*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:32, 17 February 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:43, 17 November 2024 (UTC)
Bradley Jean-Manuel Essolisam Barcola (born 2 September 2002) is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the France national team. Widely considered one of the best young wingers in the world, he is known for his speed, work-rate, dribbling, and finishing.[2][3]
After coming up through Lyon's academy, Barcola began his professional career with his boyhood club, where he would play two seasons, the latter of which he broke out into the starting squad, leading the club in assists. In 2023, he signed for Paris Saint-Germain for a €45 million transfer fee, going on to win a domestic treble in his first season at the club.
Barcola played youth international football for France at under-21 and Olympic levels. He made his senior international debut in June 2024, and was a member of the France squad for UEFA Euro 2024.
Early life
Bradley Jean-Manuel Essolisam Barcola[4] was born on 2 September 2002 in Villeurbanne, a commune in the Metropolis of Lyon,[5] to a French mother and Togolese father.[6][7][8][9][10] He started playing football in his home town, before joining Lyon at the age of eight.[7][8]
After being called up to the Lyon first team by Peter Bosz during the 2021–22 pre-season—scoring his first goal against Bourg-en-Bresse[11]— Barcola signed his first professional contract in September 2021, tying him to the club until 2024.[8][12][13]
Barcola made his professional debut for Lyon on 4 November 2021, replacing Rayan Cherki at the 81st minute of a 3–0 home win against Sparta Prague in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League.[14] He managed to provide an assist for Karl Toko Ekambi on Lyon's third goal, helping his side to a win that would make them the first team to officially qualify for this edition round of 16.[15]
In January 2023, due to lack of game time with Lyon, Barcola was keen on joining Spanish team FC Barcelona on loan. However, the deal collapsed as Lyon were short of attackers, which resulted in the integration of Barcola into Les Gones rotation.
Paris Saint-Germain
On 31 August 2023, Barcola joined fellow Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for a reported €45 million fee,[16] signing a five-year contract with the club.[16][17] He was assigned the number 29 jersey.[17] On 3 September, Barcola made his debut as a substitute in a 4–1 away win over his former club Lyon. He became the 500th player to make an appearance for Paris Saint-Germain.[18] On 24 September, Barcola made his first start for PSG in a 4–0 win over Le Classique rivals Marseille.[19] On 29 October, he recorded his first goal contribution for the club, an assist for Warren Zaïre-Emery's opening goal in a 3–2 away win over Brest.[20] On 9 December, Barcola scored his first goal for PSG in a 2–1 win over Nantes.[21]
On 14 February 2024, Barcola scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in a 2–0 victory over Real Sociedad in the first leg of the round of 16.[22] On 16 April 2024, after his performance in a 4–1 away victory over Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals second leg, Barcola was highly praised in the media.[23] He gave an assist to Ousmane Dembélé for the equalizing goal in the match, and was key throughout as Paris overturned a 3–2 deficit from the first leg.[2] Barcola finished the 2023–24 season with five goals and eight assists in thirty-nine appearances for PSG. On 10 June 2024, he was named by Ligue 1 as the signing of the season.[3]
On 16 August 2024, Barcola scored his first goal of the season in PSG's Ligue 1 opener away to Le Havre, an eventual 4–1 victory for the Parisians.[24] On 23 August, he scored the first brace of his career in a 6–0 win over Montpellier at the Parc des Princes.[25] On 22 January 2025, Barcola scored a goal and provided an assist in a 4–2 victory over Manchester City.[26]
International career
Barcola was first selected with France under-18 in January 2020 to play two friendly matches. However, he did not appear as most junior encounters were cancelled due to COVID-19 during the following seasons.[6][8][13][27]
On 16 May 2024, Barcola received his first call-up to the France national team for UEFA Euro 2024.[28] On 5 June 2024, he debuted as a substitute for Marcus Thuram at the 81st minute of a 3–0 friendly victory against Luxembourg at Stade Saint-Symphorien in Metz.[29] Barcola recorded his first goal contribution for France by assisting Kylian Mbappé's goal, the third of the match.[30] In the meantime, his club, Paris Saint-Germain, denied him permission to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics on home soil, along with his teammate Warren Zaïre-Emery.[31] On 25 June 2024, Barcola made his first start for France on the occasion of his Euro 2024 debut, an eventual 1–1 draw with Poland in the third group stage match.[32] He made two additional appearances as a substitute in the competition: 15 minutes against Portugal in the quarter-finals, and 30 minutes against Spain in the semi-finals, which ended in a 2–1 defeat. Despite his limited playing time, Barcola was praised for making a "strong impression" during the tournament.[33]
On 6 September 2024, at the Parc des Princes, during a UEFA Nations League match against Italy, he scored his first international goal just 12 seconds into the game, setting the record for the fastest goal scored by France in the past 90 years,[34] as well as the fastest goal conceded by Italy.[35]
Style of play
Barcola is a versatile forward, able to play on both sides of a front three or as a centre forward. Regarded as one of the most promising young players in world football, Barcola is a quick, talented and technically gifted winger, with good dribbling skills, vision, and explosive speed and acceleration. Although he is naturally right-footed, his preferred position is on the left, which allows him to beat opponents in one on one situations, cut into the centre onto his right foot, and either shoot on goal, create chances for teammates, or make attacking runs into the area.[25]
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