Carlos Baleba

Carlos Baleba (born 3 January 2004) is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for French Ligue 1 club Lille.

Carlos Baleba
Personal information
Full name Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba
Date of birth (2004-01-03) 3 January 2004
Place of birth Douala, Cameroon
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Lille
Number 35
Youth career
2017–2022 Brasseries du Cameroun
2022 Lille
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Lille B 12 (1)
2022– Lille 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 January 2023

Early life

Carlos Baleba was born on 3 January 2004 in Douala, Cameroon.[1] He grew up in Akwa neighbourhood and is of Bassa descent.[2] His father is a former professional footballer who played in South Africa and Cameroon.[2]

Career

Baleba started playing football at Futur Soccer FC in Douala and then joined École de Football des Brasseries du Cameroun academy center at the age of 13.[2] He was transferred to Lille in January 2022,[3][4] since he had already attracted the scouts of several other European clubs.[5][6] Having arrived in the Nord along with other youngster Joffrey Bazié, the two Africans first joined Lille's reserve team, that played in National 3 that season.[5][7]

Having made a few appearances on the bench without making his professional debut, during the late stages of the 2021–22 Ligue 1 season, Baleba really became part of the first team during the following pre-season, impressing newly appointed manager Paulo Fonseca.[8][9][10]

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

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 idolizing Paul Pogba, Kevin De Bruyne, Thiago Alcântara as well as Nicolas Pépé and Idrissa Gueye.[2]

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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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