Player Profile: Eric Bailly

• Full name: Eric Bertrand Bailly
• Date of birth: April 12, 1994
• Place of birth: Bingerville, Ivory Coast
• Nationality: Ivorian (Ivory Coast)
• Position: Centre-back (defender)
• Preferred foot: Right

Club career (summary)

• Espanyol B (Spain) — early professional years in the reserve side.
• Villarreal CF (Spain) — broke into top-flight football and attracted wider attention with his physical defending and pace.
• Manchester United (England) — transferred in 2016; notable for strong early form, helped United with defensive contributions but suffered several injury setbacks during his time there.
• Olympique de Marseille (France) — joined on loan in 2022 (and later permanent or further moves depending on most recent transfer activity).

International career

• Represents the Ivory Coast national team (Côte d’Ivoire).
• Debut: 2016 (senior international debut year).
• Major tournaments: Participated with the national team in Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) editions and FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns.
• Role: Regular starter when fit; known for aggressive, physical defending, speed, and strong tackling.

Playing style and attributes

• Physical, athletic centre-back with good pace for recovery and one-on-one defending.
• Strong in tackles and aerial duels; comfortable bringing the ball out from the back.
• Injury record has affected consistency during parts of his club career.

Notable achievements

• Established himself as a top young defender at Villarreal, earning a high-profile move to Manchester United.
• Contributed to club and country at major competitions; recognized for solid defensive performances when fully fit.

Current status

As of the most recent updates, Eric Bailly remains an Ivorian international and a professional centre-back whose club affiliation has varied due to transfers and loans. For the latest club move, appearances, and statistics (goals, caps), consult current season sources or the club website for up-to-date information.