Biography
Who is Bradley Barcola?
Early life and beginnings
Bradley Jean-Manuel Essolisam Addo Barcola was born in Villeurbanne, France, on September 2, 2002. He was raised in his home town, where he first began playing the sport of football. He eventually joined the Lyon academy setup at the age of eight to further develop his skills.
His family background includes a French mother and a Togolese father. He has a brother named Malcolm Barcola who is also a professional footballer and represents the Togo national team.
Club career path
Bradley Barcola started his path with the Lyon reserve team in the National 2 division during the 2020 to 2021 season. He also played for the under-19 side in the UEFA Youth League. He signed a junior contract with Lyon in January 2021 before progressing to the first team. Peter Bosz called him up to the senior squad during the 2021 to 2022 pre-season. He signed his first professional contract in September 2021.
His professional debut occurred on November 4, 2021, against Sparta Prague in the UEFA Europa League. During the 2022 to 2023 season, he became a regular part of the Lyon rotation. In April 2023, he scored the deciding goal against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes. He finished that campaign with seven goals and nine assists across all competitions.
Time with Paris Saint-Germain
In August 2023, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain on a five-year contract. He debuted for the club on September 3, 2023, against his former team, Lyon. He recorded his first goal contribution for the team in October 2023. His first goal for the club came in December 2023 against Nantes.
During the 2023 to 2024 season, he scored his first UEFA Champions League goal against Real Sociedad in February 2024. He played a significant role in the quarter-final victory against Barcelona in April 2024. By the 2024 to 2025 season, he established himself as a key attacker, scoring multiple goals in Ligue 1 and helping the team win the league title. He also contributed to the team's victory in the Coupe de France final against Reims in May 2025. He was part of the squad that won the Champions League during his tenure at the club.
International career and move to England
Bradley debuted for the France senior national team in June 2024 during a friendly match against Luxembourg. He was part of the squad for UEFA Euro 2024, appearing in matches against Poland, Portugal, and Spain. In September 2024, he scored a goal against Italy just 12 seconds into the match, which set a record for the fastest goal scored by a French player in 90 years.
He was selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, where he scored goals against Senegal, Sweden, and England. In August 2026, he transferred to the Premier League club Liverpool on a five-year contract. He debuted for Liverpool in September 2026 against Ipswich Town. In October 2026, he scored his first career hat-trick during a Champions League match against LASK.
Physical stats and playing style
He stands 182 centimeters tall. As a versatile forward, he is capable of playing on either side of the front three or as a centre forward. While he is naturally right-footed, he prefers operating on the left wing to cut inside onto his stronger foot. This positioning allows him to shoot, create chances for teammates, or make runs into the box.
Birthday and age
Bradley Barcola was born on September 2, 2002, which makes Bradley 24 years old today. That birthday falls under the Virgo sign. Bradley shares the date with 28 other famous people.
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