{{Short description|Ivorian footballer (born 1996)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Jonathan Bamba | image = Jonathan Bamba Philadelphia Chicago 10.26.25-002 (cropped).jpg | caption = Bamba with the [[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]] in 2025 | full_name = Jonathan Fousseni Bamba<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-05 |title=CÔTE D'IVOIRE |url=https://www.cafonline.com/media/ow2obxrw/c%C3%B4te-divoire.pdf |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=CAF |language=en}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|3|26|df=y}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur49844.html|title=Jonathan Bamba (Celta Vigo)|website=L'Équipe}}</ref> | birth_place = [[Alfortville]], France | height = 1.75 m<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rccelta.es/en/jugadores/jonathan-bamba/ |title=Jonathan Bamba |publisher=RC Celta de Vigo |access-date=10 February 2024}}</ref> | position = [[Winger (association football)|Left winger]], [[attacking midfielder]] | currentclub = [[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]] | clubnumber = 19 | youthyears1 = 2002–2005 | youthclubs1 = [[CA Paris-Charenton|CA Paris]] | youthyears2 = 2005–2011 | youthclubs2 = UJA Alfortville | youthyears3 = 2011–2015 | youthclubs3 = [[AS Saint-Étienne|Saint-Étienne]] | years1 = 2013–2015 | clubs1 = [[AS Saint-Étienne|Saint-Étienne B]] | caps1 = 51 | goals1 = 12 | years2 = 2015–2018 | clubs2 = [[AS Saint-Étienne|Saint-Étienne]] | caps2 = 42 | goals2 = 8 | years3 = 2016 | clubs3 = → [[Paris FC]] (loan) | caps3 = 14 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2016 | clubs4 = → [[Sint-Truidense V.V.|Sint-Truiden]] (loan) | caps4 = 8 | goals4 = 2 | years5 = 2017 | clubs5 = → [[Angers SCO|Angers]] (loan) | caps5 = 16 | goals5 = 3 | years6 = 2018–2023 | clubs6 = [[Lille OSC|Lille]] | caps6 = 167 | goals6 = 27 | years7 = 2023–2025 | clubs7 = [[RC Celta de Vigo|Celta Vigo]] | caps7 = 39 | goals7 = 3 | years8 = 2025– | clubs8 = [[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]] | caps8 = 43 | goals8 = 7 | nationalyears1 = 2011 | nationalteam1 = [[France national under-16 football team|France U16]] | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2013 | nationalteam2 = [[France national under-18 football team|France U18]] | nationalcaps2 = 3 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2015–2016 | nationalteam3 = [[France national under-20 football team|France U20]] | nationalcaps3 = 7 | nationalgoals3 = 2 | nationalyears4 = 2017–2019 | nationalteam4 = [[France national under-21 football team|France U21]] | nationalcaps4 = 21 | nationalgoals4 = 5 | nationalyears5 = 2023– | nationalteam5 = [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]] | nationalcaps5 = 10 | nationalgoals5 = 1 | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|CIV}}}} {{MedalSport|Men's [[association football|football]]}} {{Medal|Competition|[[Africa Cup of Nations]]}} {{Medal|W|[[2023 Africa Cup of Nations|2023 Ivory Coast]]|}} | club-update = 13 May 2026 | nationalteam-update = 26 March 2024 }}
'''Jonathan Fousseni Bamba''' (born 26 March 1996) is a professional [[Association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[Winger (football)|left winger]] or [[attacking midfielder]] for [[Major League Soccer]] club [[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]].<ref name="soccerway">{{Soccerway|id=jonathan-bamba/312250|name=Jonathan Bamba|access-date=31 August 2021}}</ref> Born in France, he plays for the [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast national team]].
==Club career== ===Saint-Étienne=== [[File:Jonathan Bamba Paris FC.JPG|thumb|left|200px|Bamba playing for [[Paris FC]] in 2016.]]
Jonathan Fousseni Bamba is a graduate of [[AS Saint-Étienne|Saint-Étienne]] youth academy, which he joined in 2011.
Bamba made his [[Ligue 1]] debut on 25 January 2015 against [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]] replacing [[Yohan Mollo]] after 82 minutes in a 0–1 home defeat. During the summer of 2015 he scored against [[AFC Ajax|Ajax Amsterdam]] in a pre-season friendly. On 20 September 2015, he started in the Ligue 1 match against [[FC Nantes|Nantes]] and scored in the 26th minute to register his first competitive goal for Saint-Étienne's first team in a 2–0 home win.<ref name="soccerway2">{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/01/25/france/ligue-1/association-sportive-de-saint-etienne-loire/paris-saint-germain-fc/1687137/|title=Saint-Étienne vs. PSG - 25 January 2015 - Soccerway|publisher=soccerway.com|access-date=2015-01-26}}</ref>
On 18 January 2016, Bamba joined [[Ligue 2]] club [[Paris FC]] on loan until the end of the [[2015-16 Ligue 2|2015-16 season]], with Paris FC not given an option to buy him when the loan expired.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2016/jonathan-bamba-to-join-paris-fc-on-loan/|title=Jonathan Bamba to join Paris FC on loan|publisher=Get French Football News|date=18 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Bilel-moshni-angers-et-jonathan-bamba-saint-etienne-au-paris-fc/625865|title=Bilel Moshni (Angers) et Jonathan Bamba (Saint-Etienne) au Paris FC|publisher=L'Équipe|date=18 January 2016}}</ref> Bamba was loaned to Belgian First Division A club [[Sint-Truidense V.V.|Sint-Truiden]] in the summer of 2016. However Sint-Truiden sent him back early to Saint-Etienne during the winter break of the [[2016–17 Belgian First Division A|2016–17 season]]. On 4 January 2017, Bamba was loaned to Ligue 1 club [[Angers SCO|Angers]] until the end of the [[2016-17 Ligue 1|2016-17 season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Transfert-jonathan-bamba-prete-a-angers/765698|title=Transfert : Jonathan Bamba prêté à Angers| publisher=L'Équipe|date=4 January 2017}}</ref>
On 24 September 2017, Bamba scored Saint-Étienne's second equalizing goal from the penalty spot in a 2–2 Ligue 1 home draw against [[Stade Rennais F.C.|Rennes]] to register his fourth Ligue 1 goal (three of which were penalties) of the [[2017–18 Ligue 1|2017–18 season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ligue1.com/ligue1/article/saint-etienne-come-from-behind-twice-in-rennes-draw.htm|title=Saint-Étienne come from behind twice in Rennes draw|publisher=www.ligue1.com|date=24 September 2017}}</ref>
===Lille=== [[File:FC Salzburg gegen OSC Lille (Cl-Gruppenphase 29. September 2021) 76.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|left|Bamba (black) with [[Lille OSC|Lille]] against [[FC Red Bull Salzburg|Salzburg]] in 2021]] On 2 July 2018, Bamba signed a five-year deal with [[Lille OSC]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/En-fin-de-contrat-a-saint-etienne-jonathan-bamba-signe-a-lille/918083|title=En fin de contrat à Saint-Etienne, Jonathan Bamba signe à Lille|publisher=[[L'Équipe]]|date=2 July 2018}}</ref> On 11 August 2018, Bamba made his competitive debut for Lille and scored the final goal of the match in the 3–1 Ligue 1 home win over Stade Rennais. Two weeks later, he played his third Ligue 1 match for Lille and took his [[2018–19 Ligue 1]] goal tally to three when he scored two goals in the 3–0 Ligue 1 home win over [[En Avant de Guingamp|Guingamp]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ligue1.com/ligue1/article/bamba-doubles-up-as-lille-take-down-guingamp.htm|title=Bamba doubles up as Lille take down Guingamp|publisher=www.ligue1.com|date=26 August 2018}}</ref> On 30 September, Bamba scored two goals (including a [[penalty (association football)|penalty]]) in the final six minutes of the match in the 3–0 Ligue 1 home win over [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ligue1.com/ligue1/article/lille-stun-marseille-to-move-up-to-second.htm|title=Lille stun Marseille to move up to second|publisher=www.ligue1.com|date=30 September 2018}}</ref> On 6 October, he took his [[2018–19 Ligue 1]] goal tally to seven (he had scored only seven Ligue 1 goals during the entire [[2017–18 Ligue 1|2017–18]] season) when he scored two goals again and [[assist (football)|assisted]] [[Nicolas Pépé]]'s goal in a 3–1 Ligue 1 home win over [[AS Saint-Étienne|Saint-Étienne]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ligue1.com/ligue1/article/lille-sink-saint-etienne-to-go-second.htm|title=Lille sink Saint-Etienne to go second|publisher=www.ligue1.com|date=6 October 2018}}</ref>
After a cancelled [[2019–20 Ligue 1]] season because of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Bamba became confirmed as a regular starter, as Lille won their fourth [[Ligue 1|league]] title during the [[2020–21 Ligue 1|2020–21 season]], being in the field in all league games.<ref name="The Guardian">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/may/24/lille-ligue-1-title-decade-christophe-galtier|title=Lille hold their nerve to clinch their first Ligue 1 title for a decade|work=The Guardian|date=23 May 2021|access-date=24 May 2021}}</ref>
During the [[2021–22 Lille OSC season]], he participated in the 1–0 win against [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|PSG]] in the [[Trophée des Champions]], with the club winning that trophy for the first time ever.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12370362/lille-1-0-paris-saint-germain-les-dogues-clinch-first-french-super-cup|title=Lille 1–0 Paris Saint-Germain: Les Dogues clinch first French Super Cup|website=Sky Sports|date=1 August 2021|access-date=1 August 2021}}</ref> Later, he helped the team to get out of the [[2021–22 UEFA Champions League]] group stage and played against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] in [[2021–22 UEFA Champions League knockout phase|round of 16]].<ref>{{cite web |language=fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/football/live/2022/03/16/lille-chelsea-en-direct-suivez-le-match-de-la-ligue-des-champions-entre-les-dogues-et-les-blues_6117806_1616938.html |title=A nouveau battu par Chelsea, Lille éliminé de la Ligue des champions en huitièmes de finale |date=16 March 2022 |website=Le Monde |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref>
===Celta=== On 18 July 2023, Bamba signed with [[La Liga]] club [[RC Celta de Vigo|Celta]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Libre-jonathan-bamba-rejoint-le-celta-vigo-pour-3-ans/1408887|title=Libre, Jonathan Bamba rejoint le Celta Vigo pour 3 ans|trans-title=Free, Jonathan Bamba joins Celta Vigo for 3 years|language=fr|publisher=L'Équipe|date=18 July 2023|access-date=18 July 2023}}</ref>
===Chicago Fire=== On 21 January 2025, Bamba moved to [[Major League Soccer]] side [[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]] on a three-year deal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagofirefc.com/news/chicago-fire-fc-acquires-winger-jonathan-bamba-as-designated-player|title=Chicago Fire FC Acquires Winger Jonathan Bamba as Designated Player | Chicago Fire FC|website=chicagofirefc}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Calabrese|first=Alex|date=20 January 2025 |title=Chicago Fire Announce Jonathan Bamba Signing|url=https://meninred97.com/chicago-fire-announce-jonathan-bamba-signing/|access-date=26 January 2025|website=MIR97 Media}}</ref>
== International career == Bamba was born in France and is of Ivorian descent.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|date=17 August 2016|title=Jonathan Bamba: le jeune ivoirien à Saint Trond|url=http://www.africatopsports.com/2016/08/17/jonathan-bamba-jeune-ivoirien-a-saint-trond/|access-date=4 April 2020|website=africatopsports.com|publisher=Africa Top Sports|language=fr}}</ref> He is a dual-national, and was able to choose to represent either France or Ivory Coast internationally.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Joueur ivoirien et guinéen 26.jpg|thumb|right|Bamba (right) with Ivory Coast in 2024]]
After representing France at various youth levels, he switched his allegiance to the latter in March 2023, as he accepted a call-up to the [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivorian senior national team]] for two [[2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Group H|Africa Cup of Nations qualification]] matches against [[Comoros national football team|Comoros]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 March 2023 |title=Elim. CAN 2023 (3è et 4è CIV-COM & COM-CIV) : Jean Louis Gasset dévoile les 23 Eléphants |url=http://www.fifciv.com/?q=elim-can-2023-3%C3%A8-et-4%C3%A8-civ-com-com-civ-jean-louis-gasset-d%C3%A9voile-les-23-el%C3%A9phants |access-date=17 March 2023 |website=Fédération Ivoirienne de Football}}</ref>
In December 2023, Bamba was named in the Ivory Coast's squad for the [[2023 Africa Cup of Nations]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/federationivoiriennedefootball/posts/pfbid02GVkTYXjhv2yBQizHRNxngTGoMrFLXgcUg3kQeXgEk3gZ158w6cxqRFjDBXCCU3ihl|title=LA LISTE|publisher=[[Ivorian Football Federation]]|date=28 December 2023|access-date=16 January 2024|language=pt|via=[[Facebook]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sahi |first=Tristan |date=28 December 2023 |title=Côte d'Ivoire: voici les 27 Eléphants de Gasset, Zaha et des ténors font leurs adieux à la CAN 2023 |url=https://www.7info.ci/cote-divoire-voici-les-27-elephants-de-gasset-zaha-et-des-tenors-font-leurs-adieux-a-la-can-2023/ |access-date=16 January 2024 |publisher=7info |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cafonline.com/media/ow2obxrw/c%C3%B4te-divoire.pdf|title=CÔTE D'IVOIRE|publisher=Confederation of African Football|date=5 January 2024}}</ref> He was in the starting XI for Ivory Coast's 2–0 win over [[Guinea-Bissau national football team|Guinea-Bissau]] in the tournament's opening match.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cup-of-nations/match-centre?competition=190&season=2023&match=2411905|title=Côte d'Ivoire 2–0 Guinea-Bissau|access-date=16 January 2024|website=Confederation of African Football}}</ref>
== Career statistics == === Club === {{updated|match played 13 May 2026}}<ref name="soccerway"/>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[Coupe de France]], [[Belgian Cup]], [[Copa del Rey]], [[U.S. Open Cup]]}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes [[Coupe de la Ligue]]}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4"|[[AS Saint-Étienne|Saint-Étienne]] |[[2014–15 AS Saint-Étienne season|2014–15]] |rowspan="3"|[[Ligue 1]] |3||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||4||0 |- |[[2015–16 AS Saint-Étienne season|2015–16]] |5||1||1||0||1||0||4{{efn|Appearances in [[UEFA Europa League]]|name=UEL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||11||1 |- |[[2017–18 AS Saint-Étienne season|2017–18]] |34||7||2||1||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||37||8 |- !colspan="2"|Total !42!!8!!4!!1!!2!!0!!4!!0!!0!!0!!52!!9 |- |[[Paris FC]] (loan) |[[2015–16 Ligue 2|2015–16]] |[[Ligue 2]] |14||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||0 |- |[[Sint-Truidense V.V.|Sint-Truiden]] (loan) |[[2016–17 Belgian First Division A|2016–17]] |[[Belgian Pro League]] |8||2||3||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||11||3 |- |[[Angers SCO|Angers]] (loan) |[[2016–17 Angers SCO season|2016–17]] |Ligue 1 |16||3||4||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||20||3 |- |rowspan="6"|[[Lille OSC|Lille]] |[[2018–19 Lille OSC season|2018–19]] |rowspan="5"|Ligue 1 |38||13||3||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||41||14 |- |[[2019–20 Lille OSC season|2019–20]] |26||1||3||0||2||0||6{{efn|Appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]|name=UCL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||37||1 |- |[[2020–21 Lille OSC season|2020–21]] |38||6||2||0||colspan="2"|—||8{{efn|name=UEL}}||1||colspan="2"|—||48||7 |- |[[2021–22 Lille OSC season|2021–22]] |31||1||1||0||colspan="2"|—||6{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||1{{efn|Appearance in [[Trophée des Champions]]}}||0||39||1 |- |[[2022–23 Lille OSC season|2022–23]] |34||6||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||35||6 |- !colspan="2"|Total !167||27||10||1||2||0||20||1||1||0||200||29 |- |rowspan="3"|[[RC Celta de Vigo|Celta]] |[[2023–24 RC Celta de Vigo season|2023–24]] |rowspan="2"|[[La Liga]] |27||3||1||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||28||5 |- |[[2024–25 RC Celta de Vigo season|2024–25]] |12||0||2||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !39||3||3||3||0||0||0||0||0||0||42||6 |- |rowspan="3"|[[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]] |[[2025 Chicago Fire FC season|2025]] |rowspan="2"|[[Major League Soccer]] |34||5||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|Appearances in [[MLS Cup playoffs]]}}||1||40||6 |- |[[2026 Chicago Fire FC season|2026]] |9||2||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0||9||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !43||7||3||0||0||0||0||0||3||1||49||8 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !329!!50!!27!!6!!4!!0!!24!!1!!4!!1!!388!!58 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Lille''' *[[Ligue 1]]: [[2020–21 Ligue 1|2020–21]]<ref name="The Guardian"/> *[[Trophée des Champions]]: [[2021 Trophée des Champions|2021]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12370362/lille-1-0-paris-saint-germain-les-dogues-clinch-first-french-super-cup|title=Lille beat PSG to clinch first French Super Cup|publisher=Sky Sports|date=1 August 2021|access-date=1 August 2021}}</ref>
'''Ivory Coast''' *[[Africa Cup of Nations]]: [[2023 Africa Cup of Nations|2023]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=Rob |date=11 February 2024 |title=Nigeria 1–2 Ivory Coast |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68196261 |access-date=14 February 2024 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref>
'''Individual''' *[[National Union of Professional Footballers|UNFP]] Ligue 1 [[UNFP Player of the Month|Player of the Month]]: [[2018–19 Ligue 1|April 2019]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unfp.org/2019/05/jonathan-bamba-joueur-du-mois-davril/|title=Jonathan Bamba, joueur du mois d'avril !|publisher=UNFP|language=fr|date=13 May 2019|access-date=19 November 2020}}</ref> [[2020–21 Ligue 1|October 2020]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unfp.org/2020/11/jonathan-bamba-joueur-du-mois-doctobre-de-la-ligue-1-uber-eats/|title=Jonathan Bamba, joueur du mois d'octobre de la Ligue 1 Uber Eats !|publisher=UNFP|language=fr|date=19 November 2020|access-date=19 November 2020}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * [https://rccelta.es/en/jugadores/jonathan-bamba/ Profile] at the RC Celta de Vigo website * {{FFF player|8942-bamba-jonathan}} * {{FFF male|2328124995-jonathan-bamba|archive=20190424021806}} * {{UEFA player}}
{{Chicago Fire FC squad}} {{Ivory Coast squad 2023 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bamba, Jonathan}} [[Category:1996 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Alfortville]] [[Category:Footballers from Val-de-Marne]] [[Category:Ivorian men's footballers]] [[Category:Ivory Coast men's international footballers]] [[Category:Naturalized citizens of France]] [[Category:French men's footballers]] [[Category:France men's under-21 international footballers]] [[Category:France men's youth international footballers]] [[Category:French sportspeople of Ivorian descent]] [[Category:Men's association football midfielders]] [[Category:Black French sportspeople]] [[Category:AS Saint-Étienne players]] [[Category:Paris FC players]] [[Category:Sint-Truidense VV players]] [[Category:Angers SCO players]] [[Category:Lille OSC players]] [[Category:RC Celta de Vigo players]] [[Category:Chicago Fire FC players]] [[Category:Ligue 1 players]] [[Category:Ligue 2 players]] [[Category:Belgian Pro League players]] [[Category:La Liga players]] [[Category:French expatriate men's footballers]] [[Category:Ivorian expatriate men's footballers]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]] [[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Belgium]] [[Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium]] [[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Spain]] [[Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Spain]] [[Category:2023 Africa Cup of Nations players]] [[Category:Africa Cup of Nations–winning players]] [[Category:21st-century French sportsmen]] [[Category:Designated Players (MLS)]] [[Category:Major League Soccer players]]