Carlos Baleba is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. He has represented Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion and the Cameroon national team.
Carlos Baleba primarily plays as a central midfielder. His performance with the Seagulls drew strong transfer interest from top clubs, especially Manchester United. Explore Carlos Baleba’s profile on SportPesa, including his career journey, stats, latest news, and achievements.
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| Full name | Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba |
| Date of birth | 3 January 2004 |
| Place of birth | Douala, Cameroon |
| Nationality | Cameroonian |
| Position | Defensive/central midfielder |
| Preferred foot | Left |
| Current club | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| Shirt number | 17 |
| Height | Approximately 1.79–1.83 m |
| Youth club | École de Football des Brasseries du Cameroun |
| Previous club | Lille, France |
| Transfer to Brighton | Approximately £23 million |
| International team | Cameroon |
| International debut | 2024 |
Carlos Baleba is a highly regarded defensive midfielder. He has played for Ligue 1 side Lille and Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion. He has also appeared for the Cameroon national team. He is considered a complete midfield talent with world-class potential.
Baleba was born in Douala, Cameroon, to Cameroonian-French parents. He first played football at local Douala side Futur Soccer FC. He then joined the renowned École de Football des Brasseries du Cameroun academy. Baleba first played as a winger, which earned him the nickname ‘Maradona’.
Carlos Baleba was aged 18 when he joined the reserve team of Ligue 1 side Lille. He debuted on 7 August 2022 as a substitute in Lille’s 4-1 defeat of Auxerre. Baleba made 13 appearances for Lille’s B team, scoring 1 goal. He appeared 21 times for Lille’s first team in the 2021/23 season.
Baleba joined The Seagulls in August 2023 on a 5-year contract. He scored his first goal for Brighton in a 3-2 EFL Cup win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Baleba eased into Brighton as a substitute, going on to make 16 starts in 37 appearances in the 2023/24 season. A breakout 2024/25 season led to a Young Player of the Season Award win. Injuries and fitness issues limited his form in the 2025/26 season.
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Carlos Baleba’s Cameroon run began with a 4-1 win over Cape Verde in June 2024. He was part of Cameroon’s squad for the 2025 AFCON. His solid midfield performance led to a place in the CAF Group stage best XI. He also won Man of the Match in a 2-1 round-of-16 victory over South Africa. Fitness and availability issues caused him to miss out on certain Cameroon 2026 World Cup Qualifiers fixtures.
ALSO READ: WAFCON 2026: Cameroon Crowned Champions After 3-0 Final Win Over Malawi
Download the SP Score app for the latest comprehensive player stats. Below is a breakdown of Carlos Baleba’s goals, assists, and discipline stats for club and country.
Here are Carlos Baleba’s latest stats in club action in all competitions:
| Club | Seasons | Competition | Matches | Goals | Assists | G+A | Yellow cards | Red cards | Goals/90 |
| Lille | 2022–23 | Ligue 1 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0.00 |
| Lille | 2022–23 | Coupe de France | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Lille | 2023–24 | Ligue 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Brighton | 2023–24 | Premier League | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Brighton | 2023–24 | FA Cup | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Brighton | 2023–24 | EFL Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Brighton | 2023–24 | Europa League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Brighton | 2024–25 | Premier League | 34 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 0.10 |
| Brighton | 2024–25 | FA Cup | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Brighton | 2024–25 | EFL Cup | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.59 |
| Brighton | 2025–26 | Premier League | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Brighton | 2025–26 | FA Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Brighton | 2025–26 | EFL Cup | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Career total | 5 seasons | All competitions | 135 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 27 | 2 | 0.05 |
The following table shows Carlos Baleba’s latest stats in senior international action for Cameroon.
| Season | Competition | Matches | Goals | Assists | G+A | Yellow Cards | Red Cards | Goals/90 |
| 2025 | Africa Cup of Nations | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 2025 | AFCON Qualifiers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 2026 | World Cup Qualifiers | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Total | All competitions | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0.00 |
Here is a table showing the latest transfer information for Carlos Baleba.
| Date | From | To | Transfer fee | Type |
| 2014 | — | Futur Soccer FC | — | Youth move |
| 2017 | Futur Soccer FC | EF Brasseries du Cameroun | — | Youth move |
| 14 Jan 2022 | Brasseries du Cameroun | LOSC Lille B | Undisclosed | Transfer |
| 1 Jul 2022 | LOSC Lille B | Lille | Internal promotion | First-team registration |
| 29 Aug 2023 | Lille | Brighton & Hove Albion | €27 million | Permanent transfer |
Carlos Baleba is a central midfielder. He is considered an athletic ball-winner in the midfield, with a strong defensive ability. Carlos Baleba’s position has been described as a box-to-box #8, especially as his attacking skills continue to grow. He can cover the field well, carry the ball explosively, and progress between the lines.
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Carlos Baleba’s father, Eugene Baleba, is a former footballer who played in Cameroon and South Africa. His mother passed away in 2023. Carlos grew up in modest conditions in the Akwa neighbourhood of Douala. He holds Cameroonian and French nationalities from his parents. Carlos dedicates his career to his family, including his younger brother.
Here are the latest awards and trophies in Carlos Baleba’s career:
| Year/Season | Award/Trophy | Club/team |
| 2024–25 | Brighton Young Player of the Season | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| April 2025 | Premier League Goal of the Month | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| 2024–25 | The Athletic Alternative Premier League Team of the Season | Brighton & Hove Albion |
Baleba’s reported market value dropped after a disappointing 2025/26 campaign. He was lauded for his performance for Cameroon at the 2025 AFCON. Carlos Baleba has reportedly generated strong transfer interest from Clubs such as Manchester United, though no official communication has been made yet.
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Though Manchester United is reportedly seeking him, Carlos Baleba’s contract with Brighton & Hove Albion is still ongoing as of publication.
Yes. He is considered an excellent central midfielder with world-class potential in the right team.
Carlos Baleba’s transfer value from Lille to Brighton was reportedly €27 million.
Yes. His primary positions are #6 and #8.
Caleb Baleba’s salary at Brighton was £650,000.
Carlos Baleba’s skills have steadily gained the attention of top clubs. The Cameroonian player’s career has grown from modest beginnings to the world stage. Follow this exciting midfield prospect on SportPesa.
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