Official: Former Beijing Guoan and Real Betis forward Bakambu joins San Diego, contract through end of 2026 season

MLS club San Diego FC officially announced that the club has signed 35-year-old DR Congo international forward Cedric Bakambu. The two sides agreed a contract through the end of the 2026 season, while the club also holds extension options for the 2027 MLS short season and the 2027-28 season. The player will officially join the team roster after obtaining his P1 visa.

San Diego FC sporting director Tyler Heaps said: “Cedric brings a wealth of experience and proven ability to the team. He has an outstanding record in top European competitions and on the international stage, and consistently scoring goals has always been a very important part of his game.”

“He knows how to perform on the biggest stages and also has the winning mentality that we value highly. We are delighted to welcome Cedric and his family to San Diego, and we look forward to seeing him contribute to the team.”

Bakambu spent the previous two seasons with Real Betis, making 74 appearances in all competitions, including 36 starts, scoring 15 goals and providing 7 assists. So far in his club career, he has made 492 appearances, contributing 191 goals and 39 assists.

Bakambu was born in Ivry-sur-Seine, France, and came through the Sochaux academy. From 2010 to 2014, he made 107 appearances for Sochaux, scoring 21 goals and providing 3 assists.

In September 2014, Bakambu joined Turkish club Bursaspor, scoring 21 goals and providing 7 assists in 40 appearances across all competitions. In the 2014-15 season, he also became the Turkish Cup top scorer with 8 goals.

In August 2015, Bakambu transferred to Villarreal and stayed there until 2018. He made 105 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring 47 goals and providing 5 assists. In the 2015-16 UEFA Europa League, Villarreal reached the semifinals, with Bakambu scoring 9 goals in 13 matches.

From 2018 to 2022, Bakambu played for Beijing Guoan, contributing 58 goals and 21 assists in 87 matches and helping the club win the 2018 Chinese FA Cup. In the 2019-20 season, he also became the Chinese Super League top scorer with 14 goals.

In 2022, Bakambu returned to Europe to join Marseille, contributing 4 goals and 2 assists in 24 matches. He then moved to Olympiacos, scoring 18 goals and providing 3 assists in 37 appearances, while also becoming the league's top scorer.

In 2023, Bakambu played for Al Nassr and Galatasaray before winning the 2023-24 Turkish Super Lig title with Galatasaray, after which he joined Real Betis.

At international level, Bakambu represented France at youth levels from U18 to U21, making a total of 38 appearances. At the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, he scored 3 goals and helped France U19 win the title.

At senior international level, Bakambu ultimately chose to represent DR Congo. On June 9, 2015, he made his senior national team debut in a friendly match that ended in a 1-1 draw against Cameroon.

At the 2026 World Cup, Bakambu made 3 appearances for DR Congo and made his World Cup debut in the 1-1 draw against Portugal on June 17.