Former Leeds and Cardiff defender Sol Bamba dies aged 39

Sol Bamba, the former Leeds United, Leicester City, Cardiff City and Hibernian defender, has died at the age of 39.

The centre-back, who began his career with Paris St-Germain and also played for Dunfermline and Middlesbrough, was part of the Cardiff side that won promotion to the Premier League in 2018.

The Ivory Coast international, who overcame non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021 during his playing days at Cardiff, had been working at Turkish club Adanaspor who announced the news on Saturday night.

A club statement said: “Our technical director Souleymane Bamba, who fell ill before the match against Manisa Football Club yesterday, was taken to Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital and unfortunately lost his battle for life there. Our condolences to his family and our community.”

Leeds, who Bamba captained during his time at Elland Road from 2015 to 2016, also paid tribute by saying they are “devastated to learn of the news that former captain Sol Bamba has passed away”.

Leeds added: “Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends at this tragic time. Rest in peace, Sol, you will be forever in our hearts.”

Bamba went from Paris St-Germain to Dunfermline and on to Hibernian, joining Leicester under Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2011.

Following Eriksson’s death earlier this week, Bamba posted a tribute on social media in which he described the Swede as “not just an exquisite person, but he was also the best coach I’ve ever had, inspiring my journey as a player but also as a manager”.

Bamba joined Leeds after spells with Trabzonspor in Turkey and Palermo in Italy.

It was at Cardiff where he would make perhaps his biggest mark, becoming a fan favourite after being signed on a free by Neil Warnock in 2016.

He scored on his debut against Bristol City, going on to play a key role in the club’s elevation to the top flight the following season.

He would make his Premier League debut with Cardiff, scoring four goals in the Welsh club’s solitary season at the level under Warnock.

The club announced in January 2021 that Bamba, then 35, was being treated for cancer, with the club describing him as “universally admired by team-mates, staff and supporters in the Welsh capital”.

He returned to playing four months later, announcing he was free of cancer following chemotherapy treatment.