Ivorian professional footballer Eric Bailly is currently a free agent after his contract with Spanish side Villarreal came to an end in June 2025. The center-back has previously played for various clubs, Espanyol, Manchester United, Marseille, and Beşiktaş.
According to Leeds Live, Bailly is looking to make a comeback to the Premier League. Furthermore, the footballer is targeting a return to the Premier League with Everton, as reported by Sports Boom.
Is Eric Bailly the Answer to Everton’s Defensive Woes?
Bailly has recently become a free agent after Spanish club Villarreal released him this month.
Sports Boom exclusively disclosed that Bailly would join Everton. It reported that Michael Keane and Seamus Coleman would leave the Toffees this season, but they have already extended their contracts on the 4th of July and the 27th of June, respectively.
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Also, some other media outlets are saying the defender is aiming to make his way back into the Premier League.
On the other hand, there is no official news on Everton’s intention to sign Eric Bailly to the team.
One thing is certain: Bailly wants to get back to his club career as soon as possible, but his next destination remains undecided.
Eric Bailly: Stats and Career Journey — From Espanyol to Villarreal to Free Agent
Bingerville, Ivory Coast native Eric Bailly was born on 12th April 1994. Aged 17, he began playing football at Espanyol’s youth system in 2011.
Espanyol (2014-2015)
In 2013, he moved to the reserve team of Espanyol and ultimately made his senior team debut on 5th October 2014 in a 2-0 win, entering as a late substitute. He played almost 5 matches for the club.
Villarreal (2015-2016)
Bailly arrived at Spanish club Villarreal on 29th January 2015, signing a five-and-a-half-year contract five-and-a-half-year contract. The following month, he made his debut for the club in a 1-0 victory over Eibar. There he got a chance to play in the UEFA Europa League, appearing in a 2-1 away loss against Sevilla on 19th March.
On 22nd October, he scored his career’s first goal for Villarreal in a 4–0 home group win over Dinamo Minsk.
That season he played 35 matches for the team.
Manchester United (2016–2023)
After La Liga experience, Bailly moved to Premier League side Manchester United on 8th June 2016 on a £30 million transfer fee, agreeing on a 4-year deal. His debut for the team came on 7th August in a 2-1 victory over Leicester City, also winning the FA Community Shield. Bailly won his career’s first man of the match award in the game.
A week later, he again won the Man of the Match title but this time during his Premier League debut in a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth. He was Manchester United’s Player of the Month for August 2016.
On 24th August 2022, he was loaned out to Ligue 1 side Marseille for the 2022-23 season. That season, he played 17 matches.
Beşiktaş (2023)
On 4th September 2023, Bailly joined Süper Lig side Beşiktaş. In December, the club announced they had excluded Bailly and other teammates Vincent Aboubakar, Valentin Rosier, Rachid Ghezzal, and Jean Onana for their poor performance. Later, his contract was terminated by the club.
Villarreal (2023-2025)
On 30th December 2023, Bailly returned to La Liga side Villarreal, agreeing on a two-year deal. He played 22 games for the team before the club released him on 30th June 2025.
Amit Mishra’s Take
It’s truly sad to see a footballer like Eric Bailly not getting a fair chance from a football club. He shone during his stint with Manchester United, but after his injury and then moving to Beşiktaş, his career started to decline. Now the footballer is struggling to get an offer from the clubs. I hope Bailly gets one last chance to prove himself.
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