The African defender signs a deal until 30th June 2025 and returns to what was previously his home
Villarreal CF have reached an agreement with footballer Eric Bailly, who will represent the Yellows until 30th June 2025.
The Submarine’s new signing has passed his medical examinations and will train alongside his team-mates tomorrow (Sunday) at 11:30am CET at the José Manuel Llaneza Training Ground.
Second spell in Vila-real
Eric Bertrand Bailly (12th April 1994, Côte d’Ivoire) lands in Vila-real for his second spell with the Yellow Submarine. The 29-year-old defender from Bingervill, Côte d’Ivoire, played in the yellow jersey in the second half of the 2014/15 season, when Villarreal signed him from RCD Espanyol in the winter transfer window, and during the 2015/16 campaign.
Bailly was also under the orders of Marcelino García Toral during his first period as a member of Villarreal, in which he performed at a high level that led him, among other achievements, to make his debut with the Côte d’Ivoire senior national team. He was also an important part of the team that reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League in 2014/15 and reached fourth place and the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey during the 2015/16 season.
His outstanding role at Villarreal led to the likes of Manchester United turning their attention to the young centre-back, who would leave for the English club in the summer of 2016 becoming one of the biggest sales in the club’s history.
After six seasons in Manchester, Bailly arrived on loan at Olympique Marseille where he played in the 2022/23 campaign. Finally, last summer he joined Besiktas JK and now returns to Villarreal to shore up and reinforce the yellow defence in the second half of the season.
