Jonathan Bamba

Jonathan Fousseni Bamba(born 26 March 1996) is a professionalfootballerwho plays as aleft wingerorattacking midfielderforMajor League SoccerclubChicago Fire.Born in France, he plays for theIvory Coast national team.
Jonathan Fousseni Bamba is a graduate ofSaint-Étienneyouth academy, which he joined in 2011.
Bamba made hisLigue 1debut on 25 January 2015 againstParis Saint-GermainreplacingYohan Molloafter 82 minutes in a 0–1 home defeat. During the summer of 2015 he scored againstAjax Amsterdamin a pre-season friendly. On 20 September 2015, he started in the Ligue 1 match againstNantesand scored in the 26th minute to register his first competitive goal for Saint-Étienne's first team in a 2–0 home win.
On 18 January 2016, Bamba joinedLigue 2clubParis FCon loan until the end of the2015-16 season, with Paris FC not given an option to buy him when the loan expired.Bamba was loaned to Belgian First Division A clubSint-Truidenin the summer of 2016.  However Sint-Truiden sent him back early to Saint-Etienne during the winter break of the2016–17 season. On 4 January 2017, Bamba was loaned to Ligue 1 clubAngersuntil the end of the2016-17 season.
On 24 September 2017, Bamba scored Saint-Étienne's second equalizing goal from the penalty spot in a 2–2 Ligue 1 home draw againstRennesto register his fourth Ligue 1 goal (three of which were penalties) of the2017–18 season.
On 2 July 2018, Bamba signed a five-year deal withLille OSC.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 his2018–19 Ligue 1goal tally to three when he scored two goals in the 3–0 Ligue 1 home win overGuingamp.On 30 September, Bamba scored two goals (including apenalty) in the final six minutes of the match in the 3–0 Ligue 1 home win overMarseille.On 6 October, he took his2018–19 Ligue 1goal tally to seven (he had scored only seven Ligue 1 goals during the entire2017–18season) when he scored two goals again andassistedNicolas Pépé's goal in a 3–1 Ligue 1 home win overSaint-Étienne.
After a cancelled2019–20 Ligue 1season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic, Bamba became confirmed as a regular starter, as Lille won their fourthleaguetitle during the2020–21 season, being in the field in all league games.
During the2021–22 Lille OSC season, he participated in the 1–0 win againstPSGin theTrophée des Champions, with the club winning that trophy for the first time ever.Later, he helped the team to get out of the2021–22 UEFA Champions Leaguegroup stage and played againstChelseainround of 16.
On 18 July 2023, Bamba signed withLa LigaclubCelta.
On 21 January 2025, Bamba moved toMajor League SoccersideChicago Fireon a three-year deal.
Bamba was born in France and is of Ivorian descent.He is a dual-national, and was able to choose to represent either France or Ivory Coast internationally.
After representing France at various youth levels, he switched his allegiance to the latter in March 2023, as he accepted a call-up to theIvorian senior national teamfor twoAfrica Cup of Nations qualificationmatches againstComoros.
In December 2023, Bamba was named in the Ivory Coast's squad for the2023 Africa Cup of Nations.He was in the starting XI for Ivory Coast's 2–0 win overGuinea-Bissauin the tournament's opening match.
Lille
Ivory Coast
Individual