1. Overview
Bradley Locko Banzouzi is a French professional footballer who primarily plays as a left-back for Ligue 1 club Brest. Standing at 71 in (180 cm), he was born on May 6, 2002, in Ivry-sur-Seine, France. Locko began his professional career with Stade de Reims before making a significant impact at Brest, contributing to their historic qualification for the UEFA Champions League. He has also represented France at the youth international level, notably earning a silver medal with the France U23 team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
2. Life
Bradley Locko's early life and youth career laid the foundation for his professional football journey, starting in the Paris suburbs and progressing through various academies.
2.1. Early life and upbringing
Bradley Locko was born on May 6, 2002, in Ivry-sur-Seine, a commune located in the Val-de-Marne department within the Île-de-France region of France. His initial exposure to football began in the vibrant football scene of the Paris suburbs. He attended several local football academies, including CA Vitry and US Ivry, during his formative years.
2.2. Youth career
Locko continued his football development by spending several years at FC Montrouge, where he honed his skills. In 2019, he joined the youth setup of FC Lorient, a significant step in his progression towards professional football. It was during his time at FC Montrouge and FC Lorient that he also played alongside his twin brother, Bryan Locko.
3. Club career
Locko's professional journey began with Stade de Reims, where he made his debut, before moving to Stade Brestois 29, where he achieved significant club success.
3.1. Stade de Reims
Bradley Locko signed his first professional contract with Stade de Reims in June 2020. During his initial year with the club, he primarily played for their reserve team, which competed in the Championnat National 2. His professional debut for Reims came on August 15, 2021, when he started as a left-back in a Ligue 1 match against Montpellier, which ended in a 3-3 home draw. His performance in this match was noted as promising, especially given his youth and the presence of other emerging talents like Ilan Kebbal and Hugo Ekitike in the Reims squad. He remained with Stade de Reims until January 2023, accumulating 39 league appearances and scoring one goal across the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
3.2. Stade Brestois 29
On January 31, 2023, Locko made a loan move to Brest, with an option for a permanent transfer. Following a successful loan spell, Brest announced his permanent signing on July 27, 2023, securing him on a four-year contract. The transfer fee for Locko was reported to be 500.00 K EUR. In the 2023-24 season, Locko played a pivotal role in Brest's remarkable campaign, which saw the club achieve a third-place finish in Ligue 1. This historic achievement secured Brest's first-ever qualification for the UEFA Champions League. His outstanding contributions throughout the season were recognized when he was named in the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year for the 2023-24 season.
4. International career
Bradley Locko has represented France at the youth level, including participation in the prestigious 2024 Paris Olympics.
4.1. France U23
Locko received his first call-up to the France U23 squad in 2023, making 3 appearances. His consistent performances at club level led to his selection by manager Thierry Henry to represent France at the 2024 Olympic Games on July 8, 2024.
4.2. 2024 Paris Olympics
As part of the France U23 team, Locko participated in the men's football tournament at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. He was a late substitute in the final match of the tournament, which took place on August 9, 2024, against Spain. France ultimately lost the match by a score of 5-3, earning the silver medal.
5. Personal life
Bradley Locko has a diverse national background and a close family connection through his twin brother, who is also a footballer.
5.1. Nationality and family
Born in France, Bradley Locko holds dual nationality, being both French and Congolese. He has a twin brother named Bryan Locko, who is also a professional footballer. The two brothers shared part of their youth career, having both been part of the academy at FC Lorient.
6. Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Coupe de France | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Reims | 2021-22 | Ligue 1 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | 26 | 1 | |
| 2022-23 | Ligue 1 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 17 | 0 | ||
| Total | 39 | 1 | 4 | 0 | - | 43 | 1 | |||
| Brest (loan) | 2022-23 | Ligue 1 | 7 | 0 | - | - | 7 | 0 | ||
| Brest | 2023-24 | Ligue 1 | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 35 | 0 | |
| 2024-25 | Ligue 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 40 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 79 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 1 | ||
7. Honours
Bradley Locko has received both team and individual accolades throughout his career.
7.1. Team honours
- Summer Olympics silver medal: 2024 (with France U23)
7.2. Individual honours
- UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2023-24
8. External links
- [https://www.stade-de-reims.com/bradley-locko/ Stade de Reims profile]