Lille Baleba was transferred to
Ligue 1 side
Lille in January 2022, having already attracted the scouts of several other European clubs. Having arrived along with another youngster,
Joffrey Bazié; the two Africans first joined Lille's reserve team, that played in
Championnat National 3 that
season. Despite being in the matchday squad multiple times towards the end of the
2021–22 Ligue 1 season, Baleba's professional debut had to wait until the
2022–23 season where he would break into the first team of newly appointed manager
Paulo Fonseca. Baleba made his professional debut for Lille on 7 August 2022, replacing
Angel Gomes during a 4–1
Ligue 1 win against
Auxerre.
Brighton and Hove Albion On 29 August 2023,
Premier League club
Brighton & Hove Albion announced the signing of Baleba on a five-year contract. According to various reports, the financial details of the transfer include an initial and base fee of €27 million, a maximum of €3 million add-ons depending on sporting conditions and a 15% sell-on clause. Baleba made his debut for Brighton in a 3–1 home victory against
Bournemouth on 24 September, coming on as a 73rd minute substitute for
Mahmoud Dahoud. On 8 October, Baleba made his first start for Brighton in a 2–2 draw against
Liverpool. On 18 September 2024, Baleba scored his first goal in Brighton colours in a 3–2 win over
Wolverhampton Wanderers in the third round of the
EFL Cup. Just over a week later on 28 September, Baleba scored his first league goal for the Seagulls in a 4–2 loss to
Chelsea. On 26 April 2025, Baleba scored an injury-time winner with a powerful shot outside the
box in a 3–2 victory against
West Ham United, which was later voted the
Premier League Goal of the Month. ==International career==