Eric Bailly Biography – Age, Club, Country, Profile

Eric Bertrand Bailly was born on 12 April 1994 in Bingerville. He is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays for English club Manchester United and the Ivory Coast national team. Mainly a central defender, he can also play as a right-back. Bailly joined RCD Espanyol’s youth system in December 2011, aged 17. He was spotted by Espanyol’s Emilio Montagut after taking part in a youth tournament in Burkina Faso, organised by Spanish company Promoesport. Some records of that time erroneously list his name as Eric Bertrand (his middle name misinterpreted as his paternal surname).


Bertrand began his professional career at Spain’s Espanyol, before transferring to Villarreal. He spent two seasons at the club, before signing for Manchester United in June 2016. He made his international debut for the Ivory Coast in 2015 and helped them win that year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

On 29 January 2015, Bailly signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with fellow La Liga team Villarreal for a €5.7 million fee, mainly as a replacement to Arsenal-bound Gabriel Paulista. He made his debut for the Yellow Submarine on 22 February, starting in a 1–0 home win against Eibar.

On 8 June 2016, Eric joined Premier League side Manchester United for a reported fee of £30 million, signing a four-year contract, with the option of an additional two. He was the first player signed by their new manager José Mourinho.

Looking into his international football career; On 29 December 2014, Bailly was included in Hervé Renard’s 23-man squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. He made his debut on 11 January 2015, in a friendly against Nigeria, and appeared in all six matches during the competition as his side were crowned champions.

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