Thierno Ballo

Thierno Ballo

Ballo playing for Austria U19 in 2019.
Personal information
Full name	Thierno Mamadou Lamarana Ballo [1]
Date of birth	(2002-01-02) 2 January 2002 (age 23)
Place of birth	Abidjan, Ivory Coast [2]
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) [2]
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder, winger
Team information
Current team	Millwall (on loan from Wolfsberger AC)
Number	70
Youth career
0000–2012	SV Chemie Linz
2012	LASK
2013–2016	Bayer 04 Leverkusen
2016–2018	Viktoria Köln
2018–2021	Chelsea
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2022	Chelsea	0	(0)
2021–2022	→ Rapid Wien (loan)	8	(0)
2022–	Wolfsberger AC	85	(28)
2025–	→ Millwall (loan)	0	(0)
International career‡
2016	Austria U15	2	(1)
2016–2017	Austria U16	5	(2)
2016–2019	Austria U17	25	(6)
2018	Austria U18	1	(0)
2018–2019	Austria U19	12	(6)
2021–2024	Austria U21	20	(7)
2025–	Austria	1	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11 June 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 10 June 2025

Thierno Mamadou Lamarana Ballo (born 2 January 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for EFL Championship club Millwall, on loan from Austrian Bundesliga club Wolfsberger AC. Born in the Ivory Coast, he represents the Austria national team.

Career

Chelsea

Born in Ivory Coast, Ballo moved to Guinea at the age of three before leaving for Austria four years later. Ballo joined Chelsea in January 2018, following stints with SV Chemie Linz, LASK, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and eventually, Viktoria Köln. ^{[3] [4]} During his debut under-18 campaign with the Blues, Ballo finished as top goalscorer for that respective age group and subsequently made his quick progression into the under-23 side over the next two years. ^[5] He signed his first professional contract with Chelsea in January 2019. ^[6]

On 31 August 2021, Ballo returned to Austria to join Rapid Wien on loan for the 2021–22 campaign. ^[7] Just under a month later, he made his debut for the club featuring as second-half substitute during their Austrian Cup 2–1 victory over Admira Wacker. ^[8] After only featuring thirteen times in all competitions come January 2022, Ballo's loan was terminated and the forward subsequently returned to Chelsea. ^[9]

Wolfsberger

On 12 July 2022, Wolfsberger AC announced the signing of Ballo on a free transfer, after his release from Chelsea. Ballo signed a two-year contract with an option for a further year. ^[10] On 23 July, he played his first game for the club in a 1–1 draw against SK Sturm Graz. ^[11] On 28 August 2023, Ballo scored his first goal in his professional career in a league game against WSG Tirol, helping his team to a 3–1 victory, which is Wolfsberger's first league win of the season. ^[12]

On 1 September 2025, Ballo joined EFL Championship club Millwall on loan until the end of the season. ^[13]

Career statistics

Club

As of matches played 25 May 2025 ^[5]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup [a]		League Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Chelsea U23	2019–20	—			—		—		—		3 [b]	0	3	0
	2020–21	—			—		—		—		2 [b]	0	2	0
	Total		—		—		—		—		5	0	5	0
Chelsea	2021–22	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Rapid Wien (loan)	2021–22	Austrian Bundesliga	8	0	2	0	—		3 [c]	0	—		13	0
Wolfsberger AC	2022–23	Austrian Bundesliga	27	6	4	1	—		3 [d]	0	1 [e]	0	35	7
	2023–24	Austrian Bundesliga	27	12	2	1	—		—		—		29	13
	2024–25	Austrian Bundesliga	31	10	6	3	—		—		—		37	13
	Total		85	28	12	5	0	0	3	0	1	0	101	33
Career total			93	28	14	5	0	0	6	0	6	0	119	33

1. Includes Austrian Cup
2. Appearances in the EFL Trophy
3. Appearances in the UEFA Europa League
4. Appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League
5. Appearance in the 2022–23 Austrian Football Bundesliga#Europa Conference League play-offs

International

As of 10 June 2025

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Austria	2025	1	0
Total		1	0

Honours

Wolfsberger AC

• Austrian Cup: 2024–25

References

1. "Premier League clubs publish 2020/21 retained lists". premierleague.com. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
2. Thierno Ballo at WorldFootball.net
3. Kinsella, Nizaar (5 January 2018). "Who is Thierno Ballo? Meet Chelsea's new 16-year-old Austrian wonderkid". Goal. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
4. "Teenage Kicks: Thierno Ballo". Chelsea F.C. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
5. Thierno Ballo at Soccerway
6. "Chelsea's FA Youth Cup squad pen pics". Chelsea F.C. 1 November 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
7. "Ballo heads on loan to Austria". Chelsea F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
8. "ÖFB Cup: Rapid reach Round 3 after extra time away to Admira". SK Rapid. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
9. Emms, Nick (5 January 2022). "Report: Chelsea Recall Thierno Ballo From Rapid Vienna Loan". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
10. "NEUE OFFENSIVKRAFT". rzpelletswac.at (in German). Wolfsberger AC. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
11. "Remis zum Saisonstart". RZ Pellets WAC (in German). 25 July 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
12. "Derbywoche". RZ Pellets WAC (in German). 29 August 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
13. "Millwall sign Smallbone and Ballo on loan". BBC Sport. BBC News . BBC. 1 September 2025. Retrieved 3 September 2025.

External links

• Thierno Mamadou Lamarana Ballo at ÖFB (in German)
• Thierno Mamadou Lamarana Ballo at ÖFB (in German) (national team)
• Thierno Ballo on Instagram