DR Congo international Cédric Bakambu has joined San Diego FC, with the 35-year-old striker moving to the United States after leaving Spanish side Real Betis.
Bakambu was a free agent after his departure from Betis in June and has now agreed a deal that will keep him with the Major League Soccer club until the end of the 2026 season.
San Diego FC also hold options to extend his contract for the 2027 MLS Sprint and the 2027-28 season.
“San Diego FC has signed DR Congo men’s national team striker Cédric Bakambu to a contract through the 2026 season, with club options for the 2027 MLS Sprint and 2027-28 seasons,” the club announced on its social media channels.
The move gives Bakambu another opportunity to continue his career outside Europe after a long spell across several leagues.
The striker has previously played in France, Turkey, China, Greece, the United Arab Emirates and Spain, and his move to San Diego represents his latest change of footballing environment.
Bakambu spent the previous two seasons with La Liga club Real Betis, making 74 appearances across all competitions, including 36 starts.
During that period, he scored 15 goals and provided seven assists.
In the 2025-26 season alone, Bakambu made 27 appearances and scored four goals in all competitions before becoming a free agent at the end of the campaign.
His overall club record underlines his experience at the highest level. Across 492 appearances during his career, Bakambu has scored 191 goals and registered 39 assists.
He began his professional journey in France after developing through the academy system at Ligue 1 club FC Sochaux.
Bakambu made 107 appearances for Sochaux between 2010 and 2014, scoring 21 goals and providing three assists.
He subsequently moved to Turkey, joining Bursaspor in September 2014.
His time in the Turkish Süper Lig produced an especially productive campaign, as he scored 21 goals and supplied seven assists in 40 appearances across all competitions.
During the 2014-15 season, Bakambu also finished as the Turkish Cup’s leading scorer after finding the net eight times in the competition.
His career has since taken him through a number of countries and football cultures, establishing him as an experienced international forward.
The move to San Diego now opens another chapter for the DR Congo striker, who will be playing in MLS after his latest spell in Spain.
For San Diego FC, the arrival of Bakambu brings a forward with extensive experience across European and international football and a substantial goalscoring record.
The club have secured his services initially through the end of the 2026 season, while retaining the possibility of keeping him beyond that period.
Bakambu’s immediate focus will now turn to adapting to his new surroundings and contributing to San Diego FC as he begins his first spell in the United States.
After more than a decade playing across European and other international leagues, the DR Congo forward has chosen MLS as the next destination in a career that has already taken him across France, Turkey, China, Greece, the UAE and Spain.
