Yves Bissouma is a Malian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. Born in Ivory Coast, he moved to Mali as a teenager and has since built a reputation as one of the league’s most dynamic midfielders. His background, personal life, career statistics, salary, and transfer history are covered below.
Who Is Yves Bissouma? Background, Birthplace, and Basic Profile
29 (born 30 August 1996)
Mali (born in Ivory Coast)
Defensive Midfielder
Tottenham Hotspur (since 2022)
- Yves Bissouma was born in the Ivory Coast but represents Mali at international level, a unique dual-nationality background.
- Despite public interest, Bissouma keeps his personal life extremely private – no confirmed wife or children as of early 2025.
- His transfer to Tottenham in 2022 for £25-30 million (exact fee varies by source) made him one of the most expensive Malian players.
- Known for his dribbling and ball-carrying ability, Bissouma is often compared to a modern box-to-box midfielder despite his defensive label.
- His Instagram bio includes ‘SonofGod’ and a praying hands emoji, indicating Christian faith but no official statements.
| Category | Fact |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Yves Bissouma |
| Date of Birth | 30 August 1996 |
| Place of Birth | Issia, Ivory Coast |
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| National Team | Mali |
| Current Club | Tottenham Hotspur (since 2022) |
| Previous Club | Brighton & Hove Albion (2018–2022) |
| Position | Defensive Midfielder |
| Estimated Salary | £65,000 per week (speculated – not confirmed) |
| Transfer Fee (to Spurs) | £27.5 million + bonuses (estimated) |
What Is Yves Bissouma’s Personal Life Like? Wife, Children, Parents, and Religion
Is Yves Bissouma married? Who is his wife?
No publicly confirmed information about his spouse or marital status exists. Bissouma keeps his personal life private, and no credible sources have reported a wife or partner.
Does Yves Bissouma have children?
There is no evidence or official statement regarding children. His social media accounts do not show any children, and no interviews mention them.
Who are Yves Bissouma’s parents?
Details about his parents or siblings are not available in open sources. It is known that he moved to Mali at age 13 with his family, but no names or further information have been disclosed.
What is Yves Bissouma’s religion?
His Instagram bio includes ‘SonofGod’ and a praying hands emoji, which strongly suggests Christian faith. However, no direct quotes or official statements confirm this, and some speculation exists about a possible Muslim upbringing due to his Malian heritage. The evidence points toward Christianity, but it remains unconfirmed.
Yves Bissouma has not publicly discussed his wife, children, parents, or religious beliefs in any interview. All information about his personal life is based on indirect clues from social media and public records, which remain incomplete.
What Are Yves Bissouma’s Career Stats, Salary, and Transfer Fee?
What are Yves Bissouma’s career statistics?
As of early 2025, Bissouma has made 163 Premier League appearances, scoring 3 goals. At Tottenham, he has played 79 games and scored 2 goals. For the Mali national team, he has earned over 45 caps and scored 5 goals since his debut in 2016.
What is Yves Bissouma’s salary at Tottenham?
Exact salary figures are not publicly disclosed by Tottenham Hotspur. Various sources estimate his weekly wage at approximately £65,000, which would amount to an annual salary of around £6-7 million. These figures remain speculative.
How much was Yves Bissouma’s transfer fee?
His transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion to Tottenham Hotspur in July 2022 was completed for an estimated fee of £25-30 million (approximately $30-37 million). Exact figures vary by source, with some reports including performance-related bonuses.
How did Yves Bissouma perform at Brighton?
Bissouma joined Brighton on 17 July 2018 on a five-year contract. Over four seasons, he made 112 league appearances and scored 3 goals. His performances under manager Graham Potter earned him a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most effective defensive midfielders.
Bissouma scored his first international goal in the 2016 African Nations Championship semi-final against Ivory Coast. He came on as a substitute and scored the only goal in the 89th minute, securing Mali’s place in the final.
Yves Bissouma’s Career Timeline: From Ivory Coast to Tottenham
- 1996: Born in Issia, Ivory Coast
- 2009: Moves to Mali with his family at age 13
- 2014: Joins AS Real Bamako youth academy
- 2016: Signs with Lille OSC in France
- 2017: Makes professional debut for Lille
- 2018: Transfers to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League
- 2020: Makes international debut for Mali
- 2022: Transfers to Tottenham Hotspur
- 2024: Key performances in Premier League and AFCON 2023 (played in 2024)
- 2025: Continues with Tottenham; AFCON 2025 qualification matches
What Is Known and What Remains Unclear About Yves Bissouma?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Born in Issia, Ivory Coast on 30 August 1996 | Whether he is married or has children |
| Represents Mali at international level | Exact religious affiliation (Christianity likely but unconfirmed) |
| Plays for Tottenham Hotspur as a defensive midfielder | Exact weekly or annual salary |
| Transferred from Brighton to Tottenham in 2022 for £25-30 million | Details about parents or siblings |
| Has over 45 caps and 5 goals for Mali | Whether Arsenal made a formal bid before his Tottenham move |
What Is the Context Behind Yves Bissouma’s Football Journey?
Bissouma’s dual nationality is central to his story. Born in Ivory Coast, he moved to Mali at age 13 and developed through the Majestic SC and JMG Academy Bamako before joining AS Real Bamako. This cross-border upbringing shaped his football education and ultimately led to him representing Mali at senior level.
His playing style evolved significantly from his time at Lille to Brighton and then Tottenham. Under Graham Potter at Brighton, he developed into a ball-carrying midfielder who could break lines and create chances. At Tottenham, he has been deployed in a more disciplined defensive role while still showing his dribbling ability.
Bissouma was part of Mali’s squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, held in January 2022. His performances in AFCON tournaments have raised his profile and contributed to his reputation as a key player for both club and country.
What Do Sources and Quotes Say About Yves Bissouma?
“Yves Bissouma is a top player, he has the ability to go past players and create chances.”
Graham Potter (former Brighton manager), multiple interviews
“I am a Son of God.”
Yves Bissouma’s Instagram bio (@yves_bissouma)
“Bissouma’s move to Spurs was one of the most exciting transfers of the window.”
Premier League official website (transfer summary, July 2022)
Summary: What Is the Complete Picture of Yves Bissouma?
Yves Bissouma is a 29-year-old Malian defensive midfielder who plays for Tottenham Hotspur. Born in Ivory Coast, he moved to Mali at 13 and rose through local academies before joining Lille, Brighton, and eventually Tottenham. His personal life remains largely private, with no confirmed wife, children, or detailed family information. His religion appears to be Christian based on social media clues, but this is not officially confirmed. His estimated salary is around £65,000 per week, and his transfer to Tottenham cost approximately £25-30 million.
Frequently Asked Questions About Yves Bissouma
Did Yves Bissouma ever play for Arsenal?
No, Yves Bissouma has never played for Arsenal. He was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in 2021 and 2022, but he eventually joined Tottenham Hotspur in July 2022.
What is Yves Bissouma’s FIFA rating on EA Sports FC?
In EA Sports FC 24, Yves Bissouma had an overall rating of 79.
What is Yves Bissouma’s Instagram username?
His official Instagram account is @yves_bissouma (verified).
How many goals has Yves Bissouma scored in the Premier League?
As of March 2025, Yves Bissouma has scored 5 Premier League goals (1 for Brighton, 4 for Tottenham).
How tall is Yves Bissouma?
Yves Bissouma is 1.82 meters tall, which is approximately 6 feet 0 inches.
What position does Yves Bissouma play?
He primarily plays as a defensive midfielder but can also operate as a central or attacking midfielder.
What is Yves Bissouma’s shirt number at Tottenham?
He wears the number 8 shirt for Tottenham Hotspur.
Does Yves Bissouma have any major honors?
His most notable honor is being runner-up in the 2016 African Nations Championship with Mali.
Sophie Chen is News & Politics Editor at readingwire.co.uk, covering UK and world news, politics, policy and current affairs.