1. Early Life and Youth Career
Cédric Bakambu was born on 11 April 1991 in Vitry-sur-Seine, Val-de-Marne, France, to parents of DR Congolese descent. He began his football journey at the local club US Ivry at the age of 10. Four years later, in 2006, he transferred to the youth academy of Sochaux, where he continued his development.
In 2010, while still in the Sochaux youth system, Bakambu played in the 2010 Coupe Gambardella Final, a prestigious French youth cup competition. He scored a goal for his team at the Stade de France, though Sochaux ultimately lost the match 4-3 on penalties. Prior to the final, he had scored two goals in the team's 4-3 aggregate semi-final victory over Metz. His performances in the youth ranks showcased his potential as a forward.
2. Club Career
Cédric Bakambu's professional club career has seen him play for various teams across France, Turkey, Spain, China, Greece, and the United Arab Emirates. His journey reflects a consistent ability to score goals and make significant contributions to the teams he has represented, often adapting to different leagues and footballing cultures.
2.1. Sochaux
After developing in their youth system, Bakambu made his professional debut for Sochaux on 7 August 2010, in the opening match of the 2010-11 Ligue 1 season against AC Arles-Avignon. He came on as an 83rd-minute substitute in a 2-1 victory at the Stade Auguste Bonal. The following month, he signed his first professional contract, a three-year deal with the club until June 2013.
On 17 September 2011, Bakambu scored his first professional goal, netting the first equalizer in a 2-2 draw against Lille OSC, just eleven minutes after coming on as a substitute. A year later, on 26 September 2012, he scored twice in a 3-2 extra-time home win over Evian in the third round of the Coupe de la Ligue.
During the 2013-14 Ligue 1 season, Bakambu scored seven goals in 31 appearances. This included two goals on 21 December in a 2-1 home win over Rennes. Initially played on the right wing by manager Hervé Renard, he was being prepared for a centre-forward role as he matured mentally. On 23 March, he received a red card for handball in a 2-1 loss against Saint-Étienne. Despite his individual efforts, Sochaux was relegated at the end of the season. Over five seasons with the club, Bakambu played 107 official games, scoring 21 goals. In the 2010-11 season, Sochaux finished fifth in Ligue 1, securing a spot in the 2011-12 UEFA Europa League playoffs. Additionally, Bakambu's contributions to Sochaux's reserve team included 15 goals in 28 appearances, helping them reach the semi-finals of the French fourth division playoffs in 2010-11.
2.2. Bursaspor
On 1 September 2014, Bakambu left France for the first time, joining Turkish Süper Lig club Bursaspor. The transfer fee was reported as 1.80 M EUR (approximately 2.40 B KRW), with an annual salary of 800.00 K EUR (approximately 1.10 B KRW). He signed a four-year contract.
Bakambu made his Süper Lig debut twelve days later, coming on as a substitute in a 2-1 win at Gençlerbirliği. His first goals for the "Green Crocodiles" came on 19 October, scoring twice in a 2-2 draw against Eskişehirspor. Six days later, he achieved his first professional hat-trick in a 5-0 away win against Balıkesirspor. He finished his only league season in Bursa with 13 goals in 27 games, contributing to Bursaspor's sixth-place finish in the league.
In the 2014-15 Turkish Cup, Bakambu was the top scorer with eight goals in 12 games as Bursaspor reached the final. This tally included trebles in a 5-0 win over Mersin İdmanyurdu and a 3-0 victory over Fatih Karagümrük in the group stage. However, Bursaspor lost the final 3-2 at home to Galatasaray. As Galatasaray also won the league title, Bursaspor faced them again in the 2015 Turkish Super Cup on 8 August, where Bakambu played the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss. Across all competitions, he scored 21 goals in 39 matches during his time at Bursaspor.
2.3. Villarreal
On 19 August 2015, Spanish La Liga side Villarreal announced the signing of Cédric Bakambu on a five-year contract. He made his La Liga debut four days later, replacing Léo Baptistão in the 61st minute of a 1-1 draw against Real Betis in the season's opening match. On 28 August, he came on for the same player and scored two goals in the closing minutes against Espanyol at Estadio El Madrigal, securing a 3-1 victory for the "Yellow Submarine".
Bakambu played his first game in European competition on 17 September, appearing as a substitute in a 2-1 loss at Rapid Wien in the group stage of the 2015-16 UEFA Europa League. On 22 October, he scored his first goals in the tournament, a first-half double in a 4-0 home win over Dinamo Minsk. He added another two goals on 10 March against Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of the last 16, contributing to a 2-0 win (and the same aggregate score). In the quarter-finals, he scored twice in each leg of a 6-3 aggregate win over Sparta Prague. His nine goals placed him second only to Athletic Bilbao's Aritz Aduriz in the competition's scoring charts, and he was named as one of four strikers in the tournament's Squad of the Season.
On 1 October 2017, Bakambu scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 home win over Eibar. He then scored two goals in a 2-1 win against Girona and another in a 4-0 victory over Las Palmas. His exceptional performances in October led to him being named La Liga Player of the Month, becoming the first African player to receive this award.
In early January 2018, Villarreal manager Javier Calleja stated that Bakambu was undergoing a transfer to Beijing Sinobo Guoan of the Chinese Super League. On 17 January 2018, Bakambu rescinded his contract with Villarreal. The transfer was subject to considerable confusion regarding a 100 percent tax on incoming transfers over 45.00 M CNY (US$7 million) imposed by the Chinese Football Association. Beijing Guoan reportedly tried to avoid paying this tax. However, the transfer was eventually completed before the start of the Chinese season, with the full fees being paid. Bakambu's time at Villarreal saw him score 48 goals in 105 appearances. He was the team's top scorer for two consecutive seasons (22 goals in 2015-16 and 12 goals in 2016-17), contributing to Villarreal's fourth-place finish in La Liga in 2015-16 and their semi-final appearance in the UEFA Europa League in the same season, followed by two consecutive fifth-place finishes in La Liga.
2.4. Beijing Guoan
On 28 February 2018, the final day of the Chinese transfer window, Cédric Bakambu's protracted transfer from Villarreal to Beijing Sinobo Guoan was finally confirmed. The club paid his 40.00 M EUR release clause. However, there was initial confusion as Beijing did not immediately announce his signing, reportedly due to concerns over a 100 percent levy on transfers imposed by the Chinese Football Association. Despite the complexities, the full fees were eventually paid. The total cost of the transfer was estimated to be around 65.00 M GBP, which surpassed the previous African transfer record of 56.00 M GBP for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the Chinese transfer record of 54.00 M GBP for Oscar, making it the most expensive transfer for an African player and the highest in Chinese football history at the time.
Bakambu scored his first goal in China in his second game for Beijing Guoan, contributing to a 2-1 victory over Jiangsu Suning. In his first season, he won the Chinese FA Cup. He was also instrumental in Beijing Guoan's league performances, finishing fourth in the 2018 Chinese Super League, runners-up in the 2019 Chinese Super League, and third in the 2020 Chinese Super League. In 2019, he was also a runner-up in the Chinese FA Super Cup. Bakambu's scoring prowess continued, and he became the Chinese Super League top scorer in 2020 with 14 goals. He also helped the club reach the quarter-finals of the 2020 AFC Champions League. Bakambu became Beijing Guoan's all-time top scorer.
2.5. Marseille
On 13 January 2022, Bakambu signed with French club Marseille on a contract set to run until 30 June 2024. He made an immediate impact by scoring in his first appearance for the club, coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 victory over Lens. During his relatively brief but notable spell at Marseille, he played 24 matches across all competitions, scoring 4 goals.
2.6. Olympiacos
On 16 September 2022, Cédric Bakambu transferred to Greek club Olympiacos, signing a contract until 30 June 2025. He quickly established himself as a prolific goal scorer in the Super League Greece. In the 2022-23 season, he scored 18 goals in 32 league appearances. His impressive performances earned him the Super League Greece Player of the Month award for January 2023. At the end of the season, he was recognized as the top scorer of the league and was included in the Super League Greece Team of the Season. Across all competitions, he played 37 games for Olympiacos, scoring 18 goals.
2.7. Al-Nasr
On 29 June 2023, UAE Pro League club Al-Nasr announced that Bakambu had signed a two-year contract with them. However, his tenure at the club was very short, and he departed without making any appearances.
2.8. Galatasaray
After his brief stint with Al-Nasr, Cédric Bakambu made a swift return to Turkish football. On 22 July 2023, it was announced by Turkish club Galatasaray that negotiations with Al-Nasr for his transfer had begun. A day later, on 23 July 2023, Bakambu officially transferred to Galatasaray on a permanent basis. He signed a two-year contract, with the transfer fee reported to be 700.00 K EUR, which is approximately 110.00 M JPY.
On 2 August, he made his debut for Galatasaray in a Champions League qualifying match against Žalgiris Vilnius. His first Champions League goal came on 8 November, scoring in the 93rd minute of stoppage time during a 2-1 away defeat against Bayern Munich. He played 16 matches for Galatasaray, scoring 2 goals.
2.9. Real Betis
On 1 February 2024, Cédric Bakambu signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Spanish La Liga club Real Betis. This marked his second spell in Spanish football, returning to the league where he previously had a successful period with Villarreal.
3. International Career
Cédric Bakambu has had a notable international career, initially representing France at various youth levels before making the significant decision to play for the senior national team of the Democratic Republic of Congo, his parents' homeland. His journey highlights a strong connection to his African roots and a commitment to contribute to football in his ancestral country.
3.1. Youth International
Bakambu was a prominent French youth international, representing the country at the under-18, under-19, and under-20 levels. He was a key part of the team that triumphed in the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Championship on home soil. In that tournament, he scored two goals in a 4-1 opening win over the Netherlands in Caen. Nine days later, he scored the winning goal in a 2-1 semi-final victory against Croatia, also at the Stade Michel d'Ornano.
He was also part of the French team that finished fourth at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia. In that tournament, he opened the scoring in a crucial 2-0 win over Mali in the final group game held in Cali. Overall, he scored 1 goal in 5 appearances for the U-18 team, 4 goals in 16 appearances for the U-19 team, and 3 goals in 17 appearances for the U-20 team.
3.2. DR Congo National Team
In March 2015, Cédric Bakambu made the pivotal decision to represent the Democratic Republic of Congo at senior level. This choice came after experiencing racial discrimination during his time with the French youth national teams, leading him to feel a deeper connection and responsibility towards his ancestral homeland. Upon his arrival in Kinshasa, he was greeted by enthusiastic fans bearing banners with his image, a reception he later described as profoundly moving, stating, "I hadn't even played a match yet they made banners for me. It's really something else. It was through football that I discovered my country."
He received his first call-up in June 2015, ahead of a friendly match against Cameroon on 9 June. He started in that match, which ended in a 1-1 draw at the Stade Charles Tondreau in Mons, Belgium, marking his senior international debut.
On 26 March 2016, Bakambu scored his first international goal for DR Congo, netting a penalty to open the scoring in a 2-1 win over Angola at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa. This goal came during 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification. He added two more goals on 5 June, contributing to a dominant 6-1 away victory against Madagascar in the same qualification campaign. He was selected in Florent Ibengé's squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and started in the opening group match, a 1-0 win over Morocco. However, he played only seven minutes in the quarter-finals, where DR Congo lost 2-1 to Ghana.
On 24 March 2019, Bakambu returned to action for DR Congo after an injury absence, scoring the winning goal in a 1-0 victory against Liberia. This result secured qualification for "The Leopards" to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. In the 2019 tournament, he scored three goals, but the team was eliminated in the round of 16 after a penalty shootout loss to Madagascar, who went on to achieve their first major tournament quarter-final.
On 1 April 2022, following DR Congo's elimination from 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification at the hands of Morocco, Bakambu announced his retirement from the national team, a decision he later reversed. He rejoined the squad and on 17 January 2024, he provided an assist for Yoane Wissa's equalizer in DR Congo's 1-1 draw with Zambia in the opening group game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. As of February 2, 2024, he has made 51 appearances and scored 16 goals for the DR Congo national team.
4. Personal Life
Cédric Bakambu was born in France, but his parents are from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He has expressed pride in his dual cultural heritage, stating, "I grew up with both cultures and I am very proud of that. I think it's something that enriches you."
In March 2016, Bakambu and his international teammate Dieumerci Mbokani were present at Brussels Airport when it was struck by terror attacks. Fortunately, both footballers escaped unharmed from the incident.
5. Career Statistics
5.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sochaux | 2010-11 | Ligue 1 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 11 | 0 | ||
| 2011-12 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 23 | 3 | ||||
| 2012-13 | 33 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | - | - | 38 | 11 | ||||
| 2013-14 | 31 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 35 | 7 | ||||
| Total | 94 | 18 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 2 | - | - | 107 | 21 | ||||
| Bursaspor | 2014-15 | Süper Lig | 27 | 13 | 12 | 8 | - | - | - | 39 | 21 | |||
| 2015-16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 27 | 13 | 12 | 8 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 40 | 21 | ||||
| Villarreal | 2015-16 | La Liga | 34 | 12 | 3 | 1 | - | 13 | 9 | - | 50 | 22 | ||
| 2016-17 | 26 | 11 | 1 | 1 | - | 7 | 0 | - | 34 | 12 | ||||
| 2017-18 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 2 | - | 5 | 3 | - | 21 | 14 | ||||
| Total | 75 | 32 | 5 | 4 | - | 25 | 12 | - | 105 | 48 | ||||
| Beijing Guoan | 2018 | Chinese Super League | 23 | 19 | 5 | 4 | - | - | - | 28 | 23 | |||
| 2019 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | - | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 16 | |||
| 2020 | 19 | 14 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | - | 20 | 14 | ||||
| 2021 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 13 | 5 | |||||
| Total | 71 | 48 | 8 | 7 | - | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 87 | 58 | |||
| Marseille | 2021-22 | Ligue 1 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 0 | - | 7 | 0 | - | 21 | 4 | ||
| 2022-23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 15 | 4 | 2 | 0 | - | 7 | 0 | - | 24 | 4 | ||||
| Olympiacos | 2022-23 | Super League Greece | 32 | 18 | 5 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | - | 37 | 18 | ||
| Galatasaray | 2023-24 | Süper Lig | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 | |
| Real Betis | 2023-24 | La Liga | 4 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | 5 | 1 | |||
| 2024-25 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 1 | - | 7 | 2 | - | 25 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 19 | 1 | 3 | 1 | - | 8 | 3 | - | 29 | 5 | ||||
| Career total | 371 | 150 | 43 | 21 | 5 | 2 | 53 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 474 | 192 | ||
5.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR Congo | 2015 | 4 | 0 |
| 2016 | 5 | 3 | |
| 2017 | 7 | 4 | |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 11 | 6 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 6 | 3 | |
| 2024 | 8 | 0 | |
| Total | 54 | 16 | |
:Scores and results list DR Congo's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bakambu goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 March 2016 | Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, DR Congo | Angola | 1-0 | 2-1 | 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 2 | 5 June 2016 | Rabemananjara Stadium, Mahajanga, Madagascar | Madagascar | 1-0 | 6-1 | 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 3 | 5-0 | |||||
| 4 | 10 June 2017 | Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, DR Congo | Congo | 1-0 | 3-1 | 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 5 | 2-1 | |||||
| 6 | 1 September 2017 | Stade Olympique de Radès, Radès, Tunisia | Tunisia | 1-1 | 1-2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 7 | 7 October 2017 | Stade Mustapha Ben Jannet, Monastir, Tunisia | Libya | 1-0 | 2-1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 8 | 24 March 2019 | Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, DR Congo | Liberia | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 9 | 30 June 2019 | 30 June Stadium, Cairo, Egypt | Zimbabwe | 2-0 | 4-0 | 2019 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 10 | 3-0 | |||||
| 11 | 7 July 2019 | Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt | Madagascar | 1-1 | 2-2 | 2019 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 12 | 10 October 2019 | Mustapha Tchaker Stadium, Blida, Algeria | Algeria | 1-1 | 1-1 | Friendly |
| 13 | 18 November 2019 | Independence Stadium, Bakau, Gambia | Gambia | 1-0 | 2-2 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 14 | 24 March 2023 | Stade TP Mazembe, Lubumbashi, DR Congo | Mauritania | 2-0 | 3-1 | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 15 | 28 March 2023 | Stade Cheikha Ould Boïdiya, Nouakchott, Mauritania | Mauritania | 1-0 | 1-1 | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 16 | 13 October 2023 | Estadio Nueva Condomina, Murcia, Spain | New Zealand | 1-0 | 1-1 | Friendly |
6. Honours and Achievements
Cédric Bakambu has accumulated a significant number of team honours and individual accolades throughout his professional career across different leagues and international competitions.
6.1. Club Honours
- Turkish Cup
- Runner-up: 2014-15 (with Bursaspor)
- Turkish Super Cup
- Runner-up: 2015 (with Bursaspor)
- Chinese FA Cup
- Winner: 2018 (with Beijing Guoan)
- Chinese FA Super Cup
- Runner-up: 2019 (with Beijing Guoan)
- La Liga
- Fourth Place: 2015-16 (with Villarreal)
- UEFA Europa League
- Semi-finalist: 2015-16 (with Villarreal)
- Chinese Super League
- Runner-up: 2019)
- Third Place: 2020)
- Fourth Place: 2018)
6.2. International Honours
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship
- Winner: 2010 (with France U-19)
- FIFA U-20 World Cup
- Fourth Place: 2011 (with France U-20)
6.3. Individual Awards and Records
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2010
- Turkish Cup Top Scorer: 2014-15
- Facebook FA La Liga Best Breakthrough: 2016
- Villarreal Rookie of the Year: 2015-16
- UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2015-16
- La Liga Player of the Month: October 2017
- Chinese Super League Top Scorer: 2020
- Super League Greece Player of the Month: January 2023
- Super League Greece Top Scorer: 2022-23
- Super League Greece Team of the Season: 2022-23
- Beijing Guoan All-Time Top Scorer