Cédric Bakambu
A dynamic striker from DR Congo who made history as the most expensive African footballer ever with his move to China.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Footballer·Birthday: April 11·Millennials
Biography
Cédric Bakambu's career is a map of modern football's global pathways, marked by explosive pace and a relentless nose for goal. Born in France to Congolese parents, he honed his skills in the youth academies of Sochaux before breaking out as a prolific scorer in Turkey with Bursaspor. His 2015 move to Villarreal in Spain's La Liga announced him on a major stage, where he became a fan favorite for his direct, powerful style, netting over 50 goals for the Yellow Submarine. In 2018, he triggered a seismic shift in the football market, with Beijing Guoan paying his release clause to make him the costliest African player in history at the time, a move that highlighted China's brief but aggressive foray into the transfer scene. After conquering the Chinese Super League as its top scorer, he returned to Europe with Olympiacos and later Real Betis, all while serving as a key offensive weapon for the DR Congo national team, the Leopards.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Cédric was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cédric Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Cédric's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the most expensive African footballer in history in 2018 upon his transfer from Villarreal to Beijing Guoan for a reported €74 million.
- Finished as the top scorer in the Chinese Super League in 2020, netting 14 goals for Beijing Guoan.
- Scored over 50 goals across all competitions for Spanish club Villarreal CF between 2015 and 2018.
- Helped Villarreal CF achieve a historic fifth-place finish in La Liga in the 2016-17 season with his goal contributions.
- Won the Turkish Cup with Bursaspor in 2015, scoring in the semi-final and contributing to their run.
Did You Know?
He holds French citizenship but chose to represent the DR Congo national team, making his debut in 2015.
His transfer fee to Beijing Guoan was paid via a release clause, which allowed him to buy out his own Villarreal contract.
He scored a hat-trick on his debut for the DR Congo national team in a 2015 AFCON qualifier against Madagascar.
He was named in the La Liga Team of the Month multiple times during his tenure with Villarreal.
He began his professional career at FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, the same club that produced El-Hadji Diouf and Jérémy Ménez.
“I always knew I had to score goals to make my family proud.”
