Following his move to Oviedo, Bailly's current-season form is up 233% on last season (Season 6→20), while his Rating eased 36→27. That makes this his strongest season for form to date.

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	Oviedo · 20th	15	1	6.97	27	20
2024/25	Villarreal · 5th	12	0	6.55	36	6
2023/24	Villarreal · 8th	10	0	6.66	43	5
2023/24	Beşiktaş · 6th	5	0	6.78	24	4
2022/23	MarseilleLoan · 3rd	17	0	6.77	46	14
2021/22	Manchester United · 6th	4	0	6.6	55	5

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 7 earlier seasons and 3 youth-team spells in the full career.

Côte d'Ivoire · international

Side	Apps	G
Côte d'Ivoire U23	4	1
Ivory Coast	48	2

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Experienced headCentral defender

E. Bailly is a 32-year-old central defender at Columbus Crew, enjoying a standout season — 1 goals and 0 assists in 15 appearances, a Season grade of 37, top 68% of Major League Soccer centre-backs. On long-term scout potential he's rated 34.2, ranking 245th of 436 in the Major League Soccer. A seasoned veteran, he has been a regular starter (68.7% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.5 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Bailly.

Judged on this season alone, Bailly graded 37 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 69th of 101 of the 101 centre-backs in the Major League Soccer, on 4 clean sheets and 3.495 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 6 → 20). Across the 6 seasons we hold, it's his best return yet.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 34, 47th of 101 of the 101 centre-backs in the Major League Soccer. At 32 Bailly is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 4.3 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

A career still climbing — Bailly is at his peak right now, and the curve hasn't flattened.

Peak: 2025/26Trending upRemarkably consistentInjury-hit 2025/264 clubs

Current potential47th of 101 centre-backs · Major League Soccer Current season69th of 101 centre-backs · Major League Soccer 69th-best centre-back in the Major League Soccer 245th in the Major League Soccer · potential 47th-highest potential centre-back in the Major League Soccer

34.2

Ratingi

47th of 101 centre-backs

Seasoni

developing / rotation level

68.7%

Minutes

a regular starter

3.5

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Columbus Crew finished 8th of 15 · a mid-table side

Apps

3.5

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.5 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 4 clean sheets across 15 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 68.7% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.

Watch points

Age curve. At 32, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 34.2, Bailly carries the 47th-highest potential of the centre-backs in the Major League Soccer of 101. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (3.5 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.8× and falling).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %68.7%

Available fixtures20 of 21

Goals / 900.073

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900.073

Defensive actions / 903.495

Player flow

Goal involvements1

Shot conversion %100

Shot accuracy %25

Pass accuracy %85

Dribble success %71.4

Cards / 900.218

Foul involvement / 901.456

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~11), then tapers with age. At 32, Bailly sits on 4.3, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Bailly's projected Rating — 34.2 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the Major League Soccer with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Shots on target1

Shots4

Passing

Assists0

Chances created3

Passes562

Pass accuracy85%

Possession

Successful dribbles5

Dribble success71.4%

Duels won65

Duels won %62.5%

Fouls won7

Defending

Tackles12

Interceptions17

Blocks19

Fouls committed13

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards3

Red cards0

Transfer history

€43.7M total transfer fees · 9 moves

Columbus CrewJul 2026 – nowFree

Oviedountil Jul 2026

Free agentJun 2026 – Jul 2026Free

OviedoAug 2025 – Jun 2026Free Transfer

VillarrealJan 2024 – Aug 2025Free

BeşiktaşSept 2023 – Jan 2024Free

Manchester United(back from loan)Jul 2023 – Sept 2023

Marseille(on loan)Aug 2022 – Jul 2023

Manchester UnitedJul 2016 – Aug 2022€ 38M

VillarrealJan 2015 – Jul 2016€ 5.7M

Espanyoluntil Jan 2015

About E. Bailly

Eric Bertrand Bailly is a 32-year-old centre-back who plays for Columbus Crew, born on April 12, 1994 in Bingerville, standing 187 cm tall. He is from Côte d'Ivoire. Columbus Crew currently sit 8th of 15 in the Major League Soccer.

This season

In the current season, E. Bailly has made 15 appearances with 1 goal and 0 assists across 1,236 minutes, with 3 yellow cards.

E. Bailly's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Columbus Crew face New England Revolution at home in the Major League Soccer.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates E. Bailly at 34.2 with a Season form score of 37, ranking 245th of 436 centre-backs in the Major League Soccer. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 8 career titles — among them the League Cup and the UEFA Europa League. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 13 recorded seasons, E. Bailly has totalled 190 club appearances with 2 goals and 0 assists for 8 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2015/16, with 25 appearances for Villarreal.

E. Bailly's career has also included time at Oviedo, Villarreal, Beşiktaş, Manchester United, Marseille and Espanyol.

On the international stage, E. Bailly has represented Côte d'Ivoire U23 and Ivory Coast — 52 caps and 3 goals in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Also this season

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Columbus Crew finished 8th of 15 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points