Eric Bailly
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 07/2016
Personal information
Full name
Eric Bertrand Bailly
Date of birth
12 April 1994
Place of birth
Bingerville, Ivory Coast
Height
1.87 m (6 ft 1 1⁄2 in)
Playing position
Centre-back
Club information
Current team
Manchester United
Cameroon
Manchester United FC
Article
Youth career
Espanyol
2011-2013
Senior career*
Espanyol B
2013-2014
21x apps / 0x goal
Espanyol
2014-2015
5x apps / 0x goal
Villarreal
2015-2016
35x apps / 1x goal
Manchester United
2016-
0x apps / 0x goal
National team
Ivory Coast
2015-
15x apps / 0x goal
(* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:12, 8 June 2016 (UTC). National team caps and goals correct as of 17:12, 8 June 2016 (UTC)
Eric Bertrand Bailly is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for English club Manchester United.
Bailly began his professional career at Spain's Espanyol, before transferring to Villarreal for €5.7 million.
He signed 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.
Club career
Espanyol
Born in Bingerville, Bailly joined RCD Espanyol's youth system in December 2011, aged 17.
He only received a work permit in October of the following year, and made his senior debuts in the 2013–14 campaign with the reserves, in Segunda División B.
On 5 October 2014, Bailly made his first-team - and La Liga - debut, coming on as a late substitute in a 2:0 home win against Real Sociedad.
He was promoted to the main squad shortly after.
Villarrea
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 SD Eibar.
On 19 March, Bailly made his UEFA Europa League debut, starting and being sent off in a 2:1 away loss against Sevilla FC.
On 18 October 2015, Bailly was sent off shortly after the interval in a 2:1 loss to Celta de Vigo at Estadio El Madrigal.
He made seven appearances as the team reached the last four of the season's Europa League; on 22 October he scored his only goal for the team, to conclude a 4:0 home group win over FC Dinamo Minsk.
Manchester United
On 8 June 2016, Bailly signed a four-year contract, with the option of an additional two, with Premier League side Manchester United.
International 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.