Beni Baningime, born on 9th September 1998 in DR Congo (formerly Zaire), is a determined midfielder currently dazzling the crowds for Hearts in the depths of the Scottish Premiership. Standing at a hardy 5ft 10in (1.78m), and weighing in at a solid 11st 11lb (75kg), Baningime asserts his presence on the pitch as Hearts' number 6.
Young Baningime's promise as a player is reflected in his current market value, estimated at roughly £1m (Transfermarkt). His contract with Hearts, due to expire on 31st May 2026, still has a decent 1 year and 3 months to go, holding promise of more to come from the midfielder.
Baningime first cut his teeth in the rough and tumble of English football, having joined Everton's academy in 2007. Earning his stripes, he finally made his first team debut for the Merseyside club in the 2017-2018 season, featuring in eight league matches.
A brief loan spell took him to Wigan Athletic in England's League One during the early months of 2019, where he added another cap to his growing collection of league appearances. The loan term served its purpose, and Baningime returned to his home club of Everton in June the same year.
Season 2020 - 2021 saw another loan spell, this time to Derby County in the English Championship, where Baningime continued to develop his talents with two league appearances for the side.
In July 2021, Baningime finally left Everton and made the leap into Scottish football with Hearts. The undisclosed transfer fee, no doubt a testament to his rising star. Since then, he's been a consistent performer in the lineup, racking up 24 league appearances and a goal to his name in the 2021-22 season. He continued this into the 2023-24 season with 29 appearances, and has already notched up 21 in the current 2024-25 season.
Aside from his league duties, Baningime has shown his worth in the Scottish Cup 2024-25 season, starting three times and also starting twice in the Conference League 2024-25 season, displaying his ability to stand his ground in different competitions.
