Yves Bissouma is a professional Ivorian footballer who is famous for currently playing for the Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. For the team, he wears the #8 jersey and his playing position is defensive midfielder. His football journey has seen him play for AS Real Bamako, Lille (both senior and reserve teams), and Brighton & Hove Albion before joining Tottenham in 2022. Born in Ivory Coast, he represents the Mali national team and has earned numerous caps for both the senior squad and the U23 team, showcasing his skills on the international stage.
Yves Bissouma Family
Yves Bissouma was born on August 30, 1996, in Issia, Ivory Coast. He holds Ivorian nationality with an ethnic background of Ivorian-black ethnicity. His faith aligns with the Christian religion, and he identifies as black in terms of race. He celebrated his 27th birthday as of 2023. He has maintained privacy regarding his family and educational background, keeping those aspects of his life out of the public eye.
Yves Bissouma Football Career
Youth Career
- Yves Bissouma trained at the Majestic SC Academy in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and later at the Jean-Marc Guillou Academy in Bamako, Mali, joining at the age of 13.
- After five years there, he played alongside future Mali international Adama Traoré. At 18, he joined AS Real Bamako, Mali.
Lille
- Bissouma then grabbed the spotlight during the African Nations Championship in February 2016.
- He then signed of a three-year professional contract with Lille OSC on July 7, 2016, just four months after joining from AS Real Bamako.
Brighton & Hove Albion
- On July 17, 2018, he made a transfer to English club Brighton & Hove Albion, signing a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
- He debuted during the 2018-19 Premier League season in a 2-0 loss to Watford and scored his first Albion goal in an FA Cup match against Bournemouth on January 5, 2019.
- Notably, he scored his first Premier League goal in a 2-1 win against Burnley on the last day of the 2019-20 season.
- Bissouma also faced a suspension due to yellow cards and returned with a spectacular 20-yard goal in a 3-0 victory over Wolves.
- His standout performance continued in a 4-0 win against Manchester United, marking one of Brighton's largest top-flight victories at that time.
Tottenham Hotspur
- On June 14, 2022, Tottenham Hotspur sealed a £30 million deal for Yves Bissouma, and just three days later, they officially signed the Malian midfielder to a four-year contract.
- He made his debut for the club on August 6, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 4-1 Premier League victory over Southampton.
- In the 2023-24 season, he began with two back-to-back Man of the Match performances in the opening matches against Brentford and Manchester United.
International Career
- Born in the Ivory Coast and relocating to Mali at the age of 13 to pursue his professional football career, Yves participated in the 2016 African Nations Championship with Mali.
- In the semi-final against the Ivory Coast, he came on as a substitute and scored the decisive goal in the 89th minute, but Mali ultimately lost in the final against DR Congo.
- He was also selected for Mali's squad in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
- During the tournament, he made a notable appearance in the first match, replacing Adama Traoré as a 59th-minute substitute in a controversial 1-0 victory over Tunisia, where the referee mistakenly blew for full-time early.
- He played in all four of Mali's matches, with the team being eliminated in a penalty shootout against Equatorial Guinea in the round of 16.
Awards and Achievements
Mali
- African Nations Championship runner-up: 2016
Yves Bissouma Girlfriend
Yves Bissouma keeps his private life under wraps, and there's no public information regarding his relationship status. Given his intense focus on his career, it's safe to assume he's currently living a single life and he is unmarried yet. Thus, he has no girlfriend as of now. He is straight when it comes to his sexual orientation.
Bissouma faced two driving bans in the UK for speeding in 2019 and 2021. In October 2021, he was arrested by Sussex Police on suspicion of sexual assault, initially bailed until November 3, with an extension to December 6. Later, in December, his bail was extended for another four weeks, and as of January 2022, he was released under investigation. On June 29, 2022, Bissouma was cleared of all allegations.
Yves Bissouma Salary
Yves Bissouma, a talented footballer, currently showcases his skills at Tottenham Hotspur. With an estimated net worth of £4 million in 2023, he enjoys an annual salary of around £276,000 from his current team. His primary source of wealth comes from his football career. Notably, on June 14, 2022, Tottenham Hotspur secured a £30 million deal for Bissouma, and his market value as of October 9, 2023, stands at €30 million.
Yves Bissouma Height
Yves Bissouma is a handsome footballer, standing tall at 1.82 meters (6 feet 0 inches) and boasting an athletic physique with a weight of approximately 80 kilograms. His handsome appearance is complemented by light brown hair, and his piercing dark brown eyes add to his charismatic presence on and off the field. He has got a healthy body and he is very conscious about his food intake. He frequently hits gym to maintain his body.
