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{{Short description|Football player and manager (1985–2024)}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Sol Bamba
| image = Sol Bamba 8915.JPG
| caption = Bamba with the [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]] in 2012
| full_name = Souleymane Bamba<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/1238361 |title=Premier League clubs publish retained lists |publisher=Premier League |date=7 June 2019 |access-date=7 June 2019}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1985|01|13}}
| birth_place = [[Ivry-sur-Seine]], France
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2024|08|31|1985|01|13}}
| death_place = [[Manisa]], Turkey
| height = 1.90 m<ref name=PremProfile>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/7500/Sol-Bamba/overview |title=Sol Bamba: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref>
| position = [[Centre-back]]
| youthyears1 = 1996–2004
| youthclubs1 = [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]]
| years1 = 2004–2006
| caps1 = 1
| goals1 = 0
| clubs1 = [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]]
| years2 = 2006–2008
| caps2 = 39
| goals2 = 0
| clubs2 = [[Dunfermline Athletic F.C.|Dunfermline Athletic]]
| years3 = 2008–2011
| caps3 = 75
| goals3 = 4
| clubs3 = [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]]
| years4 = 2011–2012
| caps4 = 52
| goals4 = 3
| clubs4 = [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]
| years5 = 2012–2014
| caps5 = 27
| goals5 = 0
| clubs5 = [[Trabzonspor]]
| years6 = 2014–2015
| caps6 = 1
| goals6 = 0
| clubs6 = [[Palermo F.C.|Palermo]]
| years7 = 2015
| caps7 = 19
| goals7 = 1
| clubs7 = → [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] (loan)
| years8 = 2015–2016
| caps8 = 32
| goals8 = 4
| clubs8 = [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]
| years9 = 2016–2021
| caps9 = 112
| goals9 = 10
| clubs9 = [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]]
| years10 = 2021–2022
| caps10 = 24
| goals10 = 0
| clubs10 = [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]
| totalcaps = 382
| totalgoals = 22
| nationalyears1 = 2003–2005
| nationalteam1 = [[Ivory Coast national under-20 football team|Ivory Coast U20]]
| nationalcaps1 = 
| nationalgoals1 = 
| nationalyears2 = 2008
| nationalteam2 = [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast U23]]
| nationalcaps2 = 2
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2008–2014
| nationalteam3 = [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]]
| nationalcaps3 = 46
| nationalgoals3 = 1
| manageryears1 = 2024
| managerclubs1 = [[Adanaspor]]
}}

'''Souleymane {{nobold|"}}Sol{{nobold|"}} Bamba''' (13 January 1985 – 31 August 2024) was a professional [[football player]] and [[Manager (association football)|manager]]. As a player, he was a [[centre-back]]. Born in France, he played for the [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast national team]].

Bamba started his career in his native France with [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]], but failed to establish himself in their first team. He moved to Scotland to join [[Dunfermline Athletic F.C.|Dunfermline Athletic]] in 2006, helping the club reach the final of the [[Scottish Cup]] in his first season. Two years later, he was transferred to [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]], before joining English side [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] in January 2011.

Bamba was transferred to Turkish club [[Trabzonspor]] in 2012 for £750,000 before joining [[U.S. Città di Palermo|Palermo]]. However, he was loaned to [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] after making only one appearance in six months. He eventually joined Leeds on a permanent deal and was appointed club captain, spending a further year with the club before being released and subsequently joining [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]]. In his first full season with Cardiff, he helped the side win promotion to the [[Premier League]]. He retired in 2022 after one year at [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]], and was assistant manager of Cardiff in 2023 and manager of [[Adanaspor]] in Turkey at the time of his death.

Born in France to Ivorian parents, Bamba represented Ivory Coast in the [[Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2008 Olympic Games]] and earned 46 [[Cap (sport)|caps]] for the senior international team between 2008 and 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/hibernian/2009/11/10/hibs-ace-sol-bamba-given-green-light-to-join-ivory-coast-s-world-cup-bid-86908-21810518/ |title=Hibs ace Sol Bamba given green light to join Ivory Coast's World Cup bid |work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] |date=10 November 2009 |access-date=20 May 2010 |last=Marshall |first=Alan}}</ref> He was chosen for two [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]]s and three [[Africa Cup of Nations]], finishing as a runner-up in the latter in [[2012 Africa Cup of Nations|2012]].

==Club career==

===Paris Saint-Germain===
Bamba began his career with [[Ligue 1]] club [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]] (PSG) at the age of 11. He had been spotted by club scouts playing street football in Paris but had initially turned the club down as his mother hoped for him to become a doctor.<ref name="qa">{{cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-sol-bamba-podcast-14468355 |title=The big Sol Bamba Q & A: Cardiff City star joins Blakey's Bootroom to talk promotion, Neil Warnock and all things Bluebirds |publisher=WalesOnline |last=Booth |first=Dominic |date=28 March 2018 |access-date=12 August 2018}}</ref> He lived with his parents Sehrata and Bakary Bamba in [[Ivry-sur-Seine]],<ref name="dreams">{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-227489219.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822050047/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-227489219.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 August 2018 |url-access= |title=Hibs' Bamba's World Cup of dreams. |newspaper=Evening News |date=26 May 2010 |access-date=21 August 2018 }}</ref> a suburb in central Paris. Since his family could not afford the travel to the club's training facilities outside the city, he moved away from his family home to instead live at the club's academy.<ref name="big">{{cite news |url=https://www.theleaguepaper.com/featured/2117/big-interview-with-leeds-uniteds-sol-bamba-adam-pearson-has-been-very-important/ |title=Big Interview with Leeds United's Sol Bamba: "Adam Pearson has been very important" |newspaper=The Football League Paper |last=Ellis |first=Adam |date=10 September 2015 |access-date=21 August 2018}}</ref> Originally playing as a [[defensive midfielder]], he converted to playing as a [[central defender]] at the age of 15 after impressing there as cover for a teammate who had missed a match due to being stuck in traffic.<ref name="regret">{{cite news |url=https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/851229/EFL-question-and-answer-Sol-Bamba-Cardiff-City-Neil-Warnock |title=EFL Q&A: Sol Bamba on his Leicester regret, Neil Warnock's music taste and proper tackling |newspaper=Sunday Express |last=Speck |first=Ivan |date=7 September 2017 |access-date=13 August 2018}}</ref>

Despite impressing for PSG's youth and B teams, he only appeared in two first team games, in his final year at the club at the age of 21.<ref name = "career interview">{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/hibs-provide-world-cup-springboard-as-bamba-comes-on-leaps-and-bounds-1-768541 |title=Hibs provide World Cup springboard as Bamba comes on leaps and bounds |work=[[The Scotsman]] |date=7 November 2009 |access-date=20 May 2010 |last=Bathgate |first=Stuart}}</ref> Dissatisfied with his lack of appearances, Bamba asked to be sent out on [[loan (sports)|loan]] to gain experience but was denied by manager, [[Vahid Halilhodžić]], causing Bamba to reject PSG's offer of a new contract and subsequently leave the club.<ref name = "career interview"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.squawka.com/en/news/leeds-sol-bamba-discusses-training-with-ronaldinho-and-life-at-psg/450192#QCuOuYP5b4xcMAkU.97 |title=Leeds' Sol Bamba discusses training with Ronaldinho and life at PSG |website=squawka.com |last=Hamouda |first=Omar |date=29 August 2015 |access-date=12 August 2018}}</ref> He later claimed that PSG had damaged potential transfers to other French sides after he left the club, stating "I was disappointed because my club said, 'He's a good player but he's a tough guy – he doesn't listen and he can get the team into trouble."<ref name="career interview"/>

===Dunfermline Athletic===
After an initial trial period, Bamba signed for [[Scottish Premier League]] side [[Dunfermline Athletic F.C.|Dunfermline Athletic]] in July 2006 on a two-year contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dunfermline_athletic/5219198.stm|title=Defender Bamba joins Dunfermline|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=23 July 2008 | date=27 July 2006}}</ref> [[Jim Leishman]] later revealed that he had been intending to bring over another player from France on trial, but this deal fell through and Bamba's agent sent him instead.<ref name = "leishman">{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/leishman-believes-bamba-can-use-world-cup-finals-as-a-springboard-1-807389 |title=Leishman believes Bamba can use World Cup finals as a springboard |work=[[The Scotsman]] |date=7 June 2010 |access-date=7 June 2010 |last=Collin |first=Iain}}</ref> Leishman was immediately impressed by Bamba's physique and his performance as a trialist during a preseason friendly against [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]] striker [[John Hartson]].<ref name = "leishman"/> He made his competitive debut for the club in Dunfermline's opening league match of the season, a 2–1 defeat to [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Hearts]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/5223922.stm |title=Dunfermline Athletic 1–2 Hearts |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 July 2006 |access-date=21 August 2018}}</ref> On 2 December 2006, Bamba was [[ejection (association football)|sent off]] for the first time in his professional career after pushing [[Steven Naismith]] in the chest during a 5–1 defeat to [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/6196924.stm |title=Kilmarnock 5–1 Dunfermline |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 December 2006 |access-date=21 August 2018}}</ref>

In his first season at the club, Bamba was part of the squad that reached the [[2007 Scottish Cup Final]] and played in a 1–0 defeat to [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] in the final.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_cups/6684941.stm |title=Dunfermline 0–1 Celtic |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 May 2007 |access-date=21 August 2018}}</ref> However, the club also suffered [[promotion and relegation|relegation]] from the Scottish Premier League after a seven-year spell in the division.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/6645249.stm |title=Inverness CT 2–1 Dunfermline |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 May 2007 |access-date=21 August 2018}}</ref> Bamba signed a two-year contract extension at the start of the [[2007–08 in Scottish football|2007–08 season]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dunfermline_athletic/6967126.stm|title=Bamba signs a new deal with Pars|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=23 July 2008 | date=28 August 2007}}</ref> The extension brought an end to rumours of his desire to leave the club in order to play at a higher level and further his chances of breaking into the Ivory Coast national side, having not played in any of Dunfermline's preseason matches.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23665181.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822050014/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23665181.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 August 2018 |url-access=|title=No offers for Bamba leaves Kenny uncertain over defender's future |newspaper=The Herald |date=23 July 2007 |access-date=21 August 2018 }}</ref>

Bamba was allowed to go on trial with [[Football League Championship|Championship]] side [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] in July 2008,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.watford.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=116592|title=La Bamba – Watford trial Pars soul|publisher=vitalfootball.co.uk|access-date=23 July 2008|archive-date=4 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304064725/http://www.watford.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=116592|url-status=dead}}</ref> appearing in a friendly for them against [[Boreham Wood F.C.|Boreham Wood]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10400~1349098,00.html|title=Boreham Wood 1 Watford 3|publisher=watfordfc.co.uk|access-date=23 July 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919095755/http://www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10400~1349098%2C00.html|archive-date=19 September 2008}}</ref> Soon afterwards, manager [[Jim McIntyre (footballer)|Jim McIntyre]] said he expected a fee to be agreed between Dunfermline and Watford, which would allow Bamba to move to the Championship side.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dunfermline_athletic/7526579.stm|title=Watford close in on Pars' Bamba|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=29 July 2008 |date=28 July 2008}}</ref> The deal was thought to be almost complete, with Watford sending a doctor to China, where Bamba had travelled with the Ivory Coast Olympic squad, to conduct his medical.<ref name="dreams"/> However, Watford later pulled out for unknown reasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide1/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=nonwire_soccer/08/08/21/manual_174324.html&TEAMHD=nationwide1|title=Hornets pull out of Bamba deal|publisher=sportinglife.com|access-date=22 August 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120429014325/http://www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide1/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=nonwire_soccer/08/08/21/manual_174324.html&TEAMHD=nationwide1|archive-date=29 April 2012}}</ref> A few weeks later, Dunfermline accepted offers of [[Pound sterling|£]]50,000 for Bamba to move to either [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] and [[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]], keeping him in the Scottish Premier League.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008/09/01/sportstory11897027t0.asp |title=Bamba on his way back to the SPL |work=[[The Courier (Dundee)|The Courier]] |date=1 September 2008 |access-date=20 May 2010 |last=Dey |first=Graeme |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229145617/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008/09/01/sportstory11897027t0.asp |archive-date=29 February 2012}}</ref>

===Hibernian===
Bamba chose to move to [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]], signing a three-year contract with the club.<ref name = "bbc">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/7591944.stm|title=Hibs sign Bamba from Dunfermline |publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=1 September 2008 | date=1 September 2008}}</ref> As part of the transfer deal, Dunfermline were due 10% of any future transfer fee.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-27610019.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822050026/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-27610019.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 August 2018 |url-access=|title=Bamba's move to Leicester earns Dunfermline £25,000 |newspaper=The Herald |date=4 January 2011 |access-date=21 August 2018 }}</ref> He was sent off on his debut for a second bookable offence against [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]], but Bamba subsequently established himself in the Hibs first team. Despite being a natural centre back, [[manager (association football)|manager]] [[Mixu Paatelainen]] praised Bamba's performance as a [[defensive midfielder]] during a 2–0 win over Celtic in December 2008.<ref name = "Mixu">{{cite news |last=Paterson |first=Colleen |url=http://sport.scotsman.com/football/Hibs-boss-praises-Bamba-for.4773769.jp |title=Hibs boss praises Bamba for his commitment |work=[[Edinburgh Evening News]] |date=9 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617043544/http://sport.scotsman.com/football/Hibs-boss-praises-Bamba-for.4773769.jp |archive-date=17 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Paatelainen commented further that he believed Bamba had improved as a player since his spell at Dunfermline, with him no longer going to ground when making a challenge,<ref name = "p&j"/> and described him as possessing "tremendous pace and physical presence."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-17108259.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822045951/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-17108259.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 August 2018 |url-access= |title=Riordan reunited with his first love |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=2 September 2008 |access-date=21 August 2018 }}</ref> Bamba quickly became a popular player with the Hibs support due to his tough and committed tackling in this new role.<ref name = "p&j">{{cite news |url=http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1000521?UserKey= |title=Powerful Bamba has made his presence felt at Easter Road |work=[[The Press and Journal (Scotland)|The Press and Journal]] |location=Aberdeen |date=23 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320072357/http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1000521?UserKey= |archive-date=20 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

After [[Rob Jones (footballer born 1979)|Rob Jones]] left the club and new manager [[John Hughes (footballer born 1964)|John Hughes]] arrived during the summer of 2009, Bamba was moved back to a central defensive role.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hibshistoricaltrust.org.uk/defenders/souleymane-bamba |title=Souleymane Bamba |publisher=Hibernian Historical Trust |access-date=22 August 2018}}</ref> In his second match in this position, Bamba scored his first ever professional goal in a 3–1 win against [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]] on 22 August, heading in from a [[John Rankin (footballer, born 1983)|John Rankin]] corner.<ref>{{cite news| title = Falkirk 1–3 Hibernian| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/8210716.stm| publisher  = BBC Sport| date = 22 August 2009
| access-date =24 March 2010}}</ref> Coincidentally, he scored his second goal for the club at the same ground against the same team and in another 3–1 win, on 27 March. The ''[[Edinburgh Evening News]]'' reported on 8 May 2010 that Bamba's performances had "not gone unnoticed", with scouts from [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] and [[Stade Rennais F.C.|Rennes]] due to watch Bamba.<ref name = "bamba sven">{{cite news |last=Hardie |first=David |url=http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Sol-Bamba-Fulham-and-Rennes.6281870.jp |title=Sol Bamba: Fulham and Rennes set to watch Hibs defender |work=[[Edinburgh Evening News]] |date=8 May 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104174054/http://www.scotsman.com/sport/sol-bamba-fulham-and-rennes-set-to-watch-hibs-defender-1-1237104 |archive-date=4 January 2013}}</ref> [[Sven-Göran Eriksson]], the new [[manager (football)|manager]] of the Ivorian national team, was also due to watch Bamba ahead of the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]],<ref name = "bamba sven"/> but was not spotted at the last game played by Hibs in the 2009–10 season.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/dundee-united/dundee-united-0-hibernian-2-long-and-winding-road-to-europe-1.1026419 |title=Dundee United 0 Hibernian 2: Long and winding road to Europe |work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] |last=Friel |first=David |date=10 May 2010 |access-date=10 May 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125025213/http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/dundee-united/dundee-united-0-hibernian-2-long-and-winding-road-to-europe-1.1026419|archive-date=25 January 2013}}</ref>

Bamba angered manager John Hughes when he failed to report for a pre-season tour of the Netherlands in July 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/Hibs-star-Sol-Bamba-goes.6431195.jp |title=Hibs star Sol Bamba goes AWOL |date=21 July 2010 |access-date=21 July 2010 |work=[[Edinburgh Evening News]] |last=Hardie |first=David}}</ref> Bamba responded angrily to the criticism by claiming that he needed a full three weeks off after returning from the World Cup and had attempted to contact both Hughes and Hibernian's chairman to discuss the situation,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/hibernianfc/Sol-Bamba-furious-with-Hibs.6433092.jp |title=Sol Bamba furious with Hibs but says he needs a full three weeks off |work=[[The Scotsman]] |last=Pattullo |first=Alan |date=22 July 2010 |access-date=22 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-scotsman/20100722/281505042498379 |title=Bamba's fury at Hibs |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=22 July 2010 |access-date=22 August 2018 |via=The Press Reader}}</ref> but Hughes dropped Bamba from the first team squad when he eventually returned to [[Edinburgh]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/8842646.stm |title=Hibs' Sol Bamba is punished for late World Cup return |date=26 July 2010 |access-date=26 July 2010 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> Bamba was made to train with the club's youth team on his return but was recalled for the second leg of a [[UEFA Europa League]] tie with [[NK Maribor]] at [[Easter Road]], which Hibs lost 3–2 on the night and 6–2 on aggregate.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8879246.stm |title=Hibernian 2–3 NK Maribor (agg 2–6) |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 August 2010 |access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> Following the incident, manager Hughes stated his desire for the situation to be forgotten.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/john-hughes-wants-sol-bamba-row-to-be-forgotten-0szzqz6sq7w |title=John Hughes wants Sol Bamba row to be forgotten |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=4 August 2010 |access-date=22 August 2018}}</ref> During his time with Hibs, Bamba made 80 appearances in all competitions, scoring four times.<ref name="fee">{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/sol-bamba-move-to-leicester-earns-hibs-163-250-000-1-1524006 |title=Sol Bamba move to Leicester earns Hibs £250,000 |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=2 January 2011 |access-date=23 August 2018}}</ref>

===Leicester City===
[[File:Sol Bamba.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Bamba playing for [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] in 2011]]
With Bamba's contract with Hibs due to expire at the end of the 2010–11 season, the club agreed on a deal with Football League Championship club [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] for his transfer.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/9332096.stm| title=Hibernian defender Sol Bamba set for Leicester switch|publisher=BBC Sport| date=1 January 2011| access-date=1 January 2011}}</ref> The deal was confirmed on 2 January 2011, with Bamba joining for an undisclosed fee midway through the season,<ref name="Bamba signs for Foxes"/> although sources placed the figure around £250,000 with Hibs also due to receive a percentage of any future transfer fee.<ref name="fee"/><ref name="windfall">{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/hibernian/hibs-face-bonus-windfall-over-sol-bamba-sale-1-2330421 |title=Hibs face bonus windfall over Sol Bamba sale |newspaper=The Scotsman |last=Hardie |first=David |date=31 May 2012 |access-date=23 August 2018}}</ref> He was reunited at Leicester with his former Ivory Coast manager, Sven-Göran Eriksson.<ref name="Bamba signs for Foxes">{{cite web |title=Bamba signs for Foxes |url=http://www.lcfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10274~2256416,00.html |publisher=Leicester City F.C. |work=www.LCFC.co.uk |date=2 January 2011 |access-date=2 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614190755/http://www.lcfc.com/page/LatestNews/0%2C%2C10274~2256416%2C00.html |archive-date=14 June 2012}}</ref> He made his debut for the club in a 2–2 draw against [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] on 9 January in the third round of the [[FA Cup]], scoring with his first touch of the ball.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/9341729.stm|title=Leicester 2 – 2 Man City|last=Fletcher|first=Paul|date=9 January 2011|access-date=9 January 2011|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> He scored his first two league goals in a 4–2 win over [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] on 22 January.<ref name="Leicester 4-2 Millwall">{{cite news|title = Leicester 4–2 Millwall|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/9365343.stm|publisher = BBC Sport|date = 22 January 2011|access-date =22 January 2011}}</ref>

After speculation linking him with several [[Premier League]] sides, including [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]], and French side [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] during the 2011 summer transfer window,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11065/7094036/sven-bamba-not-for-sale|title=Sven – Bamba not for sale|work=Sky Sports|date=11 August 2011|access-date=11 August 2011}}</ref> Bamba signed a new contract with Leicester in September 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15000890.stm|title=Sol Bamba agrees extended Leicester City deal|publisher=BBC Sport|date=21 September 2011|access-date=22 September 2011}}</ref> During negotiations, Eriksson compared Bamba's style of play to that of former German international player [[Franz Beckenbauer]].<ref name = "Beckenbamba">{{cite news|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11065/7190976/bamba-in-line-for-new-deal|title=Bamba in line for new deal|work=Sky Sports|date=20 September 2011|access-date=20 September 2011|first=Soriebah|last=Kajue}}</ref> Blackburn manager [[Steve Kean]] had claimed that the two clubs had made a bid for Bamba and described the move as being "quite close" to being completed.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/blackburn-make-bid-for-leicester-defender-sol-bamba-2335337.html |title=Blackburn make bid for Leicester defender Sol Bamba |newspaper=The Independent |date=10 August 2011 |access-date=23 August 2018}}</ref>

After Eriksson was replaced by [[Nigel Pearson]] as Leicester manager, Bamba played less regularly, particularly after January when the club signed [[Wes Morgan]] and Bamba missed a month to play in the [[African Cup of Nations]] with Ivory Coast.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Leicester-City-s-Sol-Bamba-linked-Turkey/story-16152538-detail/story.html|title=Leicester City's Sol Bamba linked to Turkey move|work=Leicester Mercury|date=22 May 2012|access-date=26 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525013227/http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Leicester-City-s-Sol-Bamba-linked-Turkey/story-16152538-detail/story.html|archive-date=25 May 2012}}</ref> In his 17 months at the club, in total he played 55 games for the club in all competitions, scoring four goals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11065/7823090/foxes-bid-farewell-to-bamba|title=Foxes bid farewell to Bamba|work=Sky Sports|date=1 June 2012|access-date=18 June 2012}}</ref> He later expressed his regret at leaving the club, stating his belief in Pearson's ability to help them win promotion to the Premier League.<ref name="regret"/>
{{clear}}

===Trabzonspor===
[[File:Souleymane Bamba'13.JPG|thumb|upright|Bamba playing for [[Trabzonspor]] in 2013]]

Bamba signed for Turkish club [[Trabzonspor]] in June 2012 for a fee of £750,000 after being recommended to the club by his international teammate [[Didier Zokora]].<ref name="windfall"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ntvspor.net/haber/futbol/66713/sol-bamba-trabzonsporda |title=Sol Bamba Trabzonspor'da! |publisher=NTVSpor.net |access-date=18 June 2012|language= tr}}</ref> He made his debut for the club on 26 August 2012 playing the full 90 minutes, in a 2–0 victory at home to [[Elazigspor]]. He only made 18 appearances during his first season at the club,<ref name="Soccerway">{{Soccerway|38532|access-date=23 August 2018}}</ref> missing a proportion of fixtures in December and January in part because he was away with [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]] as they qualified for the [[2013 African Cup of Nations]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4622/africa/2012/12/27/3631715/cote-divoire-name-regular-squad-for-2013-afcon |title=Cote D'Ivoire name regular squad for 2013 Afcon |website=goal.com |last=Kobo |first=Kingsley |access-date=14 October 2018}}</ref>

During the 2013–14 season, Bamba made 15 appearances for Trabzonspor in the first half of the season,<ref name="Soccerway"/> including being a regular starter in their [[Europa League]] campaign. However, on 22 January 2014, he picked up an ankle injury which ruled him out for the majority of the latter part of the season.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.menafn.com/1093776593/Ivorian-Footballer-Sol-Bamba-Receives-Care-at-Aspetar-for-Ankle-Injury|title=Ivorian Footballer 'Sol' Bamba Receives Care at Aspetar for Ankle Injury|publisher=MENAFN – Qatar News Agency|access-date=25 February 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150121210936/http://www.menafn.com/1093776593/Ivorian-Footballer-Sol-Bamba-Receives-Care-at-Aspetar-for-Ankle-Injury|archive-date=21 January 2015}}</ref> Bamba was not selected to play for Tranzonspor again after suffering the injury, however he recovered in time to play for Ivory Coast at the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]].<ref name="Reynolds">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/worldcup/world-cup-2014-kolo-toure-fit-for-ivory-coast-despite-contracting-malaria-9532266.html |title=World Cup 2014: Kolo Toure fit for Ivory Coast despite contracting malaria |work=The Independent |first=Charles |last=Reynolds |date=12 June 2014 |access-date=15 June 2014}}</ref>

===Palermo===
On 26 August 2014, after having been released by Trabzonspor, Bamba agreed a three-year deal with newly promoted [[Serie A]] club [[U.S. Città di Palermo|Palermo]].<ref>{{cite news |language=it |access-date=26 August 2014 |publisher=US Città di Palermo |date=26 August 2014 |url=http://palermocalcio.it/it/1415/news/scheda.php?id=30390 |title=Bamba È Rosanero Per Il Difensore Contratto Triennale |archive-date=27 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827195258/http://palermocalcio.it/it/1415/news/scheda.php?id=30390 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He made his Palermo debut on 24 September 2014, when he started in a 3–3 draw against [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]]. However, he made no further appearances for the club.<ref name="promise">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45013131 |title=Sol Bamba making good on Cardiff City promotion promise |publisher=BBC Sport |last=Phillips |first=Rob |date=30 July 2018 |access-date=12 August 2018}}</ref> After leaving the club, he expressed his confusion over not playing more for Palermo, commenting "The manager would say 'you're not far off, keep doing what you're doing and you'll be playing.' Well, after one month then two, three and four you start to get worried."<ref name="Leedsinterview">{{cite web |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-sol-bamba-interview-1-7080785 |title=Leeds United: Sol Bamba interview |publisher=Yorkshire Evening Post |last=Hay |first=Phil |date=30 January 2015 |access-date=23 August 2018}}</ref>

===Leeds United===
On 23 January 2015, less than six months into his Palermo contract,<ref name="Leedsinterview"/> Bamba was loaned to Championship side [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] for the remainder of the season, with the possibility of making the transfer permanent at a later date.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-whites-news/leeds-united-bamba-seals-whites-transfer-1-7068146|publisher=Yorkshire Evening Post|date=23 January 2015|access-date=23 January 2015|title=Leeds United: Bamba seals Whites transfer|first=Phil |last=Hay}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher= Leeds United F.C. | url= http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/12n7hwcgofq3i1g4g5dcgrvtu3/title/bamba-seals-united-move|date= 23 January 2015|access-date= 23 January 2015|title= Bamba seals United move}}</ref> He made his debut for Leeds in a 2–1 [[West Yorkshire derby]] win over [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] a week later.<ref>{{Cite web
| url        = http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/1tzqyjqfvglbj13lxqdzdts9fk/title/sharp-heads-late-to-stun-huddersfield
| title      = Sharp Heads Late To Stun Huddersfield
| publisher  = Leeds United F.C.
| date       = 31 January 2015
| access-date = 31 January 2015
}}</ref> Less than a month after joining the side, Bamba was named captain for three games in place of [[Liam Cooper]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.twitter.com/lufc/status/565223981931061250 |title=Team news |publisher=Leeds United F.C. |website=twitter.com |date=10 February 2015 |access-date=16 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sky Bet Championship: Alex Mowatt earns Leeds 1–0 win over Millwall |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/leeds-vs-millwall/314134 |website=Sky Sports |access-date=16 October 2018}}</ref> In particular, he served as captain when Leeds beat the then league leaders Middlesbrough 1–0,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.squawka.com/en/news/eddie-gray-backs-leader-sol-bamba-to-be-leeds-united-captain/311032 |title=Eddie Gray backs "leader" Sol Bamba to be Leeds United captain |website=squawka.com |last=Corking |first=Graham |date=24 February 2015 |access-date=16 October 2018}}</ref> with Bamba receiving praise for his performance.<ref>{{cite news |title=Middlesbrough 0 Leeds United 1: Mowatt shocks leaders Boro|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-utd/middlesbrough-0-leeds-unted-1-mowatt-shocks-leaders-boro-1-7119053 |date=21 February 2015 |access-date=21 February 2015 |publisher=Yorkshire Evening Post}}</ref>

Bamba scored his first goal for Leeds against Fulham in a 3–0 away victory in March.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fulham 0 Leeds 3 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31827949|date=10 March 2015 |access-date=10 March 2015 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> After impressing during his time at Leeds, Bamba revealed his desire to join the club on a permanent basis. However, he was also outspoken towards the club's owner [[Massimo Cellino]] advising "the person in charge has to do better for the sake of the club and the supporters".<ref>{{cite news |title=Leeds United: Sort it out, says Sol|url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-whites-news/leeds-united-sort-it-out-says-sol-1-7242638 |date=3 May 2015 |access-date=3 May 2015 |publisher=Yorkshire Evening Post |last=Hay |first=Phil}}</ref> In June, Leeds arranged with Bamba's club Palermo to sign him on a permanent basis for an undisclosed fee. The deal was for two years with the option for a third year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sol Bamba Signs Permanent Deal|url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/1j2rtmixcjnu4zb363s7ebb4q/title/sol-bamba-signs-permanent-deal|publisher=Leeds United F.C.|date=24 June 2015 |access-date= 24 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sol Bamba: Leeds United sign Palermo defender |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33254911|publisher=BBC Sport|date=24 June 2015|access-date=24 June 2015}}</ref> New Leeds United head coach [[Uwe Rösler]] described Bamba as "a match-winner in both boxes", and said that "he brings fantastic qualities with him" and "he can be a leader by himself for the young team he is working with".<ref>{{cite news|publisher= Yorkshire Evening Post | date= 24 June 2015 | access-date= 24 June 2015 | title= Leeds United: Defensive rock Bamba can be Whites' leader – Rosler | url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-whites-news/leeds-united-defensive-rock-bamba-can-be-whites-leader-rosler-1-7325997}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02vhb06|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Rosler: Bamba is a matchwinner in both boxes|date=24 June 2015|access-date=24 June 2015}}</ref>

In the offseason, Bamba was appointed [[Captain (association football)|captain]] of Leeds by head coach Uwe Rösler, taking over from previous captain Liam Cooper.<ref>{{cite news|publisher= Leeds United F.C. | date= 4 August 2015 | access-date= 4 August 2015 | title= Bamba Named Club Captain | url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/13migsitfbg1x10dmclgfgn2u4/title/bamba-named-club-captain}}</ref> Bamba received the [[player of the match|man of the match]] award in a 1–1 draw against [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] in the league on the opening day of the season.<ref>{{cite news|publisher= Leeds United F.C. | date= 8 August 2015 | access-date= 8 August 2015 | title= United In Opening Day Draw | url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/tur6eygqn5lg1prmxswgkfmmd/title/united-in-opening-day-draw}}</ref> Bamba scored a "stunning" long range volley against [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] in a 2–1 win late in the season.<ref>{{cite news|publisher= Yorkshire Evening Post | date= 19 April 2016 | access-date= 19 April 2016 | title= Leeds United 2 Wolves 1: Bamba stunner sets Whites up for third-straight win | url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-2-wolves-1-bamba-stunner-sets-whites-up-for-third-straight-win-1-7862681#ixzz48jXWT572}}</ref> At the end of the 2015–16 season, Bamba was again critical of Leeds owner Cellino, calling on him to put 'promises to action'. He revealed the players were unaware if head coach [[Steve Evans (footballer born 1962)|Steve Evans]] would be retained for the following 2016–17 season, that the players were unaware of when to return for pre season training and they were told they would find out 'by text' when Cellino had made a decision.<ref>{{cite news|publisher= Yorkshire Evening Post | date= 8 May 2016 | access-date= 8 May 2016 | title= What's going on at Leeds United? Players wait to hear by text| url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/what-s-going-on-at-leeds-united-players-wait-to-hear-by-text-1-7899209}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|publisher= Sunday Express |last=Sobot |first=Lee | date= 9 May 2016 | access-date= 9 May 2016 | title= Leeds captain: This is the bizarre way we'll be told about new manager| url=http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/668537/Leeds-Manager-News-Players-Text-Message-Sol-Bamba-Steve-Evans-Sack-Massimo-Cellino9}}</ref>

Nonetheless, new head coach [[Garry Monk]] announced Bamba would remain as Leeds captain for the 2016–17 season. On 7 August, Bamba scored an own goal against [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] in a 3–0 defeat in the opening match of the season and was subsequently dropped from the side, falling behind [[Kyle Bartley]], Liam Cooper and [[Pontus Jansson]] in the pecking order.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/dw4fya4ld7kv11fnbvhw59zbt/title/qpr-claim-opening-victory |title=QPR Claim Opening Victory |publisher=Leeds United F.C. |date=7 August 2016 |access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref> On 1 September 2016, Bamba, despite being Leeds' captain, was released by the club. His contract was cancelled by mutual consent following the close of the transfer window the previous day.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/9yommi030bx31wog8lzu5wjsd/title/bamba-in-united-exit|title=Bamba In United Exit |publisher=Leeds United F.C. |date=1 September 2016|access-date=1 September 2016}}</ref> The decision was made after Monk informed him that he would no longer be first choice at the club.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/764913/Sol-Bamba-Leeds-United-Transfer-News-Cardiff-City |title=Sol Bamba: I am so glad I left Leeds… this is why |newspaper=The Express |last=Cambridge |first=James |date=8 February 2017 |access-date=23 August 2018}}</ref>

===Cardiff City===
[[File:Cardiff City celebrations 2018 (2).jpg|thumb|right|Bamba (holding trophy) lifts the [[2017–18 EFL Championship]] runner-up trophy]]
Following his release, Bamba trained with [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] who were managed by his former Leicester boss Nigel Pearson but was not offered a deal.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-cardiff-citys-new-world-11991521 |title=Who is Cardiff City's new World Cup defender Sol Bamba and why is he a free agent? Everything you need to know |publisher=WalesOnline |last=Booth |first=Dominic |date=7 October 2016 |access-date=23 August 2018}}</ref> He instead joined [[Neil Warnock]] at [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] in October 2016, signing a two-year contract.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bamba signs City deal |url=http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/bamba-signs-city-deal-3356948.aspx |publisher=Cardiff City F.C. |date=11 October 2016 |access-date=11 October 2016 |archive-date=11 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011213646/http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/bamba-signs-city-deal-3356948.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> Warnock had long been keen on signing Bamba at previous clubs and had contacted him a month before the move, when both were without a club, and urged him to wait for Warnock's appointment at a new club to join him there.<ref name="promise"/><ref name="qa"/> He made his debut for the club in a [[Severnside derby]] match against [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] on 14 October, scoring the winning goal as the ''Bluebirds'' won 2–1.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cardiff City v Bristol City RECAP: Sol Bamba and Peter Whittingham goals secure victory|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-v-bristol-city-12027270 |publisher=WalesOnline |date=14 October 2016 |access-date=14 October 2016}}</ref> His performances for Cardiff led manager Warnock to declare that "I wouldn't want anyone else. I don't think there's anyone better."<ref>{{cite news |title=Sol Bamba: There's no better defender, says Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38143719 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 November 2016 |access-date=29 November 2016}}</ref> Bamba received his first red card in seven years against [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]] in December, following a scuffle with forward, [[David McGoldrick]]. After receiving the red card, Bamba clashed with the fourth official before being physically restrained by Warnock and leaving the pitch. His reaction led to a three match ban.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bamba explodes after sending off |url=http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/championship/10691101/bamba-explodes-after-sending-off |publisher=Sky Sports |date=10 December 2016 |access-date=10 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sol Bamba: Cardiff City defender has extra game added to two-match ban |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38403339 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 December 2016 |access-date=22 December 2016}}</ref> In April, Bamba suffered a groin injury against [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]], which ended his season prematurely.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cardiff City: Sol Bamba to miss remainder of season says Neil Warnock |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39589133 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 April 2017 |access-date=13 April 2017}}</ref>

Bamba returned to the squad at the beginning of the 2017–18 season, helping Cardiff win their three opening games of the season, for the first time in their history.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cardiff City 2–0 Sheffield United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40858330 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 August 2017 |access-date=15 August 2017}}</ref> He signed a new three-year contract on 25 August 2017, following it up by heading in the winner against Queens Park Rangers the next day.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sol Bamba: Cardiff City defender signs new three-year deal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41047424 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 August 2017 |access-date=25 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Cardiff City 2–1 Queens Park Rangers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40983500 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 August 2017 |access-date=26 August 2017}}</ref> He went on to help the club win promotion to the [[Premier League]] after finishing the season in second place.<ref name="promise"/> He was ever present in the league, appearing in all 46 league matches, and was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/cardiff-city-pfa-sol-bamba-14544868 |title=Just one Cardiff City star named in PFA Championship Team of the Year as three Fulham players included |last=Coleman |first=Tom |date=18 April 2018 |access-date=13 August 2018}}</ref>

He made his debut in the Premier League in Cardiff's first match of the [[2018–19 Cardiff City F.C. season|2018–19 season]], a 2–0 defeat to [[AFC Bournemouth]],<ref name="Soccerway"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45748147 |title=Sol Bamba ready to settle in 'perfect' Cardiff under 'father figure' Warnock |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 October 2018 |access-date=15 October 2018}}</ref> before scoring his first goal in the top division in a 4–1 defeat to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] in September 2018.<ref name="Soccerway"/> Bamba scored a further 3 goals during the season, including in wins against [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]] and [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]].<ref name="Soccerway"/> Having missed only one match during the course of the season, he was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign after rupturing his cruciate knee ligaments in a defeat against [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] on 5 March 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sol Bamba: Cardiff City defender out for rest of season with knee injury |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47457494 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 March 2019 |access-date=13 March 2019}}</ref>

In July 2019 it was revealed that Bamba would miss the start of the 2019–20 season due to injury.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48934869|title=Sol Bamba: Cardiff City defender to miss start of 2019–20 season|date=10 July 2019|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> He made his return from injury as a substitute on 2 November in a 4–2 home win over [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] and in December he signed a new contract adding one year to his deal.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sol Bamba: Defender signs new contract with Cardiff City |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50789627 |access-date=1 September 2024 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 December 2019}}</ref> After a cancer diagnosis in January 2021, Bamba returned for the final minute of the season on 8 May in a 1–1 draw at home to [[Rotherham United]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael|last=Pearlman|title=Cardiff City 1–1 Rotherham United: Millers relegated after Marlon Pack equaliser |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56953371 |access-date=1 September 2024 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2021}}</ref> In June 2021, Cardiff announced that Bamba was one of five players to be released.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sol Bamba among five players to be leaving Cardiff |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/sol-bamba-cardiff-junior-hoilett-wales-charlton-b1857768.html |access-date=1 September 2024 |work=The Independent |date=1 June 2021}}</ref> He said that he was upset to have learned the news from the club's Twitter post.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Scott |title=Middlesbrough's Sol Bamba was hurt by release from Cardiff |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/19666291.middlesbroughs-sol-bamba-hurt-release-cardiff/ |access-date=1 September 2024 |work=The Northern Echo |date=22 October 2021}}</ref>

===Middlesbrough===
Bamba was re-united with former manager Neil Warnock after joining Middlesbrough on a one-year contract on 10 August 2021. He made his first start for the club one day later in a 3–0 defeat away to [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] in the [[EFL Cup]]. His first league start came in a 2–0 defeat away to [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] on 11 September 2021. Bamba won the Sky Bet Man of the Match award for his performance in a 2–0 victory against his former club Cardiff City on 23 October 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/i-cant-praise-him-enough-21951815|title = Neil Warnock's praise for Sol Bamba after Boro win at Cardiff|date = 23 October 2021}}</ref>

On 4 February 2022, Bamba came on as a substitute in the 28th minute of extra time in Middlesbrough's FA Cup tie against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]. Upon the game going to penalties, he took and converted his team's fifth spot kick and ultimately allowed the Boro to progress to the fifth round of the tournament for the first time since 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Association|first=The Football|title=Boro stun United after shootout|url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2022/feb/04/emirates-fa-cup-friday-round-4-wrap-20220204|access-date=5 February 2022|website=www.thefa.com}}</ref> Bamba was released by the club at the end of the [[2021–22 Middlesbrough F.C. season|2021–22 season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/mfc-retained-list-summer-2022|title=MFC Retained List: Summer 2022|website=www.mfc.co.uk|date=9 May 2022}}</ref>

==International career==
[[File:Brozek4.jpg|thumb|right|Bamba (left) playing for [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]] in a [[exhibition game|friendly match]] against [[Poland national football team|Poland]] in 2010.]]
Although born in France, Bamba represented his parents' nation of [[Ivory Coast]]. He featured at the [[2003 FIFA World Youth Championship]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28928381 |title=Souleymane Bamba completes transfer to Palermo |publisher=BBC Sport |last=Okeleji |first=Oluwashina |date=26 August 2014 |access-date=27 August 2018}}</ref> the 2005 [[African Youth Championship]] and the [[2008 Toulon Tournament]]. Bamba was also part of the [[Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's team squads#&nbsp;Côte d'Ivoire|Ivory Coast]] squad that reached the [[Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament#Quarter-finals|quarter-finals]] of the [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Olympic Games]].<ref name = "international call up">{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/hibernian/2008/12/05/exclusive-ivory-coast-call-up-proves-i-was-right-to-make-hibs-switch-says-sol-bamba-86908-20947401/ |title=Exclusive: Ivory Coast call-up proves I was right to make Hibs switch, says Sol Bamba |work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] |date=5 December 2008 |access-date=20 May 2010 |last=Ralston |first=Gary}}</ref>

Bamba won his first [[cap (sport)|cap]] at full international level for [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]] in a 2008 [[exhibition match|friendly match]] against [[Israel national football team|Israel]],<ref name = "international call up"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Bamba39s-international-callup-puts-his.4954588.jp |title=Bamba's international call-up puts his Hibs role at risk |work=[[Edinburgh Evening News]] |date=6 February 2009 |access-date=20 May 2010 |last=Hardie |first=David |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716140224/http://www.scotsman.com/sport/bamba-s-international-call-up-puts-his-hibs-role-at-risk-1-1191478 |archive-date=16 July 2012}}</ref> and his second cap as a late substitute in a friendly against [[Turkey national football team|Turkey]].<ref name="nft">{{NFT player|26395|access-date=27 August 2018}}</ref> Bamba made his competitive debut in a 5–0 win against [[Malawi national football team|Malawi]] in a [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)|2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying]] match, again as a late substitute.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/africa/matches/round=252295/match=300070378/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401112901/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/africa/matches/round=252295/match=300070378/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 April 2009 |publisher=[[FIFA]] |title=Preliminaries |access-date=20 May 2010}}</ref> This match was played in the aftermath of the [[2009 Houphouët-Boigny stampede|Houphouët-Boigny Arena stampede]], which killed dozens of Ivorian spectators.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-herald/20090330/281530811947993 |title=22 die in football stadium stampede |newspaper=The Herald |last=Williams |first=Martin |date=30 March 2009 |access-date=27 August 2018 |via=The Press Reader}}</ref> Bamba became a regular in the national team as they qualified for the [[2010 Africa Cup of Nations]] and the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]]. Bamba scored his first goal for the team in a friendly against [[Rwanda national football team|Rwanda]], as part of the squad's preparation for the 2010 African Cup.<ref name="nft"/> He played in all of Ivory Coast's matches at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, but the team suffered a quarter-final defeat to [[Algeria national football team|Algeria]] after [[extra time]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/-Hibs-won39t-get-Sol.6010286.jp |title=Hibs won't get Sol back for Celtic showdown |work=[[Edinburgh Evening News]] |date=25 January 2010 |access-date=20 May 2010 |last=Hardie |first=David |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716062558/http://www.scotsman.com/sport/hibs-won-t-get-sol-back-for-celtic-showdown-1-1229005 |archive-date=16 July 2012}}</ref> The "uneasy" central defensive partnership between [[Kolo Touré]] and Bamba was cited as one of the reasons for their defeat.<ref name = "golden generation"/> The tournament had been played in the shadow of the shooting of the [[Togo national football team|Togo]] team bus, however, with death threats also being made against the Ivory Coast team.<ref name = "upheaval">{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/Bamba-and-teammates-have-experienced.6313558.jp |title=Bamba and team-mates have experienced death threats, a stadium disaster and managerial upheaval. Now they've got to face Brazil |date=23 May 2010 |access-date=23 May 2010 |last=English |first=Tom |work=[[Scotland on Sunday]]}}</ref>

Manager Vahid Halilhodžić, who had worked with Bamba at PSG and given him his first appearances at club and international level, was sacked after the tournament.<ref name = "upheaval"/> The new Ivorian coach, Sven-Göran Eriksson, selected Bamba in his provisional 30-man squad for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]] on 11 May.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8675473.stm |title=Ivory Coast cannot rely on Drogba goals – Eriksson |date=11 May 2010 |access-date=11 May 2010 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> Bamba scored in Eriksson's first match in charge, a 2–2 draw with [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://m.goal.com/s/en-us/news/67/world-cup/2010/05/30/1950569/paraguay-2-2-ivory-coast-elephants-checked-by-guaranies |title=Paraguay 2–2 Ivory Coast: Elephants Checked By Guaranies |website=goal.com |last=Kobo |first=Kingsley |access-date=15 October 2018 |archive-date=15 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015152955/http://m.goal.com/s/en-us/news/67/world-cup/2010/05/30/1950569/paraguay-2-2-ivory-coast-elephants-checked-by-guaranies |url-status=dead }}</ref> Bamba was selected in the Ivory Coast's [[2010 FIFA World Cup squads#Ivory Coast|23-man World Cup squad]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/20100601/bamba-heading-to-world-cup_2262950_2062791 |publisher=Hibernian F.C. |title=Bamba Heading to World Cup |date=1 June 2010 |access-date=1 June 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801073841/http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/20100601/bamba-heading-to-world-cup_2262950_2062791 |archive-date=1 August 2012}}</ref> but was dropped from the starting lineup, with [[midfielder]] Didier Zokora chosen to partner with Kolo Touré in central defence.<ref name = "golden generation">{{cite news |title=Having learned to curb their natural instincts and contain opponents, the Ivory Coast's ageing 'golden generation' may yet be successful |last=Wilson |first=Jonathan |date=20 June 2010 |access-date=20 June 2010 |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/world-cup/having-learned-to-curb-their-natural-instincts-and-contain-opponents-the-ivory-coast-s-ageing-golden-generation-may-yet-be-successful-1.1036011|work=Sunday Herald|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103075212/http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/world-cup/having-learned-to-curb-their-natural-instincts-and-contain-opponents-the-ivory-coast-s-ageing-golden-generation-may-yet-be-successful-1.1036011|archive-date=3 January 2013}}</ref>

Bamba resumed his partnership with Touré at the [[2012 Africa Cup of Nations]]. Ivory Coast did not concede a goal during the entire tournament, but lost the final against [[Zambia national football team|Zambia]] on a penalty shootout.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16999874|title=Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia win dramatic shoot-out|first=Alastair|last=Magowan|publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 February 2012|access-date=12 February 2012}}</ref> At the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]], Bamba played in central defence alongside Zokora after Touré contracted malaria before the tournament.<ref name="Reynolds"/> Bamba was booked in the first match, which Ivory Coast won 2–1 against [[Japan national football team|Japan]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25285078 |title=Ivory Coast 2–1 Japan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 June 2014 |access-date=15 June 2014}}</ref> Ivory Coast were eliminated at the group stage after suffering 2–1 defeats against both [[Colombia national football team|Colombia]] and [[Greece national football team|Greece]].

Bamba was called up to the squad for 10 September 2014 fixture against [[Cameroon national football team|Cameroon]], however on 29 December 2014 he was a surprising omission from the [[2015 Africa Cup of Nations squads#Ivory Coast|Ivory Coast squad]] for the [[2015 Africa Cup of Nations]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30625350 |title=2015 Nations Cup: Kolo Toure in squad for last time|publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 December 2014 |access-date=29 December 2014}}</ref> Although he did not retire from international football, Bamba did not appear for the national side after 2014.<ref name="nft"/>

==Coaching career==
Bamba was appointed assistant manager of Cardiff City in January 2023. He was appointed by the incoming [[Sabri Lamouchi]], who managed him for the Ivory Coast between 2012 and 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cardiff City: Sabri Lamouchi appointed as new Bluebirds manager |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12796429/cardiff-city-sabri-lamouchi-appointed-as-new-bluebirds-manager |access-date=1 September 2024 |publisher=Sky Sports |date=27 January 2023}}</ref> He left the club in June 2023 as [[Erol Bulut]] came in as manager.<ref>{{cite news |title=Erol Bulut: New Cardiff City manager adds three backroom staff |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65966363 |access-date=1 September 2024 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 June 2023}}</ref>

He was appointed head coach of [[Adanaspor]] in July 2024,<ref>{{cite news |title=Bamba heading to Turkish club Adanaspor |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c25l2r800r4o |access-date=1 September 2024 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 July 2024}}</ref> who he managed until his death the following month.

==Style of play==
{{Quote box|width=25%|align=right|quoted=1|quote=I love defending. Absolutely love it. When I go into a game I set myself a target: I don't want to lose a header anywhere on the pitch. Sometimes I see defenders and I ask myself: 'Does he actually like defending?' But I love going into a tackle, winning a challenge or a header. That's why it's good here because the fans appreciate that. In France or in Italy, when you do a good defensive tackle, they're not bothered. But here they like that and that makes me want to defend even more.|source=—Bamba on the art of defending, 2018<ref name = "Guardian">{{cite news|title= Sol Bamba: 'The gaffer always reminds me not to be Beckenbauer'|first=Stuart|last=James|date=31 August 2018|access-date=1 September 2018|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/aug/31/sol-bamba-love-tackle-cardiff-neil-warnock}}</ref>}}
Chiefly a centre-back, Bamba played as a defensive midfielder during his emergence at PSG, before becoming a centre-back at age 15.<ref name="regret" /> He had sporadically played in the midfield since then, most successfully for Mixu Paatelainen at Hibs.<ref name="Mixu" /><ref name="p&j" />

Jim Leishman, who signed Bamba at Dunfermline Athletic, said of his former charge in 2010: "He's certainly got the physique and he's got the potential to do it. But potential sometimes passes you by, it's all about going out and doing it. He's a great runner, he's as strong as an ox, and he's a strong tackler."<ref name="leishman" /> ''[[Sky Sports]]''' Soriebah Kajue in September 2011 said Bamba "established himself as a rock at the heart of the Foxes defence and has produced a level of consistency this year that has simply been outstanding", paying tribute to "Bamba's burgeoning reputation as a ball-playing defender".<ref name="Beckenbamba" />

Sven-Göran Eriksson, who managed Bamba at club level for Leicester City and internationally for the Ivory Coast, compared the defender with Franz Beckenbauer.<ref name="Beckenbamba" /> Cardiff manager Neil Warnock regularly told Bamba "Don't be Beckenbauer. Just kick or head it. When it's on, pass it, but if it's not on, just put it up there,"<ref name="Guardian" /> and in December 2017 Warnock branded Bamba and fellow Cardiff centre-half [[Sean Morrison (footballer)|Sean Morrison]] as better than [[Virgil van Dijk]].<ref name="qa" /><ref name="Guardian" /> Bamba's favourite players growing up were [[Lilian Thuram]] and [[George Weah]].<ref name="regret" />

==Personal life and death==
Bamba met his English wife Chloe while playing for Leicester.<ref name="big"/> He had three children.<ref name="big"/> One son was born in 2009 from a relationship with a Scottish woman.<ref>{{cite news |title=Footballer pays for son |url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/13220506.footballer-pays-for-son/ |access-date=4 September 2024 |work=Glasgow Times |date=11 May 2011}}</ref> Bamba was [[multilingualism|multilingual]], being able to speak [[English language|English]], [[French language|French]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Turkish language|Turkish]] and "the [[Languages of Ivory Coast|Ivorian dialect]] that his father used at home".<ref name="Guardian" /> In 2021, he was diagnosed with [[non-Hodgkin lymphoma]] and began undergoing chemotherapy treatment.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55626312 |title=Sol Bamba: Cardiff City defender being treated for cancer |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 January 2021 |access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref> Four months later in May 2021, he announced that he was cancer-free.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57185956 |title=Sol Bamba: Cardiff City defender reveals he is cancer free |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 May 2021 |access-date=20 May 2021}}</ref> However, his wife revealed in a statement made shortly after his death that he had cancer for "the last few years".<ref>{{cite web|title=Sol Bamba dies aged 39: Latest tributes to Cardiff City legend as wife makes statement|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sol-bamba-dies-ages-39-29846820#3594715|date=31 August 2024|access-date=1 September 2024|publisher=Wales Online}}</ref>

On 30 August 2024, Bamba fell ill after the [[Adanaspor]] match against [[Manisa F.K.]] and was rushed into [[Manisa Celal Bayar University]] Hospital. He died the following day, at the age of 39.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sol Bamba: Ex-Cardiff, Leeds, Hibernian and Middlesbrough defender dies |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cwy53xw7xgjo |access-date=31 August 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=31 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Former Ivory Coast defender Sol Bamba dies aged 39 |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/former-ivory-coast-defender-sol-bamba-dies-aged-39-2024-09-01/ |website=Reuters |access-date=1 September 2024 |date=1 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=31 August 2024 |title=Sol Bamba, former Leeds, Cardiff and Middlesbrough star, tragically dies aged 39 |url=https://talksport.com/football/2029463/sol-bamba-dies-leeds-middlesbrough-cardiff-leicester/ |access-date=31 August 2024 |website=talkSPORT}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref name="Soccerway"/>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[Scottish Cup]], [[FA Cup]], [[Turkish Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes [[Scottish League Cup]], [[EFL Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|Europe
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]]
|[[2004–05 Paris Saint-Germain F.C. season|2004–05]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |date= 25 May 2017|title=Souleymane BAMBA |url=https://histoiredupsg.fr/souleymane-bamba |access-date=29 July 2022 |website=Histoire du PSG |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Souleymane BAMBA |url=http://psg70.free.fr/BAMBA.htm |access-date=29 July 2022 |website=PSG70 |language=French}}</ref>
|[[Ligue 1]]
|1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
|-
|[[2005–06 Paris Saint-Germain F.C. season|2005–06]]<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
|Ligue 1
|0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Dunfermline Athletic F.C.|Dunfermline Athletic]]
|[[2006–07 Dunfermline Athletic F.C. season|2006–07]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Souleymane Bamba {{!}} Football Stats {{!}} Season 2006/2007 {{!}} Soccer Base |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=40408&season_id=136 |access-date=29 July 2022 |website=www.soccerbase.com}}</ref>
|[[Scottish Premier League]]
|23||0||5||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||30||0
|-
|[[2007–08 Dunfermline Athletic F.C. season|2007–08]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Souleymane Bamba {{!}} Football Stats {{!}} Season 2007/2008 {{!}} Soccer Base |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=40408&season_id=137 |access-date=29 July 2022 |website=www.soccerbase.com}}</ref>
|[[Scottish Football League First Division|Scottish First Division]]
|15||0||0||0||1||0||2||0||2{{efn|Appearance(s) in [[Scottish Challenge Cup]]}}||0||20||0
|-
|[[2008–09 Dunfermline Athletic F.C. season|2008–09]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Souleymane Bamba {{!}} Football Stats {{!}} Season 2008/2009 {{!}} Soccer Base |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=40408&season_id=138 |access-date=29 July 2022 |website=www.soccerbase.com}}</ref>
|Scottish First Division
|1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!39!!0!!5!!0!!3!!0!!2!!0!!2!!0!!51!!0
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]]
|[[2008–09 Hibernian F.C. season|2008–09]]
|Scottish Premier League
|29||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||30||0
|-
|[[2009–10 Hibernian F.C. season|2009–10]]
|Scottish Premier League
|30||2||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||32||2
|-
|[[2010–11 Hibernian F.C. season|2010–11]]
|Scottish Premier League
|16||2||0||0||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||18||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!75!!4!!2!!0!!2!!0!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!80!!4
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]
|[[2010–11 Leicester City F.C. season|2010–11]]
|[[EFL Championship|Championship]]
|16||2||2||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||18||3
|-
|[[2011–12 Leicester City F.C. season|2011–12]]
|Championship
|36||1||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||37||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!52!!3!!3!!1!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!55!!4
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Trabzonspor]]
|[[2012–13 Süper Lig|2012–13]]
|[[Süper Lig]]
|18||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||2||0||colspan="2"|—||20||0
|-
|[[2013–14 Süper Lig|2013–14]]
|Süper Lig
|9||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||5||0||colspan="2"|—||15||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!27!!0!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!7!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!35!!0
|-
|[[Palermo F.C.|Palermo]]
|[[2014-15 U.S. Città di Palermo season|2014–15]]
|[[Serie A]]
|1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]
|[[2014–15 Leeds United F.C. season|2014–15]]{{efn|This season was spent on loan from Palermo}}
|Championship
|19||1||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||19||1
|-
|[[2015–16 Leeds United F.C. season|2015–16]]
|Championship
|30||4||3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||33||4
|-
|[[2016–17 Leeds United F.C. season|2016–17]]
|Championship
|2||0||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||4||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!51!!5!!3!!0!!2!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!56!!5
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]]
|[[2016–17 Cardiff City F.C. season|2016–17]]
|Championship
|26||2||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||27||2
|-
|[[2017–18 Cardiff City F.C. season|2017–18]]
|Championship
|46||4||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||46||4
|-
|[[2018–19 Cardiff City F.C. season|2018–19]]
|[[Premier League]]
|28||4||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||28||4
|-
|[[2019–20 Cardiff City F.C. season|2019–20]]
|Championship
|6||0||4||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||10||0
|-
|[[2020–21 Cardiff City F.C. season|2020–21]]
|Championship
|6||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||7||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!112!!10!!5!!0!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!0!!0!!118!!10
|-
|[[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]
|[[2021–22 Middlesbrough F.C. season|2021–22]]
|Championship
|24||0||4||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||29||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!382!!22!!23!!1!!9!!0!!10!!0!!2!!0!!426!!23
|}

{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="nft" />
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]]
|2008||1||0
|-
|2009||8||0
|-
|2010||6||1
|-
|2011||1||0
|-
|2012||13||0
|-
|2013||10||0
|-
|2014||7||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!46!!1
|}

===Managerial===
{{updated|31 August 2024}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Adanaspor vs. Esenler Erokspor 2 – 1 |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2024/08/10/turkey/1-lig/adanaspor-fk/erokspor/4458038/ |publisher=Soccerway |access-date=1 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Iğdır FK vs. Adanaspor 6 – 1 |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2024/08/18/turkey/1-lig/76-idr-belediyespor/adanaspor-fk/4458041/ |publisher=Soccerway |access-date=1 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Adanaspor vs. Pendikspor 3 – 4 |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2024/08/25/turkey/1-lig/adanaspor-fk/pendikspor/4458060/ |publisher=Soccerway |access-date=1 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Manisa FK vs. Adanaspor 0 – 0 |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2024/08/30/turkey/1-lig/manisa-bbsk/adanaspor-fk/4458070/ |publisher=Soccerway |access-date=1 September 2024}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|From
!rowspan="2"|To
!colspan="8"|Record
|-
!P!!W!!D!!L!!GF!!GA!!GD!!W%
|-
|align=left|[[Adanaspor]]
|align=left|25 July 2024
|align=left|31 August 2024
{{WDL|4|1|1|2|for=6|against=11|diff=yes|decimals=1}}
|-
!colspan="3"|Total
{{WDLtot|4|1|1|2|for=6|against=11|diff=yes|decimals=1}}
|}

==Honours==
'''Dunfermline Athletic'''
* [[Scottish Cup]] runner-up: [[2006–07 Scottish Cup|2006–07]]

'''Cardiff City'''
* [[EFL Championship]] runner-up: [[2017–18 EFL Championship|2017–18]]<ref>{{cite book |editor-first=John |editor-last=Anderson |title=Football Yearbook 2018–2019 |year=2018 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-1-4722-6106-9 |pages=106–107}}</ref>

'''Ivory Coast'''
* [[Africa Cup of Nations]] runner-up: [[2012 Africa Cup of Nations|2012]]<ref name="Soccerway"/>

'''Individual'''
* [[PFA Team of the Year]]: [[PFA Team of the Year (2010s)#Championship 9|2017–18 Championship]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43808543 |title=PFA Championship Team of the Year: Wolves & Fulham trios named in line-up |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 April 2018 |access-date=5 May 2018}}</ref>
* Leeds United Player of the Month: August 2015<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/920/sol-tops-player-of-the-month-vote|title=Sol Tops Player Of The Month Vote|date=3 September 2015|publisher=Leeds United F.C.|access-date=22 March 2018}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline}}
* {{UEFA player}}
* {{FIFA player}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420050029/http://www.dafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10288~32407,00.html |date=20 April 2008 |title=Dunfermline Athletic F.C. profile }}

{{2017–18 EFL Championship PFA Team of the Year}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Ivory Coast squads
| bg = #FF7300
| fg = white
| bordercolor = #008E56
| list1 =
{{Ivory Coast men's football squad 2008 Summer Olympics}}
{{Ivory Coast squad 2010 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Ivory Coast squad 2010 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Ivory Coast squad 2012 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Ivory Coast squad 2013 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Ivory Coast squad 2014 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Adanaspor managers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bamba, Souleymane}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:French sportspeople of Ivorian descent]]
[[Category:Black French sportspeople]]
[[Category:French men's footballers]]
[[Category:Ivorian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Footballers from Ivry-sur-Seine]]
[[Category:Ivory Coast men's under-20 international footballers]]
[[Category:Ivory Coast men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football central defenders]]
[[Category:Paris Saint-Germain FC players]]
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[[Category:2010 Africa Cup of Nations players]]
[[Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2012 Africa Cup of Nations players]]
[[Category:2013 Africa Cup of Nations players]]
[[Category:2014 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Ivory Coast]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:French expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Ivorian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Wales]]
[[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Scotland]]
[[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Turkey]]
[[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Wales]]
[[Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Scotland]]
[[Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey]]
[[Category:Ivorian expatriate sportspeople in Wales]]
[[Category:Middlesbrough F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Association football coaches]]
[[Category:Adanaspor managers]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Turkey]]
[[Category:French football managers]]
[[Category:Ivorian football managers]]
[[Category:French expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:Ivorian expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:TFF 1. Lig managers]]
[[Category:21st-century French sportsmen]]