Career Timeline of Eric Bailly: Major Achievements and Milestones

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 18, 2026

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Eric Bailly made an impact.

Eric Bailly is an Ivorian professional footballer recognized for his role as a center-back. He gained significant international prominence during his tenure at Manchester United, where he became the first signing of the José Mourinho era in 2016. Known for his aggressive, athletic, and high-energy defensive style, Bailly has been praised for his physicality and technical capability. Despite his undeniable talent, his career has been frequently interrupted by recurring injury struggles, which hindered his consistency at the highest level. Internationally, he has been a key figure for the Ivory Coast national team, helping them secure victory in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. After leaving Manchester United in 2023, he has continued his career in various European leagues, maintaining a reputation as a bold and uncompromising defender.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

11 December 2023: Bailly Excluded from Beşiktaş Squad

On 11 December 2023, Beşiktaş officially announced that Eric Bailly, alongside four other players, was excluded from the team due to poor performance and internal incompatibility.

17 July 2026: Transfer to Columbus Crew

On 17 July 2026, Eric Bailly officially joined Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew on a free transfer, signing an initial contract set to run until June 2027 with an option for an extension through 2029.

18 October 2015: Red card against Celta Vigo

On 18 October 2015, Eric Bailly was sent off during a match against Celta Vigo at Estadio El Madrigal, which resulted in a 2–1 loss for his team.

19 January 2023: Seven-match suspension imposed

On 19 January 2023, the French Football Federation issued a seven-match suspension to Eric Bailly following his dangerous challenge in the earlier Coupe de France match.

December 2011: Joining Espanyol's youth system

In December 2011, at the age of 17, Eric Bailly officially joined the youth system of the Spanish football club Espanyol after being scouted at a tournament in Burkina Faso.

2013: Senior football debut

During the 2013-14 football campaign, Eric Bailly made his professional senior debut playing for the reserve team of Espanyol in the Segunda División B.

October 2014: La Liga Debut

On 5 October 2014, Eric Bailly achieved a significant career milestone by making his first-team and La Liga debut as a late substitute during a 2-0 victory against Real Sociedad, leading to his subsequent promotion to the main squad.

December 2014: Selection for 2015 Africa Cup of Nations squad

On 29 December 2014, Eric Bailly was selected by coach Hervé Renard as part of the 23-man squad to represent Ivory Coast in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

January 2015: International Debut and Championship Victory

On 11 January 2015, Bailly made his debut for the Ivory Coast national team in a friendly against Nigeria. He subsequently played in all six matches of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, helping his team win the championship title.

2015: International Debut and Africa Cup of Nations Victory

In 2015, Eric Bailly made his international debut for the Ivory Coast national football team and successfully contributed to the team's victory in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

June 2016: Transfer to Manchester United

In June 2016, professional footballer Eric Bailly completed a transfer to the English club Manchester United, marking a significant milestone in his career following his tenure at Villarreal.

August 2016: Voted Manchester United Player of the Month

In August 2016, Eric Bailly was honored as Manchester United's Player of the Month following his strong start with the club and recognition for his hard work leading to Man-of-the-Match performances.

August 2017: First League Goal for Manchester United

On 19 August 2017, Eric Bailly scored his debut league goal for Manchester United during a 4-0 away victory against Swansea City, capitalizing on a rebound from a Paul Pogba header.

2017: Participation in 2017 Africa Cup of Nations

In 2017, Bailly was included in the Ivory Coast squad for the Africa Cup of Nations held in Gabon, where he played every minute of all three group stage matches during the team's unsuccessful tournament campaign.

February 2018: Return to professional action

On 17 February 2018, Bailly returned to the pitch as a substitute for Romelu Lukaku during a 2–0 FA Cup victory against Huddersfield.

October 2018: First International Goal

On 12 October 2018, Eric Bailly scored his debut goal for the Ivory Coast national team during a 4–0 victory against the Central African Republic in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match held at the Stade Bouaké.

December 2018: Red card against AFC Bournemouth

On 30 December 2018, Eric Bailly was sent off during a 4-1 victory over AFC Bournemouth following a foul on Ryan Fraser, an incident that drew public criticism from his manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjær.

January 2020: Return to play for U-23 squad and contract extension

Throughout January 2020, Bailly marked his return to competitive football by playing for Manchester United's under-23 team against Newcastle United on 10 January 2020, and subsequently signed a two-year contract extension with Manchester United on 17 January 2020.

2020: 2020 Summer Olympics Tournament Participation

During the 2020 Summer Olympics, which took place in 2021, Eric Bailly made four appearances for the Ivory Coast, including his debut in a victory against Saudi Arabia on 22 July 2021 and a goal scored during a quarter-final loss to Spain.

2020: Participation in the 2020 Olympics

During the year 2020, Eric Bailly represented his country by competing in the Olympic Games football tournament.

April 2021: Contract Extension with Manchester United

On 26 April 2021, Eric Bailly committed his future to Manchester United by signing a new contract that extends his tenure at the club until 2024, with the potential for an additional year.

July 2021: Selection for the 2020 Summer Olympics

On 3 July 2021, Eric Bailly was officially named as one of the designated overaged players to represent the Ivory Coast national football team at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

September 2021: First appearance of the 2021-2022 campaign

On 23 September 2021, Eric Bailly made his season debut for Manchester United in an EFL Cup match against West Ham United, which ended in a 1–0 defeat.

2021: Africa Cup of Nations Participation

During the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, Eric Bailly faced physical setbacks, including a head injury during a match against Sierra Leone that sidelined him for the Algeria game, and later missing a crucial penalty in a shootout against Egypt while wearing a protective scrum cap.

2021: Contract term end

The contract extension signed in January 2020 ensured that Eric Bailly would remain tied to Manchester United until the conclusion of the 2021-22 season.

2022: Conclusion of Marseille loan spell

During the 2022–23 Ligue 1 season, Eric Bailly completed his time at Marseille, where he participated in 17 matches across all competitions, including five appearances in the starting lineup.

September 2023: Signing with Beşiktaş

On 4 September 2023, the Süper Lig club Beşiktaş officially announced the signing of Eric Bailly, securing the player on a reported one-year contract.

December 2023: Return to Villarreal

On 30 December 2023, Eric Bailly officially rejoined the Spanish football club Villarreal after signing a contract that is set to run until the summer of 2025.

2024: Contract Expiry Target

In 2024, Eric Bailly reached the initially agreed upon expiration of the contract extension he signed in April 2021, marking the end of that specific term of his professional commitment to the club.

June 2025: Contract Expiration Date

As part of the deal signed in December 2023, Eric Bailly's contractual tenure with Villarreal is scheduled to conclude on 30 June 2025.

August 2025: Signed with Real Oviedo

On 18 August 2025, Eric Bailly officially joined the Spanish club Real Oviedo by signing a two-year contract to play in the top tier of Spanish football.

February 2026: First La Liga Goal

On 21 February 2026, Bailly scored his first goal in La Liga during a 3-3 draw against Real Sociedad, netting the decisive strike in stoppage time.

22 October 2015: First career goal

On 22 October 2015, Eric Bailly scored his first career goal during a 4–0 home victory against Dinamo Minsk in the UEFA Europa League.

24 August 2022: Loan transfer to Marseille

On 24 August 2022, Eric Bailly officially signed with the Ligue 1 club Marseille on a season-long loan deal for the 2022–23 campaign.

28 August 2022: Debut for Marseille

On 28 August 2022, Eric Bailly made his first appearance for Marseille as a substitute, contributing to a 3–0 victory against Nice.

29 December 2023: Contract Termination with Beşiktaş

On 29 December 2023, it was confirmed that Eric Bailly's contract with Beşiktaş had been formally terminated.

29 January 2015: Transfer to Villarreal

On 29 January 2015, Eric Bailly officially signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with the La Liga club Villarreal for a transfer fee of €5.7 million to replace Gabriel Paulista.

7 January 2023: Red card in Coupe de France match

On 7 January 2023, Eric Bailly was sent off during a Coupe de France match against Hyères due to a dangerous high challenge that resulted in the hospitalization of opponent Moussa N'Diaye.