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Cote D'Ivoire Eric Bailly is a professional footballer who has played for top clubs such as Manchester United and Villarreal, and has represented the Ivory Coast national team.
Bailly joined the Roc Nation Sports family, an agency founded by Jay-Z, alongside other prominent footballers like Romelu Lukaku and Jerome Boateng. This partnership focuses on enhancing his career on and off the field.
Bailly has been observed training in PUMA Future 2.1 boots, indicating a reported association with the sports brand.
Eric Bertrand Bailly was born on April 12, 1994, in Bingerville, Ivory Coast. He began his football career in Spain, joining Espanyol’s youth system at age 17 in December 2011. After obtaining his work permit in October 2012, Bailly made his senior debut in the 2013–14 season with Espanyol B in Segunda División B. He quickly progressed to the first-team squad, making his La Liga debut on October 5, 2014. His early career in Spain demonstrated his developing skills as a center-back, leading to further opportunities in professional football.
In January 2015, Bailly transferred to Villarreal CF for a fee of €5.7 million, signing a five-and-a-half-year contract. During his two seasons at Villarreal, he made 35 appearances and scored his first career goal in October 2015 during a UEFA Europa League match. His performance earned him recognition, culminating in a move to Premier League giants Manchester United in June 2016 for £30 million. He was the first player signed by manager José Mourinho at the club. Bailly quickly made an impact, being named man of the match in his competitive debut in the FA Community Shield and his Premier League debut. He was also voted Manchester United’s Player of the Month for August 2016 and was part of the squad that won the UEFA Europa League in the 2016–17 season, where he was named in the Squad of the Season. Despite injury challenges that affected his playing time, Bailly remained with Manchester United until 2023, making over 100 appearances. He also had a loan spell at Olympique de Marseille during the 2022–23 season.
Bailly’s international career began in 2015 when he debuted for the Ivory Coast national team. He played a crucial role in their triumph at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, featuring in all six matches as his country secured the championship. He continued to represent his nation in subsequent Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in 2017 and 2021, and also participated in the 2020 Summer Olympics with the Ivory Coast Olympic team. His club career continued with a brief period at Beşiktaş in Turkey in 2023, followed by a return to Villarreal CF for a second spell until June 2025. In August 2025, Bailly signed a two-year deal with Real Oviedo, marking his latest move in La Liga.
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