Who is Jonathan Bamba? Why the Fire's DP winger is a perfect fit...
This morning, the Chicago Fire completed the transfer of French-Ivorian winger Jonathan Bamba from Spanish side Celta de Vigo with a contract running until the 2027 MLS Season. He will occupy one of two open DP spots on the team.
For lovers and watchers of the game of European soccer, Bamba should need no introduction. The 28-year-old was one of the key players for Lille in their Ligue 1 triumph back in 2021, topping a PSG side with the likes of Neymar Jr., Kylian Mbappé, and Ángel Di María. He has also starred for Côte d’Ivoire, winning the African Cup of Nations just under a year ago.
Bamba racked up over 100 combined goals and assists during his time in Europe. He has played in two of the strongest leagues in the sport, La Liga and Ligue 1, as well as the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.
Here's everything you need to know about Bamba in light of the blockbuster move.
Ligue 1 Standout
Born in Alfortville, France, Bamba began his professional footballing journey with Saint-Étienne at the age of 15. He debuted for Saint-Étienne’s first team at 18 in a 1-0 home defeat against Paris Saint-Germain.
The following seasons proved to be something of a rollercoaster for the young winger, as he was loaned to Paris FC in Ligue 2, Sint-Truiden in the Belgian league, and finally, Angers in Ligue 1, where he truly broke out at the pro level. Following a brief return to Saint-Étienne, where he contributed several goals and assists in the 2017/18 season, he caught the eye of LOSC Lille, who signed him in the summer of 2018.
Bamba’s time at Lille started in the best way possible, as he scored on his competitive debut for the team and added a brace against Guingamp two weeks later. After a few years at the club and a canceled 2019/20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he became a regular starter for a team that went on to win Ligue 1 in historic fashion.
Dynamic and Direct Winger
Bamba has several traits that will make him stand out and make an impact in Major League Soccer. Typically deployed on the left wing, Bamba has exceptional vision and spatial awareness that allows him to recognize space in between defending players extremely well. He is agile and quick, both mentally and physically, which allows him to perform well in the attacking third, especially in tight spaces.
In addition, he is a highly threatening shooter from distance. The majority of the goals he scored for Lille came from either outside the box or just inside of it. His power when shooting and precision to curl the ball and place it where it needs to go has helped him become a serious problem for opposing defenses, arriving and cutting onto his preferred right foot from the left-hand side.
Instant Impact
The small but noticeable difference between top European leagues and MLS regarding game speed and space distribution will give him an advantage in the United States. Like others who have come over from top 5 leagues in their primes, his production should increase dramatically simply from the change of environment. Unlike the likes of Gareth Bale, Marco Reus, and Xherdan Shaqiri, who have come to MLS in recent seasons, at just 28, Bamba still has some of his best years in front of him. He’s also in good form, coming off of the back of single-handedly tying Celta’s Copa del Rey game against Real Madrid in the dying minutes with a goal and a drawn penalty.
Bamba is one of those players that makes things look easy. For wingers, it is easy to get flashy and exercise skills that may be unnecessary. Unlike many, though, he keeps it simple and efficient, helping the game move quicker, and could prove to be just what the Fire need on the left side.
Read more:
https://meninred97.com/chicago-fire-announce-jonathan-bamba-signing/
https://meninred97.com/sources-chicago-fire-finalizing-jonathan-bamba-deal/
https://meninred97.com/with-bamba-signing-fire-roster-taking-shape/
