The high-stakes career of a footballer defined by brilliance and injury

Countries & Cities · Published

The high-stakes career of a footballer defined by brilliance and injury
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In short: From a standout debut at Manchester United to a sudden exclusion from the Beşiktaş squad, Eric Bailly’s career has been a rollercoaster of elite performance and physical setbacks. Discover how a talent spotted in Burkina Faso rose to international glory and navigated the volatile world of professional football.

Born in Bingerville, Eric Bailly’s journey to the top began when he was scouted by Espanyol’s Emilio Montagut during a youth tournament in Burkina Faso. After joining the Spanish club's youth system in December 2011, he eventually made his La Liga debut on 5 October 2014. His talent quickly led to a €5.7 million move to Villarreal in January 2015, where he served as a replacement for the departing Gabriel Paulista.

In June 2016, Bailly moved to Manchester United for a reported £30 million, becoming the first signing for manager José Mourinho. His early tenure was spectacular; he won the FA Community Shield, earned Man-of-<0xC2>el-Match honours in both his competitive and Premier League debuts, and was named in the UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season. However, this period was also marked by significant physical challenges, including a serious knee injury in October 2016 and a subsequent ankle injury in November 2017 that sidelined him for roughly 100 days.

Bailly’s international career with the Ivory Coast has been equally eventful. He was part of the squad that won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations and later competed in the 2020 Olympics. Despite moments of brilliance, such as scoring against the Central African Republic in 2018, his career has faced periods of instability. In late 2023, his time at Beşiktaş ended abruptly when he was excluded from the squad due to performance and incompatibility issues, leading to his contract termination in December.

Since those turbulent months, Bailly has continued to traverse the globe, moving through clubs like Marseille, Villarreal, and Real Oviedo, before signing with MLS side Columbus Crew in July 2026.

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