# 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 and the Cameroon national team.

## Early life

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

## Club career
### Lille

Baleba was transferred to French team Lille in January 2022, having already attracted the scouts of several other European clubs. 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.
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.
He made his professional debut for Lille on 7 August 2022, replacing Angel Gomes during a 4–1 Ligue 1 win against Auxerre.

### Brighton & Hove Albion

On 29 August 2023, Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion announced the signing of Baleba on a five-year contract. 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. Baleba made his debut for Brighton in a 3–1 home victory against AFC Bournemouth on 24 September, coming on as a 73rd minute substitute for Mahmoud Dahoud. On 8 October, Baleba made his first start for Brighton in a 2–2 draw against Liverpool.
On 18 September, 2024, Baleba would score his first goal in Brighton colours in a 3-2 win against Wolves to help the Albion move onto the fourth round of the EFL Cup. Just over a week later on 28 September, Baleba scored his first league goal for the Seagulls in a dramatic 4-2 loss against Chelsea.

## International career

Baleba made his debut for the Cameroon national team on 8 June 2024 in a World Cup qualifier 4–1 victory against Cape Verde at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium. He started the game and played 80 minutes.

## 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, a collection of unrelated players in either their roles, positions, and skills.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 15 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Lille B | 2021–22 | Championnat National 3 | 9 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 1 |
| Lille B | 2022–23 | Championnat National 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| Lille B | Total | Total | 13 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 1 |
| Lille | 2022–23 | Ligue 1 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 0 |
| Lille | 2023–24 | Ligue 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Lille | Total | Total | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 23 | 0 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2023–24 | Premier League | 27 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2024–25 | Premier League | 25 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 30 | 3 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | Total | Total | 52 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 67 | 3 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 86 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 103 | 4 |
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

### International

    As of match played 11 October 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Cameroon | 2024 | 5 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 5 | 0 |