Carlos Baleba

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 Brighton & Hove Albion.

Carlos Baleba
Personal information
Full name Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba
Date of birth (2004-01-03) 3 January 2004
Place of birth Douala, Cameroon
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Brighton & Hove Albion
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– Brighton & Hove Albion 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:03, 9 October 2023

Early life

Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba was born on 4 January 2004 in Douala, Cameroon.[1] His father is a former professional footballer who played in South Africa and Cameroon.[2] He grew up in the neighbourhood of Akwa and is of Bassa descent.[2] 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.[2]

Club career

Lille

Baleba was transferred to French team Lille in January 2022,[3][4] having already attracted the scouts of several other European clubs.[5][6] Having arrived in the Nord along with another youngster Joffrey Bazié; the two Africans first joined Lille's reserve team, that played in National 3 that season.[5][7]

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 Ligue 1 season where he would break into the first team of newly appointed manager, Paulo Fonseca.[8][9][10]

He made his professional debut for Lille on 7 August 2022, replacing Angel Gomes during a 4–1 Ligue 1 win against Auxerre.[11][12][13]

Brighton & Hove Albion

On 29 August 2023, Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion announced the signing of Baleba on a five-year contract.[14] 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.[15][16][17][18] Baleba made his debut for the Albion in a 3–1 home victory against AFC Bournemouth on 24 September, coming on as a 73rd minute substitute for Mahmoud Dahoud.[19] On 8 October, Baleba made his first start for the Albion in a 2–2 draw against Liverpool.[20]

Style of play

Known for his stamina, dribbling and passing range, Baleba is a complete and powerful central midfielder who can play in a box-to-box role or as a holding midfielder. He grew up idolising Paul Pogba, Kevin De Bruyne, Thiago Alcântara as well as former Lille players Nicolas Pépé and Idrissa Gueye.[2]

Career statistics
As of match played 8 October 2023[21]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoals Apps GoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lille B 2021–22 Championnat National 3 91— ——91
2022–23 Championnat National 3 40— ——40
Total 131— ——131
Lille 2022–23 Ligue 1 19020 0 0—210
2023–24 Ligue 1 2000 0 00020
Total 21020 0 000230
Brighton & Hove Albion 2023–24 Premier League 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 0
Career total 37120 1 000401

    References
    1. "Carlos Baleba". LOSC (in French). Archived from the original on 25 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
    2. Pousset, Maxime (24 January 2023). "Dans les pas de Carlos Baleba". LOSC (in French). Retrieved 25 January 2023.
    3. "Carlos Baleba est Lillois". efbc-cm.com. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
    4. "Carlos Baleba, un nouveau Camerounais au LOSC". LOSC (in French). 14 January 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. Da Rocha, Joseph (14 January 2022). "Officiel : Carlos Baleba et Joffrey Bazié rejoignent le LOSC". Le Petit Lillois (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2022.
    8. 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.
    9. "LOSC : Carlos Baleba, la très belle révélation de la préparation". La Voix du Nord (in French). 1 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
    10. Bja, Rayan. "Carlos Baleba, le milieu qui monte au LOSC". Le Petit Lillois (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2022.
    11. Marouby, Corentin (7 August 2022). "Lille 4-1 Auxerre, Ligue 1, résultat et résumé du match". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2022.
    12. 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.
    13. Lasseron, Arthur (8 August 2022). "Paulo Fonseca (LOSC) : " C'est très important de démarrer fort "". Le 11 HDF (in French). Retrieved 8 August 2022.
    14. Hanson, Charlie (29 August 2023). "Carlos Baleba joins Albion from Lille". Brighton & Hove Albion. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
    15. 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.
    16. "Lille to retain 15% sell-on clause in departure of Carlos Baleba to Brighton". OneFootball. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
    17. Lafont, Romain (28 August 2023). "Transferts : Carlos Baleba (Lille) à Brighton, c'est imminent". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 29 August 2023.
    18. 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.
    19. https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/3698892/mitoma-magic-as-albion-pick-off-the-cherries
    20. Brighton and Hove Albion F.C. (8 October 2023). "Team News for Liverpool 08.10.2023". X.com. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
    21. Carlos Baleba at Soccerway
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