Cédric Bakambu is joining San Diego FC as a free agent following his spell at Real Betis. The MLS club announced the 35-year-old DR Congo international forward’s signing on September 3 for the 2026 season, opening an American chapter in his club career.
The agreement includes club options for the 2027 MLS Sprint Season and the 2027/28 campaign. Those additional periods are not extensions that have already been secured. San Diego also says Bakambu will be added to the roster pending receipt of his P1 visa, so confirmation of the signing does not establish immediate availability.
Introducing its recruit, San Diego reports 74 appearances, including 36 starts, for Betis over the preceding two seasons, with fifteen goals and seven assists across all competitions. Those figures describe his spell in Spain: they are neither MLS statistics nor a league-only total for one season.
A Sochaux academy graduate, Bakambu has also played for Bursaspor, Villarreal, Beijing Guoan, Marseille and Olympiacos. San Diego’s announcement notes his involvement with DR Congo at the 2026 World Cup as well. The club is adding a forward with experience across several domestic leagues and international competitions; the next administrative step identified in the announcement is the visa required for his inclusion on the roster.
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San Diego FC · 3 septembre 2026Written with AI assistance from the cited sources and subject to editorial verification. Reported facts are distinguished from analysis; no original interviews are claimed.