Axel Bakayoko

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Axel Bakayoko

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname = Axel Mohamed Bakayoko

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|01|06|df=y}}

| birth_place = Paris, France

| height = {{Height|m=1.79}}

| position = Winger, Right back

| currentclub = Casertana

| clubnumber = 93

| youthyears1 = 2006–2008

| youthclubs1 = OFC Pantin

| youthyears2 = 2008–2014

| youthclubs2 = Red Star

| youthyears3 = 2014–2017

| youthclubs3 = Inter Milan

| years1 = 2016–2021

| clubs1 = Inter Milan

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2017–2018

| clubs2 = → Sochaux (loan)

| caps2 = 17

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2017–2018

| clubs3 = → Sochaux II (loan)

| caps3 = 4

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2018–2020

| clubs4 = → St. Gallen (loan)

| caps4 = 54

| goals4 = 4

| years5 = 2021–2022

| clubs5 = Red Star Belgrade

| caps5 = 5

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2023

| clubs6 = Cheonan City

| caps6 = 12

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2024

| clubs7 = Tabor Sežana

| caps7 = 10

| goals7 = 2

| years8 = 2024–

| clubs8 = Casertana

| caps8 = 14

| goals8 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2018

| nationalteam1 = France U20

| nationalcaps1 = 3

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| club-update = 18 December 2024

| ntupdate = 8 August 2020

}}

Axel Mohamed Bakayoko (born 6 January 1998) is a French professional footballer who plays as a winger for Italian {{Italian football updater|Casertana}} club Casertana.

Club career

= Inter Milan =

Bakayoko made his UEFA Europa League debut for Inter Milan on 8 December 2016 against Sparta Prague. He replaced Andrea Pinamonti after 80 minutes.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2016/12/08/europe/uefa-cup/fc-internazionale-milano/ac-sparta-praha/2349000/|title=Internazionale vs. Sparta Prague - 8 December 2016 - Soccerway|publisher=soccerway.com|accessdate=2017-04-27}}{{cite news|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2016/12/09/eder-per-linutile-successo-dellinter-passa-la-sheva44.html|title=Eder per l'inutile successo Inter passa la sorpresa Hapoel Be'er Sheva|author=Stefano Scacchi|newspaper=la Repubblica|date=December 9, 2016|page=44|language=italian}}

== Loan to Sochaux ==

He joined French club Sochaux on 10 July 2017 for a season long loan. He made his Ligue 2 debut on 28 July as a substitute replacing Aldo Kalulu in the 65th minute of a 2–0 home win over Bourg-Péronnas.{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2017/07/28/france/ligue-2/fc-sochaux-montbeliard/football-club-bourg-peronnas/2464532/|title=Sochaux vs. Bourg-en-Bresse - 28 July 2017 - Soccerway|website=uk.soccerway.com|language=en|access-date=2017-09-02}} On 8 August he played in the first round of the Coupe de la Ligue in a 3–1 away defeat against Valenciennes, he was replaced by Florin Berenguer after 70 minute.{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2017/08/08/france/coupe-de-la-ligue/valenciennes-anzin-football-club/fc-sochaux-montbeliard/2522165/|title=Valenciennes vs. Sochaux - 8 August 2017 - Soccerway|website=uk.soccerway.com|language=en|access-date=2017-09-28}} On 19 September, Bakayoko played his first match as a starter in Ligue 2, a 1–0 away defeat against Le Havre, he was replaced by Thomas Robinet in the 74th minute.{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2017/09/19/france/ligue-2/le-havre-athletic-club-football-associat/fc-sochaux-montbeliard/2464599/|title=Le Havre vs. Sochaux - 19 September 2017 - Soccerway|website=uk.soccerway.com|language=en|access-date=2017-12-25}} On 6 February 2018, Bakayoko played his first match in Coupe de France as a substitute replacing Florian Martin in the 34th minute of a 4–1 home defeat against Paris Saint-Germain.{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2018/02/06/france/coupe-de-france/fc-sochaux-montbeliard/paris-saint-germain-fc/2723371/|title=Sochaux vs. PSG - 6 February 2018 - Soccerway|website=uk.soccerway.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-28}} On 6 April he scored his first professional goal, as a substitute, in the 89th minute of a 3–2 home win over Orléans.{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2018/04/06/france/ligue-2/fc-sochaux-montbeliard/us-orleans/2464844/|title=Sochaux vs. Orléans - 6 April 2018 - Soccerway|website=uk.soccerway.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-28}} Bakayoko ended his loan to Sochaux with 19 appearances, one goal and one assist, he also played four matches in the reserve team in Championnat National 3.{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/axel-mohamed-bakayoko/448838/|title=France - A. Bakayoko - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|website=uk.soccerway.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-28}}

== Loan to St. Gallen ==

On 17 July 2018, Inter announced that they had loaned out Bakayoko to Swiss club FC St. Gallen for the whole 2018/19 season.[https://www.inter.it/en/news/63407/axel-bakayoko-joins-fc-st-gallen-on-loan AXEL BAKAYOKO JOINS FC ST. GALLEN ON LOAN], inter.it, 17 July 2018 Bakayoko had a good season with the Swiss side, playing 34 games for the club in that season, many of them on the right back although his normal position was on the wing.[https://sempreinter.com/2018/11/28/inter-owned-axel-bakayoko-will-remain-at-st-gallen-at-least-until-june/ Inter Owned Axel Bakayoko Will Remain At St. Gallen At Least Until June], sempreinter.com, 28 November 2018 At the end of the season it was confirmed, that Bakayoko would stay one more season at the club, still on loan from Inter.[https://www.dieostschweiz.ch/artikel/bakayoko-bleibt-beim-fcsg-5YG5wYV Bakayoko bleibt beim FCSG], dieostschweiz.ch, 2 July 2019

= Red Star Belgrade =

On 22 December 2020, Bakayoko signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Serbian club Red Star Belgrade.{{cite web |title=Аксел Бакајоко у Звезди|url=http://www.crvenazvezdafk.com/scc/vest/10846/aksel-bakajoko-u-zvezdi |work=crvenazvezdafk.com |access-date=22 December 2020|date=22 December 2020}}

== Loan to Novi Pazar ==

On 7 February 2022 Bakayoko was loaned to Serbian Superliga side Novi Pazar until the end of 2021–22 season.{{cite web|title=PAZAR AKTIVIRAO DVE TRANSFER BOMBE ZA KRAJ PRELAZNOG ROKA|url=https://www.facebook.com/fknovipazar.zvanicna/posts/351419106991969|website=facebook.com|publisher=Fk Novi Pazar - Zvanična stranica|language=sr|access-date=7 February 2022}} The loan fell through and he did not appear for Novi Pazar.

= Cheonan City FC =

On 21 March 2023, Bakayoko joined Cheonan City FC of South Korean K League 2.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportsseoul.com/news/read/1207185|title = 천안, '인터밀란' 출신 FW 바카요코 영입...외인 쿼터 '꽉' 채워[오피셜]}}

= Casertana =

On 24 August 2024, Bakayoko signed a two-season contract with Casertana in Italian Serie C.{{cite web|publisher=Casertana|url=https://www.casertanafc.it/press/post/axel-bakayoko-firma-un-biennale-con-la-casertana|title=Axel Bakayoko firma un biennale con la Casertana|trans-title=Axel Bakayoko signs two-year deal with Casertana|date=24 August 2024|access-date=26 August 2024|language=it}}

Personal life

Bakayoko is born in France and is of Ivorian descent.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fcsochaux.fr/fr/index.php/article/10076|title = Accord pour le prêt d'Axel Bakayoko}}