before playing abroad in Turkey, which he valued for the cultural experience.

Proud of representing DR Congo internationally, his standout goal was a Derby strike at Forest for its atmosphere.

At Barnet, Brennan wants him to “be himself” as a classic “fox in the box” goalscorer, hoping to help the Bees who currently sit 10th with 20 points from 13 games played in their first season back in League Two.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Barnet FC are delighted to announce the signing of experienced forward Britt Assombalonga.

The 32-year-old makes the move to North West London after most recently playing his football in Turkey with Antalyaspor and Adana Demirspor.

Assombalonga began his career in the youth set-up at Watford, where he signed his first professional contract. Having made numerous First Team appearances with the Hornets, Britt experienced regular men’s football out on loan with Wealdstone, Braintree Town and Southend United.

A season in League One with Peterborough United followed, where he made 58 appearances across all competitions, only missing out in three fixtures across the entire 2013-2014 campaign and scoring 33 goals.

The next seven years were spent in the Championship with both Nottingham Forest and Middlesborough, making a combined 230 appearances and scoring 77 goals in the second tier of English football; just narrowly missing out on promotion to the Premier League with the Boro.

Assombalonga then spent two years in the Turkish Sϋperlig with Adana Demirspor, before returning to Watford on a sixth-month contract in the second-half of the 2022/23 season, before returning to Turkey for the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

The 32-year-old has also represented the Democratic Republic of the Congo on ten occasions with 3 appearances in the Africa Cup of Nations.

On getting Britt’s signature, Head Coach Dean Brennan said,

“Britt gives us vast experience and bundles of quality and he’s proven it at a high level.

The timing for us is perfect and Britt wants to come back to the UK and come back to the London area where he’s from.

He always comes in with a smile on his face and we know he’s a great character and he’ll be great with the young players.”

On joining the Bees, Assombalonga added,

“After speaking to the Gaffer and Connor, it’s something that I wanted to do and we finally got it over the line.

Dean just wants me to be me at the end of the day and get back to doing what I do best.”

Welcome to the Bees, Britt!

The deal is subject to the usual FA, League and international clearances.

Interviewer: Welcome to Barnet. How does it feel to get the deal done?

Britt: It feels good. It’s been a long time coming. Having spoken to the Gaffer and Connor [Smith – assistant manager], it’s something that I wanted to do and they wanted to do and we finally got here.

Interviewer: You started out as a youngster at Watford where you signed your professional contract and then made a few professional appearances and then you came back almost a decade later. How do you look back at your time at the Hornets and why did you return later on in your career?

Britt: When I first started, it was really good, I really enjoyed it. I came in late, I came in at 17, so was quite late coming into a professional set-up. I came the same time as Connor, because he was my teammate in the youth team. We had a good time at Watford, and everyone went their separate ways. It so happened that I came back 10 years later, it was the same feeling again.

Interviewer: Obviously you experienced a few loan spells early on in your career. How important were they to get regular men’s senior football?

Britt: I think that’s the best thing for youngsters these days is to just get minutes because at the end of the day you don’t want to be just stuck somewhere and just training constantly. You want to try, you know, show yourself to the world. Even if it’s not at the club you’re at, know, for me it didn’t, know, Watford wasn’t the path that was for me at that time and I went elsewhere and that’s when I went to Peterborough after showing myself going on loan to other clubs.

Interviewer: Your season at Peterborough, you nearly played every single game in every competition. What was that season like in terms of, I guess, never having a rest, but you feel good as a footballer, don’t you?

Britt: Yeah, was obviously, probably, well, it was my best scoring record there. So, like, for me, having, you know, playing every game and being young as well and, you know, just having that freedom to just do what I have to do, score goals, and yeah, it was a great feeling.

Interviewer: You then spent lots of time at Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough in the Championship. What were those experiences like? Because not everyone gets to experience the second tier of English football.

Britt: Yeah, no, it was a great experience, were amazing and the footballing side, lots of ups and downs. Obviously with Forest having my injury and at Middlesbrough sometimes not getting looking or playing but all in all for me it was a great time.

Interviewer: And people in football always say the Championship is such a different league to playing and it’s so competitive. What was it like from your experience?

Britt: I think I had gotten used to it for quite a bit. Yeah, it’s different. Every season is always a different season. Every season different clubs are playing a different style, playing a different way and everyone’s trying to just get up to the Premier League. I was fortunate to be in very, very good teams. We didn’t live up to some of the things that we wanted to do but at end of the day I was happy to be a part of something.

Interviewer: You’ve most recently spent some time in Turkey. What’s that experience like? Because not everyone goes abroad to play that football.

Britt: Yeah, it’s a whole different ball game. It’s whole different culture. You have to try and adapt to it. There were some good times, some bad times, but I enjoyed the experience. I would say that it’s something I don’t regret doing. For me, I can say that I’ve played abroad because it’s one of the goals I wanted to do.

Interviewer: You’ve played for the Democratic Republic of the Congo at international level. That must be a completely different footballing experience to league football.

Britt: Yeah, that was amazing. I’m so proud to be able to say that I played for my country and to make appearances in African nations as well. Was an amazing feeling, not just for me, but for my whole family as well.

Interviewer: You say goal scoring is one of your main attributes. Are there any goals across your career that stick in your mind at all?

Britt: A lot of people always ask me this. They always ask me what my favourite goal was. I’d say my favourite goal out of my career, just in terms of atmosphere, was when I was at Forest against Derby at home. I think that was one of my best goals.

Interviewer: What have your conversations been like with Dean Brennan and what does he want to see from you fitting into this team?

Britt: He just wants me to be me. He wants me to be me, wants me to get back to what I was doing the best then. He’s put the faith in me and I’ll return that faith.

Interviewer: How have all the lads been with you? What’s the atmosphere like so far?

Britt: Amazing, all the lads are brilliant. I’ve come into a change room where everyone’s so welcoming and everyone loves everyone. There’s no segregation inside the change room, I tell you that. I’ve been in places where they have but it’s nice to have a change room where everyone loves everyone.

Interviewer: For fans who may not know what you’re about, obviously you’re a goalscorer. What would you describe yourself as? What sort of goalscorer are you?

Britt: Fox in the box.

Interviewer: And if you had one message to the Bees fans, what would you like to say to them?

Britt: Thank you for having me and I hope this season comes to a great end.

BRITT’S CAREER:

Youth
2010–2011 – Watford

Senior
2011–2013 – Watford – 4 games (0 goals)
2011–2012 → Wealdstone (loan) – 16 games (11 goals)
2012 → Braintree Town (loan) – 5 games (5 goals)
2012–2013 → Southend United (loan) – 49 games (16 goals)
2013–2014 – Peterborough United – 58 games (33 goals)
2014–2017 – Nottingham Forest – 69 games (30 goals)
2017–2021 – Middlesbrough – 161 games (47 goals)
2021–2023 – Adana Demirspor – 53 games (18 goals)
2023 – Watford – 11 games (2 goals)
2023–2024 – Antalyaspor – 26 games (6 goals)
2024–2025 – Amedspor – 18 games (3 goals)
2025– Barnet

International
2018–2021 – DR Congo – 10 games (1 goals)

Twitter users reacted as Britt Assombalonga reflects on his career and talks about decision to sign for Barnet…

@Sam75682334: Exciting signing but in truth don’t think too much can be expected of him. Record in 2nd Turkish League isn’t fantastic, and lots of time spent without a club. Hopefully can provide a good option for us

@barneyphill: Wow what a signing!!

@JoshuaCrowther6: How have you pulled that off

@_TomWelton: What a signing this is for a league 2 club 👏🏻

@WirralhornetS: You’ll all be doing the conga

@Amandamoo1973: Cho cho chooo Britt Assombalonga! Smash it!

@N_Boultby: Some fall from grace since leaving us

@Downhill2ndHalf: Frantically going through 90s Club Classics to find a new song where “ASSOMBALONGA” would fit.

@Tyler7Smith: Some signing. Be interesting to see what he has left in him. Barnet once again showing their financial backing and status in the league. A deal I’m sure we could have done had we had new owners, but Mbick > Asomba anyway 👀🤣 #colu

@PeterElson1983: Please to god don’t draw Blues in the FA Cup 3rd Round. Always bags against us!! #bcfc

@IrishBarnetFans: Huge signing! Stead, Ndlovu & Assombalonga up front! Ouch, watch out L2 goalkeepers, you’re in trouble 💪🚀🐝

@jkanalysis7: Britt Assombalonga and Fabio Borini now in League Two, mad world.

@richmann29: Blimey that’s a blast for the past or so it feels.

@OnlyBarnet: It’s a big signing. Hoping he can deliver up top! 🐝

@rio_woolf: Within the last couple years we’ve had Assombalonga & Healey at the club. Now they’re playing for Barnet & Barrow in league 2. Shows our recruitment has been poor with strikers since Deeney left. Although, I think LK9 has been promising & we had quite a good summer window imo

@Jimbokav1971: Completely ridiculous. 😲 You can stick your Fabio Borini up your arse! 😂 I knew he was training with us for a while, but didn’t really think for a minute that he would actually sign for us. #EFL #League2 ⚽️

@League2Lowdown: League Two signings just get weirder and weirder….

@Memdozer: We are one of the best teams in the league for high quality chances so I’m hoping he should fill his boots. Saturday we had no real like for like options off the bench. We were forced to bring Hawkins on and when he comes on the press doesn’t happen

@Bee4life77: He is definitely a statement signing and we have been crying out for a CF. Hopefully we can get a tune out of him because if so he is way too good for L2!

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