1. Overview
Jonathan Fousseni Bamba, born on March 26, 1996, is a professional footballer who plays as a left winger or attacking midfielder for Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire. Born in France, he holds dual nationality and represents the Ivory Coast national team internationally. Throughout his career, Bamba has achieved significant success, including winning the Ligue 1 title and the Trophée des Champions with Lille OSC, and the Africa Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast national team. He is recognized for his contributions to both club and international football, demonstrating consistent performance across various leagues.
2. Early Life and Background
Jonathan Fousseni Bamba was born on March 26, 1996, in Alfortville, France. He is of Ivorian descent, which granted him dual French and Ivorian nationality, allowing him the choice to represent either nation in international football. His journey in professional football began at an early age; he was part of the CAP Charenton youth setup from 2002 to 2005 before joining the youth academy of Saint-Étienne in 2011, where he honed his skills and developed as a promising talent.
3. Professional Career
Bamba's professional career spans several clubs across France, Belgium, and Spain, before his move to the United States. He has consistently played as a winger or attacking midfielder, contributing significantly to his teams' offensive efforts.
3.1. Saint-Étienne
Jonathan Bamba is a product of the Saint-Étienne youth academy, which he joined in 2011. His time at the club saw him progress from the youth ranks to the first team, interspersed with several loan spells to gain experience.
3.1.1. Youth Career and Debut
After joining the Saint-Étienne youth academy in 2011, Bamba made his Ligue 1 debut on January 25, 2015, against Paris Saint-Germain. He came on as a substitute for Yohan Mollo in the 82nd minute of a match that ended in a 0-1 home defeat for Saint-Étienne. During the summer of 2015, he also scored against Ajax Amsterdam in a pre-season friendly. Later that year, on September 20, 2015, he started in a Ligue 1 match against Nantes and scored his first competitive goal for the Saint-Étienne first team in the 26th minute, contributing to a 2-0 home victory.
3.1.2. Loan Spells
To further his development and gain more playing time, Bamba embarked on several loan spells. On January 18, 2016, he joined Ligue 2 club Paris FC on loan until the end of the 2015-16 Ligue 2 season. This agreement did not include an option for Paris FC to make the transfer permanent.
In the summer of 2016, Bamba was loaned to Belgian First Division A club Sint-Truiden. However, his loan spell was cut short, and Sint-Truiden sent him back to Saint-Étienne during the winter break of the 2016-17 Belgian First Division A season. Following his return, on January 4, 2017, Bamba was again loaned out, this time to Ligue 1 club Angers, for the remainder of the 2016-17 Ligue 1 season.
3.1.3. First-Team Activity at Saint-Étienne
Upon his return from loan spells, Bamba became a more integral part of the Saint-Étienne first team. On September 24, 2017, he scored Saint-Étienne's second equalizer from the penalty spot in a 2-2 Ligue 1 home draw against Rennes. This goal marked his fourth Ligue 1 goal of the 2017-18 Ligue 1 season, with three of them being penalties.
3.2. Lille OSC
On July 2, 2018, Bamba signed a five-year deal with Lille OSC, marking a significant step in his career. This move proved to be highly successful, as he became a key player in Lille's achievements.
3.2.1. Transfer and Major Seasons
Bamba made his competitive debut for Lille on August 11, 2018, scoring the final goal in a 3-1 Ligue 1 home victory over Stade Rennais. Just two weeks later, in his third Ligue 1 match for Lille, he scored two goals in a 3-0 home win against Guingamp, bringing his 2018-19 Ligue 1 goal tally to three. His strong start continued on September 30, when he scored two goals, including a penalty, in the final six minutes of a 3-0 Ligue 1 home win over Marseille. On October 6, he further increased his 2018-19 Ligue 1 goal tally to seven, matching his total from the entire previous season, by scoring two more goals and assisting Nicolas Pépé's goal in a 3-1 Ligue 1 home win over his former club, Saint-Étienne.
Following the cancellation of the 2019-20 Ligue 1 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bamba solidified his position as a regular starter for Lille. He played in all league games during the 2020-21 Ligue 1 season, which saw Lille clinch their fourth league title.
3.2.2. League Title and Trophée des Champions
Bamba was a crucial part of the Lille team that achieved significant success during his tenure. In the 2020-21 Ligue 1 season, Lille won the league title, marking their first Ligue 1 championship in a decade. The following season, during the 2021-22 Lille OSC season, he participated in the Trophée des Champions match against PSG, which Lille won 1-0, securing the club's first-ever French Super Cup. Bamba also played a role in Lille's 2021-22 UEFA Champions League campaign, helping the team advance from the group stage before facing Chelsea in the Round of 16.
3.3. RC Celta de Vigo
On July 18, 2023, Bamba moved to Spain, signing a three-year deal with La Liga club Celta. He played for the club for a year and a half before his next move.
3.4. Chicago Fire FC
On January 21, 2025, Jonathan Bamba transferred to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire on a three-year deal, becoming a designated player for the club.
4. International Career
Jonathan Bamba's international career reflects his dual heritage, having represented France at youth levels before ultimately committing to the Ivory Coast senior national team.
4.1. France Youth Teams
Early in his career, Bamba represented France at various youth levels. He played for the France U-16 team in 2011, the France U-18 team in 2013, the France U-20 team from 2015 to 2016, and the France U-21 team from 2017 to 2019. During his time with the France U-20 team, he made 7 appearances and scored 2 goals, while with the France U-21 team, he played 21 matches and scored 5 goals.
4.2. Ivory Coast Senior Team
In March 2023, Bamba made the decision to switch his international allegiance to the Ivory Coast, accepting a call-up to the Ivorian senior national team. He was included in the squad for two Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Comoros.
4.2.1. Africa Cup of Nations
In December 2023, Bamba was named in the Ivory Coast's squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. He was part of the starting lineup for Ivory Coast's opening match of the tournament, a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau. The Ivory Coast national team went on to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, marking a significant achievement in Bamba's international career.
5. Career Statistics
The following table details Jonathan Bamba's club career statistics as of February 22, 2025.
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Saint-Étienne | 2014-15 | Ligue 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | |
| 2015-16 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | 11 | 1 | |||
| 2017-18 | 34 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 37 | 8 | ||||
| Total | 42 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 9 | ||
| Paris FC (loan) | 2015-16 | Ligue 2 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 14 | 0 | ||
| Sint-Truiden (loan) | 2016-17 | Belgian Pro League | 8 | 2 | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | 11 | 3 | |||
| Angers (loan) | 2016-17 | Ligue 1 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 20 | 3 | ||
| Lille | 2018-19 | Ligue 1 | 38 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 41 | 14 | ||
| 2019-20 | 26 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | - | 37 | 1 | |||
| 2020-21 | 38 | 6 | 2 | 0 | - | 8 | 1 | - | 48 | 7 | ||||
| 2021-22 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 1 | |||
| 2022-23 | 34 | 6 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 35 | 6 | |||||
| Total | 167 | 27 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 200 | 29 | ||
| Celta | 2023-24 | La Liga | 27 | 3 | 1 | 2 | - | - | - | 28 | 5 | |||
| 2024-25 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | 14 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 39 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 6 | ||
| Chicago Fire | 2025 | Major League Soccer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 287 | 43 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 340 | 50 | ||
6. Honours
Jonathan Bamba has accumulated several significant team and individual honors throughout his professional career.
6.1. Club Honours
Bamba's most notable club achievements came during his time with Lille OSC:
- Ligue 1: 2020-21
- Trophée des Champions: 2021
6.2. International Honours
With the Ivory Coast national team, Bamba has achieved a major continental title:
- Africa Cup of Nations: 2023
6.3. Individual Honours
Bamba has also received individual recognition for his performances:
- UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: April 2019, October 2020