Carlos Baleba

Carlos Baleba is a Cameroonian professional footballer born on January 3, 2004, in Douala, Cameroon. Baleba is of Bassa descent, and his father was also a professional footballer.

He plays primarily as a central midfielder for Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League and represents the Cameroon national team.

Early life and club career: He is recognized for his stamina, dribbling, and passing. Baleba’s career began in Cameroon, followed by a move to Lille OSC in France in 2022 before joining Brighton in August 2023.

He began his football journey at Futur Soccer FC in Douala and later joined the École de Football des Brasseries du Cameroun (EFBC) academy at age 13. The EFBC academy is known for developing talent, with players like Samuel Eto’o also having attended.

Initially a winger known for his pace, Baleba was moved to midfield by his coach after an injury, where his technical abilities proved effective.

He joined French club Lille OSC in January 2022. While at Lille, he played for both the reserve team and the first team. He made his Ligue 1 debut in August 2022 and quickly impressed. In August 2023, Baleba made a significant move to the Premier League, signing with Brighton & Hove Albion on a five-year contract. The transfer fee was reported as €27 million.

He made his Brighton debut in September 2023 and scored his first league goal for the club in September 2024. The 2024/25 season saw him win Brighton’s Young Player of the Season award. International career Baleba made his debut for the Cameroon national team on June 8, 2024. This came during a World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde, which Cameroon won 4-1. He has since played in several World Cup qualifiers for Cameroon.

Style of play: Baleba is known for his defensive contributions, including tackling, interceptions, and blocking. He is also recognized for his stamina, dribbling, passing, and ability to carry the ball forward. He has been compared to midfielders like Paul Pogba and Wilfred Ndidi.

Net Worth: Carlos Baleba has an estimated net worth of $1 milllion approximately 564 million FCFA. As of 2025, Carlos Baleba’s estimated career earnings from his time with Brighton is $1,950,000. His weekly wage is £30,000, which translates to an annual salary of £1.56 million.

He signed a five-year contract with Brighton in August 2023, with an option for an additional year. This contract is set to expire on June 30, 2028, with the potential extension to June 30, 2029.