Omar Mussa becomes the seventh player to join the ranks at Gander Green Lane this summer, making the switch across London following his departure from Wealdstone to add physicality and quality in the centre of the park in SM1.
Here’s everything you need to know about the midfielder and his story so far…
Name: Omar Mussa
Age: 25
Position: Midfielder
Former Clubs: RSC Anderlecht (youth), KV Mechelen (youth), Waasland Beveren, Walsall, Dover Athletic, Weymouth, Dagenham & Redbridge, Torquay United, Wealdstone
Belgium Born and Bred
Omar Mussa joins his sixth club since making the switch to England while still a teenager, with Sutton the next chapter in a career that sees him enter his prime years at the highest level of non-league football.
However, before moving to the UK, Mussa’s career began in his native Belgium, having been born and raised there, and his formative years in the youth setups at RSC Anderlecht and KV Mechelen helped to hone his midfield abilities before he sought opportunities abroad.
Indeed, he initially played futsal and 11-a-side within the Academy ranks of the former before making the switch to Mechelen at the age of 14, going on to spend five years at Achter de Kazerne. This time certainly represented the development stage of Mussa’s early career, though he did receive an opportunity to turn out for Pro League side Waasland Beveren during the first half of the 2018/19 campaign, before opting to move abroad at the age of 18 in order to pursue further chances within Europe.
Settling at the Saddlers
Having spent a month training with Walsall’s first team, Mussa opted to make the switch to England permanent when he signed for the Saddlers in January 2019, swapping his native Belgium for the West Midlands as he called the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium his new home.
After being given the opportunity to train with Dean Keates’ squad during the previous few weeks, the teenager marked his transition to senior football in England by agreeing his first professional deal until the end of the 2018/19 season with the option of a further year in the club’s favour, with the switch coming as a result of a compensation agreement with Mechelen for his services.
He subsequently received his senior bow for the Saddlers three days later, coming on as a late substitute against Scunthorpe United in an attempt to grab a point, with Keates’ side trailing heading into the latter stages of proceedings in the Midlands. However, the visiting Iron held on for a vital victory to leave Walsall sat 15th in League One, and proved to be the only appearance Mussa made for Walsall barring another as an unused substitute in a 3-0 win over Gillingham the following week.
Photo Credit: Walsall Football Club
Making a Name in Non-League
Mussa’s brief stint at Walsall was followed by further spells across England, with the midfielder opting to drop into non-league in search of increased chances within senior football. After over a year without a club, during which he trained independently and adapted to the physical demands of English football, Mussa joined National League side Dover Athletic on a non-contract basis in October 2020, appearing eight times, though issues out of his control limited his playing time at the Crabble, with financial issues causing the Whites to not play any more matches in the 2020/21 season, a decision made in late January, and subsequently nulled and voided all their results.
A switch to Weymouth then followed for the midfielder, a stint which proved to be far more fruitful and one that certainly kick-started his career in the UK. Mussa became an instant hit at the Bob Lucas Stadium with his box-to-box play and technical ability on the ball, being awarded Player of the Month for September 2021, as voted for by the fans, and he went on to appear 36 times in all competition, registering four assists along with his first ever senior goal; coolly slotting home Cameron Murray’s lay-off to make the breakthrough against King’s Lynn Town five minutes into the second period, with his goal turning out to be the winner.
He also showed Torquay United fans a glimpse of the magic they would come to expect at Plainmoor a few years down the line, during a 2-1 defeat in December 2021 courtesy of goals from Joe Lewis and Sinclair Armstrong – two players who have both gone on to enjoy exceptional careers in the EFL with AFC Wimbledon and Queens Park Rangers and Bristol City respectively. However, no one on the pitch impressed more than Mussa that day, who gave Gary Johnson’s side all sorts of problems and led to the Gulls’ Gaffer trying to sign him as early as 2022.
Photo Credit: Weymouth Football Club
Fast forward to April, and the Terras were unable to maintain their fifth tier status and slid back into the National League South with four games to spare following a 6-1 defeat at home to Wrexham AFC; their relegation being compounded by the inevitable departure of their star midfielder, though it wasn’t Torquay who were able to convince him to leave Dorset, with Dagenham & Redbridge agreeing an undisclosed fee with Brian Stock’s side, instead bringing Mussa to London for the first time on an initial two-year deal.
He got off to a superb start to life at Victoria Road, scoring a late winner on his non-competitive debut to seal victory over Aveley during pre-season, before being named in the starting XI on the opening day of the 2021/22 campaign, playing almost an hour as the Daggers drew 2-2 with Gateshead. He then made his first real contribution for his new side the following month by getting his name on the scoresheet alongside six other players as Daryl McMahon’s side came out on top of a thrilling 5-4 win against Barnet at the end of September, in a game that certainly lurched from one way to the other.
Mussa levelled the score just before the hour-mark to make it 3-3 after Nicke Kabamba and Sean Shields saw goals cancelled out by Josh Walker and Mauro Vilhete, with Kabamba’s second then being made redundant after Mussa scored and then assisted Dagenham’s fourth goal, sending in a menacing cross which Walker tapped in on the hour-mark for 4-3. This set the Daggers on their way to steal a stoppage time victory through Walker’s hat-trick, completing his treble at the death after Jerome Okimo had levelled for the Bees.
While this was Mussa’s only goal that season, he went on to appear 27 times in all competitions, impressing with his physicality and technical brilliance in the centre of the park, and led to him receiving international recognition with his maiden international call-up to the Burundi squad ahead of Intamba’s African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya and Indonesia, making his senior debut for his parent’s nation in the latter.
He subsequently earned a recall to the CAF outfit the following November after initially enjoying even more of a breakout during the 2023/24 campaign, grabbing his first goals of the season as the Daggers secured back-to-back-to-back wins over the August and September bank holiday weekend, including game-sealing goals against Wealdstone and AFC Fylde. Having missed the opening three games of the season, Mussa went on to appear ten times in a row and completed 13 appearances from 14 games, missing only one due to suspension, before returning to action with his 14th appearance of the campaign in a 2-0 defeat to Wealdstone. However, this had come after a five-game absence, and was followed by a disrupted remainder of the season which saw him fail to feature at all due to injury as the Daggers finished 15th in the National League.
Photo Credit: Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club
As such, the Burundi international departed East London when the club opted against activating his one-year contract extension, and led the midfielder to a successful return to the south of England when he finally joined Torquay. Having made the decision to drop into the National League South; the Gulls in their second successive season in the sixth tier following their relegation in 2023, Mussa subsequently received the opportunity to return to full fitness and form, and saw him appear 41 times in all competitions to play a crucial role in Paul Wotton’s side reaching the play-off semi-final after a second place finish in 2024/25.
While his injury problems may have been a concern upon his arrival in the English Riviera, he became firmly back in the fold by appearing in 25 games in a row across the rainiest months of the year, displaying an exceptional amount of versatility by being deployed on the left wing and as a centre forward against Chris Agutter’s Worthing, along with his more familiar position in central midfield. His time in Devon allowed him to soar, offering trickery, flair and plenty of talent to a Gulls side who had been stagnating over the previous few years, having fallen from League Two to the sixth tier in less than a decade. Mussa’s determined mentality and commitment to the cause saw him win the hearts of Torquay supporters, even if things weren’t plain sailing for Wotton’s outfit, who at times seemed to force the Belgian into a host of different positions and roles due to formation changes.
Despite this, he had played a crucial part in the Gulls securing their place as runners-up behind title winners Truro City, the closest they had come to promotion since finishing second in the fifth tier behind Sutton in 2020/21, and his departure from the South-West came following their elimination at the semi-final stage, with Torquay being condemned to defeat after a single goal from former U Matt Rush in the final four, bringing their campaign to a disappointing close; the first of two seasons in which they were unable to triumph in the play-offs.
Photo Credit: Torquay United Football Club
He had evidently done enough to convince potential suitors to bring him back to the National League though, with Wealdstone securing his signature in the summer of 2025, and saw him appear 29 times in all competitions last term, including a role in the Stones’ run to the Isuzu FA Trophy Final against Southend United at Wembley, appearing against Cheshunt, Dagenham, Forest Green Rovers and Marine, with the Ruislip-based side losing on penalties at the home of English football falling a goalless draw.
A Touch of Stardust
Mussa is a highly creative, technically gifted, and press-resistant midfielder who excels as both a deep-lying playmaker and a central defensive midfielder, while displaying versatility and flexibility to also appear in more attacking roles, both centrally and on the wing, as well as briefly up front during his time at Torquay.
The midfielder has been described as ‘cultured’, bringing a flair for the unpredictable while remaining tactically disciplined and defensively robust in the centre of the pitch, becoming known for his technical and physical qualities in the centre of the park. With an excellent eye for a pass, the Belgian is able to add a touch of stardust to his team, being capable of splitting defences with precise through-balls or launching long, expansive passes across the pitch, as well as earning praise as a fans’ favourite for his volatile playing style during his stints at Weymouth and Torquay.
Because of his close control and composure, Mussa does not panic when opponents press him, regularly dropping into deeper positions to collect the ball and safely transition play from defence to attack, whilst also working incredibly hard defensively despite his languid and elegant movement on the ball. The Burundi international is highly effective at tracking back, winning 50-50 duels, and utilising his physicality and anticipation to recover the ball, while never shying away from taking responsibility in matches. He has displayed bravery to try outlandish or difficult passes, though he won’t hide should an attempt fail, instead demanding the ball again in order to continue orchestrating the next attacking move.
Mussa’s time in the National League has marked a period of steady progression, with an improved goal tally from his debut season – though his focus remains on being facilitative rather than his direct attacking output – and a successful adaptation to a defensive midfield role, where his physical presence and passing range became key assets. His role emphasises breaking up opposition play while contributing to build-up phases, often dictating tempo from deep positions due to his key strengths lying in his technical proficiency and physical robustness, enabling effective duels and ball retention under pressure. Mussa demonstrates solid defensive tackling and interceptions to regain possession, as well as being lauded for an array of technical and physical qualities that complement his central midfield duties.
Photo Credit: Wealdstone Football Club
Family Heritage
Mussa grew up in Belgium near the Antwerp region while his father – also named Omar – was playing for Heusden-Zolder-based club Berkenbos, where he scored 11 goals in 25 appearances, before going on to join one of the country’s oldest clubs in Royal Antwerp, a little under an hour away from his previous employers where he added another 13 goals in 69 games between 2001 and 2003.
His full name being Omar Mbanza Mussa Rukundo, the former centre forward was born in November 1980 in Bujumbura, Burundi and became primarily active as a footballer in Belgium during the early 2000s, representing Berkenbos following his move from Seychelles Premier League side Saint Louis Suns United, having spent three years in Africa beginning in 1997. He subsequently enjoyed stints at Royal Antwerp and Patro Eisden Maasmechelen in 2005 either side of a year in Qatar with Al-Wakrah SC, before returning to Belgium to close out his career with spells at KSK Ronse and KRC Mechelen.
This tenure in Belgian football coincided with Omar Jr’s birth in Belgium in 2000, establishing a family connection to the country’s sporting landscape, with Omar Sr also earning a single cap for the Burundi national team in 2003, something which directly influenced his son’s international eligibility and decision to switch allegiance to The Chayfs in 2023, despite the latter’s birthplace and early youth representation for Belgium’s Under-18 side.
On The International Stage
Mussa has represented two nations on the international stage, first appearing for Belgium at various youth levels with two caps for the Under-18s, before switching his allegiance to Burundi, whom he is eligible for through his parents.
The midfielder marked his initial foray into international competition for the Red Devils, making his debut at the age of 17 under Belgium Under-18s head coach Wesley Sonck, with Mussa appearing in two international friendlies in 2017 with a 12-minute cameo in a 3-0 win over Republic of Ireland, before starting and playing the entire first half as they lost to Czech Republic just days later, with his role as an unused substitute in a 4-1 defeat to the Netherlands then calling time on his international career in Europe.
He subsequently received his first call-up to the senior Burundi squad ahead of their AFCON qualifiers in March 2023 against Kenya and Indonesia, as a result of his form for Dagenham & Redbridge. He made his senior international debut against the latter, replacing Aaron Musore with a little under half-an-hour to go as Les Hirondelles fell to a 3-1 defeat, courtesy of first half goals from Yakob Sayuri, Dendy Sulistyawan and Rizky Ridho, though Pacifique Niyongabire did notch a consolation goal at the start of the second half.
Mussa has since gone on to rack up six caps for Burundi, appearing in international friendlies and World Cup qualifiers against Cǒte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Kenya, Gabon and Chad (2).
