Baba Kourouma
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Baba Kourouma Kourouma[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 23 March 2009 | ||
| Place of birth | Guinea | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Barcelona | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2021–2025 | Barcelona | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2025– | Barcelona B | 0 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:44, 24 May 2025 (UTC) | |||
Baba Kourouma Kourouma (born 23 March 2009) is a Spanish footballer who currently plays as a centre-back for Barcelona.
Early and personal life
Born in Guinea,[2] Kourouma is the brother of fellow professional footballers Ilaix Moriba and Lass Kourouma.[3]
Club career
Kourouma moved to Spain as a child, but due to bureaucratic issues, he was unable to join any clubs for a year, playing football on the streets instead.[4][5] He joined Barcelona's La Masia academy in 2021.[6] In January 2025, following interest from English Premier League club Manchester City, Barcelona began contract discussions with Kourouma.[7] Later in the same month, Kourouma agreed a three-year deal with Barça, effective as soon as he turned sixteen.[2]
Having progressed to the Juvenil B side, he was called up to Barcelona's B team in March 2025 for their Copa Catalunya match against Espanyol B, playing the entire second half in Barcelona's 5–0 loss on 19 March.[5] Three days later he made his first start for the club's Juvenil A side, featuring in their 1–1 draw with Gimnàstic de Tarragona on 22 March.[8] On 14 May 2025 he signed a contract renewal with Barcelona, keeping him with the club until July 2028.[9][10]
Style of play
Predominantly a centre-back, Kourouma has featured at left-back for Barcelona's youth teams, and is also comfortable playing in midfield.[2]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 24 May 2025.[11]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Barcelona B | 2024–25 | Primera Federación | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
- Notes
- ^ Appearances in the Copa Catalunya
References
- ^ Baba Kourouma at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b c Cerezo, Hugo; Moretto, Matteo (29 January 2025). "El Barça respira al blindar a su última joya, Baba Kourouma, un cañón tan bueno que nadie sabe dónde acabará jugando" [Barça breathes a sigh of relief by securing its latest gem, Baba Kourouma, a cannon so good that no one knows where he will end up playing]. relevo.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ Cardero, Jordi (30 March 2024). "La saga de Ilaix Moriba continúa en el Barça con un mediapunta disfrazado de central: "El bueno será el pequeño"" [The Ilaix Moriba saga continues at Barça with a playmaker disguised as a center back: "The best one will be the small one."]. relevo.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ de Juan, Sergi (13 February 2025). "Baba Kouroma (sic), el hermano de Ilaix que apunta muy alto en La Masia azulgrana" [Baba Kouroma (sic), Ilaix's brother, is aiming high for Barcelona's La Masia]. as.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ a b Marcet, Jaume (26 March 2025). "Baba Kourouma: un prodigio de técnica, polivalencia y carácter" [Baba Kourouma: a prodigy of technique, versatility and character]. sport.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ Galceran, Pau (19 March 2025). "¿Quién es Baba Kourouma? El polivalente hermano de Ilaix Moriba, convocado para la Copa Catalunya" [Who is Baba Kourouma? Ilaix Moriba's versatile brother, called up for the Copa Catalunya]. mundodeportivo.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ "El Barcelona negocia con Baba Kourouma, de 15 años, en medio del interés del Manchester City" [Barcelona is negotiating with 15-year-old Baba Kourouma amid interest from Manchester City]. tribuna.com (in Spanish). 5 January 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ Marcet, Jaume (22 March 2025). "Baba y Sama debutan con el Juvenil A en Tarragona" [Baba and Sama make their debut with the U19s in Tarragona]. sport.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ Moretto, Matteo (14 May 2025). "Baba Kourouma, la perla de la cantera del Barcelona, firma su contrato de renovación" [Baba Kourouma, the pearl of the Barcelona youth academy, signs his contract renewal]. relevo.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ de Juan, Sergi (15 May 2025). "El Barcelona renueva a Baba Kourouma, otra perla de La Masia" [Barcelona renews Baba Kourouma, another La Masia gem]. as.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ Baba Kourouma at Soccerway
External links
- Baba Kourouma at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)