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Carlos Baleba
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 Baleba with Brighton & Hove Albion in 2026 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba | ||
| Date of birth | 3 January 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Douala, Cameroon | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Manchester United | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Futur Soccer FC | |||
| 2017–2022 | EF Brasseries du Cameroun | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2023 | Lille B | 13 | (1) |
| 2022–2023 | Lille | 21 | (0) |
| 2023–2026 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 92 | (3) |
| 2026– | Manchester United | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024– | Cameroon | 16 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:22, 24 May 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 23:50, 9 January 2026 (UTC) | |||
Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba (born 3 January 2004) is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a central or defensive midfielder for Premier League club Manchester United and the Cameroon national team.
Baleba joined French club Lille in January 2022. He made 23 first-team appearances for the club, before joining Brighton & Hove Albion in August 2023. He made 112 appearances for Brighton across three seasons, winning the club's Young Player of the Season award in 2024–25. He signed for Manchester United in August 2026.
Baleba made his senior international debut for Cameroon in June 2024. He represented Cameroon at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Early life
Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba[2] was born on 3 January 2004 in Douala, Cameroon to Cameroonian-French parents. Baleba holds both Cameroonian and French citizenship from his parents.[3] His father is a former professional footballer who played in South Africa and Cameroon.[4] He grew up in the neighbourhood of Akwa and is of Bassa descent.[4] Baleba started playing football at Futur Soccer FC in Douala and then joined École de Football des Brasseries du Cameroun academy centre at the age of 13.[4]
Club career
Lille
Baleba was transferred to Ligue 1 side Lille in January 2022,[5][6] having already attracted the scouts of several other European clubs.[7][8] Having arrived along with another youngster, Joffrey Bazié; the two Africans first joined Lille's reserve team, that played in Championnat National 3 that season.[7][9]
Despite being in the matchday squad multiple times towards the end of the 2021–22 Ligue 1 season, Baleba's professional debut had to wait until the 2022–23 season where he would break into the first team of newly appointed manager Paulo Fonseca.[10][11][12]
Baleba made his professional debut for Lille on 7 August 2022, replacing Angel Gomes during a 4–1 Ligue 1 win against Auxerre.[13][14][15]
Brighton and Hove Albion
On 29 August 2023, Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion announced the signing of Baleba on a five-year contract.[16] According to various reports, the financial details of the transfer include an initial and base fee of €27 million, a maximum of €3 million add-ons depending on sporting conditions and a 15% sell-on clause.[17][18][19][20] Baleba made his debut for Brighton in a 3–1 home victory against Bournemouth on 24 September, coming on as a 73rd minute substitute for Mahmoud Dahoud.[21] On 8 October, Baleba made his first start for Brighton in a 2–2 draw against Liverpool.[22]
On 18 September 2024, Baleba scored his first goal in Brighton colours in a 3–2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the third round of the EFL Cup.[23] Just over a week later on 28 September, Baleba scored his first league goal for the Seagulls in a 4–2 loss to Chelsea.[24] On 26 April 2025, Baleba scored an injury-time winner with a powerful shot outside the box in a 3–2 victory against West Ham United, which was later voted the Premier League Goal of the Month.[25][26]
Manchester United
On 25 August 2026, Baleba signed for Manchester United on a five-year contract.[27] The transfer fee was reportedly £70m including add-ons.[28]
International career
Baleba made his debut for the Cameroon national team on 8 June 2024, in a 4–1 victory against Cape Verde in a World Cup qualifier at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium. He started the game and played 80 minutes.[29]
Baleba was included in the list of Cameroonian players selected by coach David Pagou to participate in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.[30]
Style of play
Known for his stamina, dribbling and passing range, Baleba is a central midfielder who can play in a box-to-box role or as a holding midfielder.[31][32] He grew up idolising Paul Pogba, Kevin De Bruyne, Thiago Alcântara as well as former Lille players Nicolas Pépé and Idrissa Gueye.[4] Baleba is also noted for his physicality, ball-winning ability and willingness to press opponents.[31][32] His tenacity and strength allow him to regain possession and force turnovers, including through pressing high up the pitch.[31][32] In possession, he often drops deep to receive passes from the goalkeeper or centre-backs and looks to progress the ball forward, either through left-footed passes into wide areas or by carrying it through midfield himself.[31][32] His combination of pace and power enables him to drive past opponents with the ball.[31][32]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 24 May 2026[33]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Lille B | 2021–22[34] | National 3 | 9 | 1 | — | — | — | 9 | 1 | |||
| 2022–23[34] | National 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 13 | 1 | — | — | — | 13 | 1 | |||||
| Lille | 2022–23 | Ligue 1 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | Ligue 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 | ||||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2023–24 | Premier League | 27 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6[c] | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| 2024–25 | Premier League | 34 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 40 | 4 | ||
| 2025–26 | Premier League | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 35 | 0 | ||
| Total | 92 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 112 | 4 | ||
| Manchester United | 2026–27 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | 126 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 148 | 5 | ||
- ↑ Includes Coupe de France, FA Cup
- ↑ Includes EFL Cup
- ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
International
- As of match played 9 January 2026[35]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cameroon | 2024 | 5 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2026 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 16 | 0 | |
Honours
Individual
- Brighton & Hove Albion Young Player of the Season: 2024–25[36]
- Premier League Goal of the Month: April 2025[26]
References
- ↑ "Carlos Baleba Overview". premierleague.com. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "2025/26 Premier League updated squad lists". Premier League. 5 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ↑ "Carlos Baleba". LOSC (in French). Archived from the original on 25 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 Pousset, Maxime (24 January 2023). "Dans les pas de Carlos Baleba". LOSC (in French). Retrieved 25 January 2023.
- ↑ "Carlos Baleba est Lillois". efbc-cm.com. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ↑ "Carlos Baleba, un nouveau Camerounais au LOSC". LOSC (in French). 14 January 2022. Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- 1 2 Guilbaud, Philippe (14 January 2022). "Mercato : la pépite Carlos Baleba s'engage pour cinq ans au LOSC". La Voix du Nord (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ↑ Yomba, Steve Wilfried (6 January 2022). "Mercato: Âgé de 18 ans, Carlos Noom Baleba signe au LOSC". Camerfoot-Infos (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ↑ Da Rocha, Joseph (14 January 2022). "Officiel : Carlos Baleba et Joffrey Bazié rejoignent le LOSC". Le Petit Lillois (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ↑ Esanji, Isaac (1 August 2022). "Ligue 1 : Carlos Baleba, la très belle révélation camerounaise de la préparation de Lille". L'Actu (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ↑ "LOSC : Carlos Baleba, la très belle révélation de la préparation". La Voix du Nord (in French). 1 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ↑ Bja, Rayan (31 July 2022). "Carlos Baleba, le milieu qui monte au LOSC". Le Petit Lillois (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ↑ Marouby, Corentin (7 August 2022). "Lille 4–1 Auxerre, Ligue 1, résultat et résumé du match". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ↑ Esanji, Isaac (8 August 2022). "Carlos Baleba : " Fier d'avoir effectué mes premières minutes en Ligue 1 "". L'Actu (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ↑ Lasseron, Arthur (8 August 2022). "Paulo Fonseca (LOSC) : " C'est très important de démarrer fort "". Le 11 HDF (in French). Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ↑ Hanson, Charlie (29 August 2023). "Carlos Baleba joins Albion from Lille". Brighton & Hove Albion. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ↑ Sherlock, Harry (26 August 2023). "Moises Caicedo replacement? Brighton close in on 19-year-old wonderkid Carlos Baleba to replace £115m man". Goal. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ↑ "Lille to retain 15% sell-on clause in departure of Carlos Baleba to Brighton". OneFootball. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ↑ Lafont, Romain (28 August 2023). "Transferts : Carlos Baleba (Lille) à Brighton, c'est imminent". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ↑ Marcant, Raphaël (29 August 2023). "Officiel : Carlos Baleba quitte le LOSC pour Brighton et la Premier League". Le Petit Lillois (in French). Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ↑ "Mitoma Magic as Albion Pick off the Cherries". brightonandhovealbion.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ↑ Brighton and Hove Albion F.C. (8 October 2023). "Team News for Liverpool 08.10.2023". X.com. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ↑ Coates, Charlotte (18 September 2024). "Brighton defeat Wolves to move forward in the EFL Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ↑ "Chelsea's Cole Palmer hits record four goals in first half to rock Brighton". The Guardian. 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ↑ Nelson, Joe (26 April 2025). "Brighton & Hove Albion 3–2 West Ham United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- 1 2 "Baleba's stunner wins Guinness Goal of the Month award". Premier League. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
- ↑ "Carlos Baleba joins United". ManUtd.com. 25 August 2026. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
- ↑ "Carlos Baleba transfer: Manchester United complete signing of Cameroon midfielder from Brighton". Sky Sports. 25 August 2026.
- ↑ "Cameroon v Cape Verde game report". ESPN. 8 June 2024.
- ↑ "André Onana et Vincent Aboubakar absents, Christian Kofane et Eric-Junior Dina Ebimbe appelés... La liste du Cameroun pour la CAN 2025". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 1 December 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Clarke, Adrian (23 February 2025). "Analysis: Baleba and Ayari at the heart of Brighton's push for Europe". Premier League. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Anka, Carl (19 August 2026). "How Carlos Baleba would fit at Manchester United and what else to know". The Athletic. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
- ↑ Carlos Baleba at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Carlos Baleba matches". besoccer.com. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "Carlos Baleba". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/pages/en/media-article/club-news-players-award-winners-2024-25-may-2025
External links
- Carlos Baleba at the Manchester United F.C. website
- Carlos Baleba at Premier League (archived former page)
- Carlos Baleba at Soccerway
- Carlos Baleba at Athletic updates
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