Following his move to Chicago Fire, Bamba's current-season form is up 540% on last season (Season 5→32), while his Rating eased 50→28. His peak season for form remains 2020/21 (Season 48).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Chicago Fire	9	2	2	7.11	—	—
2025/26	Chicago Fire · 8th	36	6	5	7.01	28	32
2024/25	Celta Vigo · 7th	16	0	1	6.78	50	5
2023/24	Celta Vigo · 13th	30	3	2	6.97	63	21
2022/23	Lille · 5th	34	6	7	6.79	77	43

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 8 earlier seasons and 4 youth-team spells in the full career.

Côte d'Ivoire · international

Side	Apps	G
Ivory Coast	9	1

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

Scout report

Project playerAttacking midfielder

J. Bamba is a 30-year-old attacking midfielder at Chicago Fire, enjoying a standout season — 6 goals and 5 assists in 36 appearances, a Season grade of 32, top 48% of Major League Soccer attacking midfielders. On long-term scout potential he's rated 28.4, ranking 321st of 520 in the Major League Soccer. An experienced operator, he has been an ever-present (82.3% of available minutes). He brings 0.36 goal contributions per 90 (0.2 goals, 0.16 assists). Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Bamba.

Judged on this season alone, Bamba graded 32 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 14th of 29 of the 29 attacking midfielders in the Major League Soccer, on 6 goals and 5 assists in 36 appearances (0.361 involvements per 90).

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 5 → 32). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2020/21.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 28, 23rd of 29 of the 29 attacking midfielders in the Major League Soccer. At 30 Bamba is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 4.4 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Below his 2020/21 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2020/21Trending upBreakout: 2025/26

Current potential23rd of 29 attacking midfielders · Major League Soccer Current season14th of 29 attacking midfielders · Major League Soccer14th-best attacking midfielder in the Major League Soccer321st in the Major League Soccer · potential23rd-highest potential attacking midfielder in the Major League Soccer

28.4

Ratingi

23rd of 29 attacking midfielders

32.4

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

82.3%

Minutes

near ever-present

0.36

Goal contrib / 90

productive for the role

Output in context · Chicago Fire finished 8th of 15 · a mid-table side

Goals

Assists

G+A

0.17

Goals / app

6 goals in 36 appearances (0.17 per game) for a mid-table side. He also laid on 5 assists, so the all-round involvement reads 11 goal contributions (0.31 per appearance).

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 82.3% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Final-third output. 0.36 goal contributions per 90 (0.2 goals, 0.16 assists) — productive for the role.

Watch points

Defensive numbers. Modest 1.58 defensive actions per 90 for the position.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 28.4, Bamba carries the 23rd-highest potential of the attacking midfielders in the Major League Soccer of 29. In the final third he profiles as a productive contributor (0.36 goal contributions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1× now → 0.7× projected in three years).

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

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %82.3%

Available fixtures37 of 37

Goals / 900.197

Assists / 900.164

Goal contribution / 900.361

Defensive actions / 901.577

Player flow

Goal involvements11

Shot conversion %20.7

Shot accuracy %60.4

Dribble success %37.7

Cards / 900.131

Foul involvement / 903.023

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 (~9), then tapers with age. At 30, Bamba sits on 4.4, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Bamba's projected Rating — 28.4 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 attacking midfielders in the Major League Soccer with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals6

Shots on target29

Shots48

Passing

Assists5

Chances created61

Passes1,010

Possession

Successful dribbles40

Dribble success37.7%

Duels won139

Duels won %42.5%

Fouls won61

Defending

Tackles24

Interceptions23

Blocks1

Fouls committed31

Penalties conceded1—

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards4

Red cards0

Transfer history

Chicago Fire2024/25 – now

Celta Vigo2023/24 – 2024/25Free

Lille2018/19 – 2023/24Free

Saint Etienne(back from loan)2017/18 – 2018/19

Angersuntil 2017/18

Saint Etienne(back from loan)2016/17 – 2017/18

St. Truiden(on loan)2016/17 – 2016/17

Angers(on loan)2016/17 – 2016/17

Saint Etienne2016/17 – 2016/17

Paris FCuntil 2016/17

About J. Bamba

Jonathan Fousseni Bamba is a 30-year-old attacking midfielder who plays for Chicago Fire, born on March 26, 1996 in Alfortville, standing 175 cm tall. He is from Côte d'Ivoire. Chicago Fire currently sit 8th of 15 in the Major League Soccer.

This season

In the current season, J. Bamba has made 36 appearances with 6 goals and 5 assists across 2,739 minutes, averaging a 7.11 match rating over his last 10 rated games, with 4 yellow cards. Though primarily a attacking midfielder, he has also lined up in attack this season.

When J. Bamba plays, Chicago Fire's record this season is 16W-9D-12L — and his match ratings average 6.96 at home against 7.06 on the road.

Recent matches

November 1, 2025: 0-3 loss at home vs Philadelphia Union (90 minutes, 5.9 rating)
October 26, 2025: 2-2 draw away at Philadelphia Union (99 minutes, 1 goal, 1 assist, 8 rating)
October 23, 2025: 3-1 win at home vs Orlando City SC (81 minutes, 7.2 rating)
October 18, 2025: 2-2 draw away at New England Revolution (58 minutes, 7.2 rating)
October 5, 2025: 2-2 draw at home vs Toronto FC (45 minutes, 7.2 rating)
September 30, 2025: 5-3 win away at Inter Miami (61 minutes, 6.3 rating)
September 28, 2025: 2-0 win at home vs Columbus Crew (73 minutes, 7.2 rating)
September 21, 2025: 3-0 win away at Minnesota United FC (79 minutes, 7.7 rating)
September 14, 2025: 1-3 loss at home vs New York City FC (67 minutes, 6.7 rating)
September 7, 2025: 3-2 win at home vs New England Revolution (76 minutes, 1 goal, 7.7 rating)

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates J. Bamba at 28.4 with a Season form score of 32.4, ranking 321st of 520 attacking midfielders in the Major League Soccer. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 6 career titles — among them the CAF Africa Cup of Nations and the Trophée des Champions. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 14 recorded seasons, J. Bamba has totalled 388 club appearances with 64 goals and 46 assists for 9 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2018/19, with 38 appearances for Lille.

J. Bamba's career has also included time at Celta Vigo, Lille, Saint Etienne, Angers, St. Truiden and Paris FC.

On the international stage, J. Bamba has represented Ivory Coast — 9 caps and 1 goal in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Chicago Fire finished 8th of 15 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points