From the streets of Ouagadougou to Bundesliga captaincy
In short: Before signing for millions, Edmond Tapsoba was a child skipping school to play football in the Karpala section of Ouagadougou. Today, the Burkinabé defender has risen through the ranks to lead Bayer Leverkusen, earning comparisons to some of the greatest modern defenders in the world.
Born on 2 February 1999, Edmond Tapsoba's journey to professional football was anything but traditional. He did not enter organized football until he was fourteen years old, having spent his early childhood playing in the streets of Ouagadougou. This unconventional start eventually led him through clubs like Salitas and Vitória de Guimarães before his significant move to the Bundesliga.
On 31 January 2020, Tapsoba secured his future with Bayer Leverkusen through a contract lasting five and a half years. The deal involved an initial fee of €18 million, with an additional €7 million contingent on specific objectives. His impact was immediate; in February 2021, he scored a crucial equalizer against FC Augsburg in the final seconds of stoppage time, helping extend Leverkusen's unbeaten run against that opponent to twenty matches.
Tapsoba's rise has been marked by both club and international success. He was named to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament and has since become a cornerstone for Burkina Faso. Drawing parallels to Jérôme Boateng due to his athleticism and calm demeanour, he looks up to figures like Virgil van Dijk, Per Mertesacker, and John Stones. Looking ahead, he has been named club captain by head coach Carles Martínez Novell.
Beyond the pitch, Tapsoba has demonstrated community engagement, such as donating masks, gloves, and hand sanitiser to an Ouagadougou market during the COVID-19 pandemic. He remains a vital figure for the Burkina Faso national team, having represented them since his international debut in 2016.
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