DR Congo-Belgium centre-forward Samuel Ntanda has joined Leiria from RSCA Futures, strengthening the Liga Portugal 2 club with a 21-year-old striker who stands 1.88m tall.
Ntanda arrives in Portugal after one season with RSCA Futures in Belgium’s Challenger Pro League, where he made 20 appearances, scoring four goals and providing one assist. He played 791 minutes in the competition and averaged a goal every 198 minutes.
The forward had moved to RSCA Futures from Sampdoria in August 2025 after leaving the Italian club’s youth set-up. Sampdoria had signed him from Sampdoria Under-19s, following his progression through the Belgian system at St Truiden and St-Truiden’s youth teams.
Born in Brussels on 30 June 2005, Ntanda is eligible to represent both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Belgium. He operates primarily as a centre-forward and is naturally right-footed.
His record also includes 62 Primavera 1 appearances, in which he scored nine goals and registered six assists. He featured for Sampdoria at senior level in both Serie A and Serie B, making one Serie A appearance and nine Serie B appearances.
Ntanda began his youth career at Anderlecht before joining KV Mechelen in 2019. He later moved to STVV Youth, then St Truiden Under-18s, before transferring to Sampdoria Under-19s in July 2022.
Leiria have added a player with experience across Belgian and Italian competitions as they prepare for the new campaign. Ntanda’s previous appearances include domestic league and youth football, as well as matches in the Coppa Primavera, Viareggio Cup and Premier League International Cup Under-21 competition.
He scored twice in two Premier League International Cup Under-21 appearances and added one goal in five Coppa Primavera matches. In the Viareggio Cup, he made three appearances and scored once.
Ntanda’s move from RSCA Futures to Leiria was completed on 1 August 2026.