# Eric Bailly
**Eric Bertrand Bailly** (born 1994 in Bingerville, Ivory Coast) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a central defender, most recently for [Real Oviedo](https://www.edgepedia.org/real-oviedo) in Spain's Primera División[1](https://www.lequipe.fr/fiche/eric-bertrand-bailly/200288) • [2](https://as.com/futbol/primera/oficial-eric-bailly-firma-con-el-real-oviedo-por-dos-temporadas-n/). He is best known for six seasons at Manchester United, which signed him from [Villarreal](https://www.edgepedia.org/villarreal) in 2016 for a fee of about 38 million euros, at the time the most expensive sale in Villarreal's history[3](https://as.com/futbol/2016/06/09/primera/1465456474_621066.html).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1994, Bingerville, Ivory Coast[1](https://www.lequipe.fr/fiche/eric-bertrand-bailly/200288) |
| Position | Central defender[1](https://www.lequipe.fr/fiche/eric-bertrand-bailly/200288) |
| Career path | Espanyol (2013/15), Villarreal (2015/16), Manchester United (2016/22), Marseille loan (2022/23), Beşiktaş (2023/24), Villarreal (2023/25), Real Oviedo (2025/ )[2](https://as.com/futbol/primera/oficial-eric-bailly-firma-con-el-real-oviedo-por-dos-temporadas-n/) |
| Record transfer | About 38 million euros from Villarreal to Manchester United in summer 2016, Villarreal's most expensive sale to that point[3](https://as.com/futbol/2016/06/09/primera/1465456474_621066.html) |
| United appearances | 113 after joining from Villarreal in 2016[4](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/eric-bailly-joins-besiktas-in-permanent-transfer-from-man-utd) |
| National team | Ivory Coast[5](https://theanalyst.com/players/1885/eric-bailly/national/career) |
## Early career in Spain
Bailly moved to Spain as a teenager, joining [RCD Espanyol](https://www.edgepedia.org/rcd-espanyol) at about 17 years old and debuting in the Primera División in 2014. He made only five official first-team appearances for the club[2](https://as.com/futbol/primera/oficial-eric-bailly-firma-con-el-real-oviedo-por-dos-temporadas-n/).
In January 2015 Villarreal paid Espanyol 5.5 million euros for the young defender, a price regarded at the time as a risky bet[3](https://as.com/futbol/2016/06/09/primera/1465456474_621066.html). He arrived to cover the departure of [Gabriel Paulista](https://www.edgepedia.org/gabriel-paulista), who had been sold to Arsenal[3](https://as.com/futbol/2016/06/09/primera/1465456474_621066.html). In a season and a half at Villarreal he played 47 matches and became an important player, characterized by his power and strength in aerial duels[2](https://as.com/futbol/primera/oficial-eric-bailly-firma-con-el-real-oviedo-por-dos-temporadas-n/).
## Manchester United
**The 2016 transfer.** With several clubs interested, Manchester United moved first in the summer of 2016 and paid roughly 38 million euros for Bailly, making his sale the most expensive in Villarreal's history[3](https://as.com/futbol/2016/06/09/primera/1465456474_621066.html). BeSoccer's transfer record lists the fee as 38 million for the 2016/17 season[6](https://www.besoccer.com/player/transfers/eric-145409).
He joined in June 2016 on a four-year contract, which was extended to June 2022 in January 2020 and again to June 2024 in April 2021[7](https://www.11v11.com/players/eric-bailly-249673/). Across his six seasons at the club he made 113 appearances[4](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/eric-bailly-joins-besiktas-in-permanent-transfer-from-man-utd).
## Later career: Marseille, Beşiktaş, and a Villarreal return
After leaving United in 2022, Bailly spent the 2022/23 season on loan at [Olympique de Marseille](https://www.edgepedia.org/olympique-de-marseille), then joined the Turkish club Beşiktaş toward the end of the summer 2023 transfer window[2](https://as.com/futbol/primera/oficial-eric-bailly-firma-con-el-real-oviedo-por-dos-temporadas-n/) • [8](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67849717).
After his release by Beşiktaş, Villarreal re-signed him on 30 December 2023 on an 18-month contract[8](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67849717) • [9](https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/players/eric-bailly/transfer-history). The club was going through a difficult spell in LaLiga at the time, and Bailly was described as key to the team's improvement in the second half of the season[2](https://as.com/futbol/primera/oficial-eric-bailly-firma-con-el-real-oviedo-por-dos-temporadas-n/). This second spell lasted a season and a half and included 22 matches; Villarreal made his departure official on 1 July 2025, thanking him for his commitment, dedication, and professionalism[10](https://cadenaser.com/comunitat-valenciana/2025/07/01/el-villarreal-hace-oficial-la-salida-de-bailly-radio-castellon/).
## Real Oviedo
In August 2025 Bailly signed a two-season contract with Real Oviedo, running to 30 June 2027, joining the newly promoted side as its ninth signing of the window under coach Paunovic[2](https://as.com/futbol/primera/oficial-eric-bailly-firma-con-el-real-oviedo-por-dos-temporadas-n/). The club presented him as a player bringing physical presence and experience of elite European football[2](https://as.com/futbol/primera/oficial-eric-bailly-firma-con-el-real-oviedo-por-dos-temporadas-n/).
## International career
Bailly has represented the [Ivory Coast](https://www.edgepedia.org/ivory-coast) internationally, with his national-team career record tracked in Opta's competition-by-competition history[5](https://theanalyst.com/players/1885/eric-bailly/national/career). He is counted among the group of Ivorian players who have established themselves in European football in recent years, alongside [Didier Drogba](https://www.edgepedia.org/didier-drogba), Yaya Touré, Serge Aurier, and others[11](https://africa.sis.gov.eg/media/20871/english-net-final-june.pdf).
## Playing style
At Villarreal he was noted for his power and aerial dominance[2](https://as.com/futbol/primera/oficial-eric-bailly-firma-con-el-real-oviedo-por-dos-temporadas-n/).
## References
1. [Eric Bertrand Bailly, L'Équipe player profile](https://www.lequipe.fr/fiche/eric-bertrand-bailly/200288)
2. [Oficial: Eric Bailly firma con el Real Oviedo por dos temporadas, AS.com](https://as.com/futbol/primera/oficial-eric-bailly-firma-con-el-real-oviedo-por-dos-temporadas-n/)
3. [Villarreal: una máquina de revalorizar sus fichajes, AS.com (2016)](https://as.com/futbol/2016/06/09/primera/1465456474_621066.html)
4. [Eric Bailly leaves United to join Besiktas, Manchester United](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/eric-bailly-joins-besiktas-in-permanent-transfer-from-man-utd)
5. [Eric Bailly International Career History, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/1885/eric-bailly/national/career)
6. [Eric Bailly's transfers history, BeSoccer](https://www.besoccer.com/player/transfers/eric-145409)
7. [Eric Bailly Football Player Statistics, 11v11.com](https://www.11v11.com/players/eric-bailly-249673/)
8. [Villarreal re-sign former Man Utd defender following release by Besiktas, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67849717)
9. [Eric Bailly Transfer History, FootballTransfers](https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/players/eric-bailly/transfer-history)
10. [El Villarreal hace oficial la salida de Bailly, Cadena SER](https://cadenaser.com/comunitat-valenciana/2025/07/01/el-villarreal-hace-oficial-la-salida-de-bailly-radio-castellon/)
11. [Ivory Coast Team, State Information Service of Egypt](https://africa.sis.gov.eg/media/20871/english-net-final-june.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of Africa › West African footballers › Ghanaian and Ivorian footballers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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