Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla (born 31 March 1999) is a Canadian professionalsoccer player who plays as awinger forCanadian Premier League sideAtlético Ottawa.

Ballou Tabla

Tabla in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla[1]
Date of birth	(1999-03-31)31 March 1999 (age 26)
Place of birth	Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	Atlético Ottawa
Number	13
Youth career
	AS Pointe-aux-Trembles
2012–2013	Montreal Impact
2013–2015	Panellinios
2015	Montreal Impact
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016	FC Montreal	21	(5)
2017	Montreal Impact	21	(2)
2018–2020	Barcelona B	30	(3)
2019	→Albacete (loan)	2	(0)
2019	→Montreal Impact (loan)	4	(0)
2020–2021	CF Montréal[a]	7	(1)
2022	Atlético Ottawa	27	(6)
2023	Manisa	21	(4)
2024–	Atlético Ottawa	28	(2)
International career‡
2014–2015	Canada U17	5	(1)
2016–2018	Canada U20	7	(1)
2021	Canada U23	4	(0)
2018–	Canada	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 3, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 March 2021

Tabla was born inAbidjan, Ivory Coast, on 31 March 1999, and he moved as a child to Canada.^[2] He was raised inQuebec.^[3] He played youth soccer with AS Pointe-aux-Trembles, a local amateur team.^[2] Tabla first joined theMontreal Impact Academy in 2012. On 9 December 2013, he left the club to join local amateur team CS Panellinios. In April 2015, he returned to the Impact as part of the team's U18 side which finished the 2014/15U.S. Soccer Development Academy in first place in the overall standings.^[4]

On 10 November 2015, it was announced that Tabla had signed forFC Montreal, the second team of the Impact which competed in theUnited Soccer League, the second tier of theCanadian soccer league system.^[4] He made his professional debut on 9 April 2016 and scored his first professional goal as Montreal fell 1–2 toToronto FC II.^[5] In doing so he became the youngest player to debut inMajor League Soccer in the club's history.^[6] While with FC Montreal, Tabla regularly trained with the first team which included fellow IvorianDidier Drogba.^[7] In February 2016, Tabla and three of his teammates had a training stint withBologna F.C. 1909 ofSerie A.^[8]

In April 2016, it was revealed that Tabla was being eyed by numerous big teams in Europe includingPremier League clubsArsenal,Manchester City, andChelsea, along withF.C Barcelona. He was first spotted by scouts during a U20 match in March 2016 in which Canada beat England by a score of 2–1. It was also revealed that several European clubs had inquired about taking the player in on a trial.^[7]

On 20 October 2016, theMontreal Impact announced they had signed Tabla to a two-year contract as aHomegrown Player, which would begin in the 2017 season.^[9][10]

On 8 August 2017, the Montreal Gazette reported that Tabla "missed practice Tuesday as the MLS team confirmed it has received a transfer offer for the 18-year-old from a second-division European club."^[11] The next day Tabla issued an apology through Twitter.^[12][13]

On 25 January 2018, Tabla signed withFC Barcelona B on an initial three-year deal, with an optional two-year extension. His buyout clause was set at €25 million for the first three years, which would rise to €75 million if his contract option is picked up.^[14]

On 31 January 2019, Tabla joinedSegunda División sideAlbacete Balompié on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season.^[15]

Tabla returned to Montreal on loan through to the end of the2019 MLS season on August 7, 2019.^[16] In January 2020, Tabla signed with Montreal on a permanent transfer.^[17] Tabla did not feature much in the 2021 season, but he did play a crucial role in the club'sCanadian Championship run, scoring two goals in stoppage time to give Montréal a 3-1 victory in the quarterfinals overHFX Wanderers FC, allowing Montreal to advance and ultimately win the trophy.^[18] After the 2021 season, CF Montreal would announce that they would not exercise the option on Tabla's contract, making him a free agent.^[19]

On 15 February 2022, Tabla signed a three-year contract withCanadian Premier League sideAtlético Ottawa through the 2024 season.^[20] He made his debut on April 9 in Ottawa's season opener againstCavalry FC.^[21] Tabla scored his first goal for his new club on April 29, netting a late equalizer in a 2-2 draw withYork United atYork Lions Stadium.^[22]

On 25 January 2023, it was officially announced that Tabla had joinedTFF First League sideManisa for an undisclosed fee.^[23] He subsequently made his debut for the Turkish club four days later, coming in as a substitute forEdgar Prib in the 62nd minute of a 1-1league draw againstDenizlispor.^[24]

On 22 January 2024, Atlético Ottawa announced Tabla had returned to the side, signing a three-year contract following a mutual termination of his contract with Manisa.^[25][26]

Tabla was 14 years old when he first participated in a national camp. He has represented Canada at the U15, U17, U18, and U20 levels.^[3] He was named to Canada's squad for the2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship.^[27] In 2014, he was named the Canada U17 Male Player of the Year.^[28] In 2015, he played with the Canada U18s at the Slovakia Cup.^[29] In August 2016, Tabla was called up to the U-20 team for a pair of friendlies againstCosta Rica^[30] In 2016, he was named theCanada Soccer U20 Player of the Year for his performances with the U-20 squad in friendlies againstEngland andHonduras.^[31]

He later refused call-ups to Canada, citing a possibility to play for theIvory Coast.^[32] It was reported that he sought advice fromDidier Drogba, a former Ivory Coast striker with whom he struck a friendship during their time in Montreal.^[33] In September 2018, Tabla declared his international allegiance to Canada.^[34]

On 17 October 2018, Tabla made his senior national team debut, in a2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualification match againstDominica. Tabla replacedJonathan David in the 54th minute.^[35]

Tabla was named to theCanadian U-23 provisional roster for the2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship on February 26, 2020.^[36] He was named to the final squad on March 10, 2021.^[37]

As of November 3, 2024^[38]

As of 18 November 2018^[39]

Barcelona

• UEFA Youth League:2017–18^[40]

Atlético Ottawa

• CPL Shield:2022^[41]

• Canada Soccer U20 Player of the Year: 2016
• Canada Soccer U17 Player of the Year: 2014
• FSQ Male Youth Player of Excellence: 2014, 2015

• Ballou Tabla at BDFutbol
• Official website
• Ballou Tabla at theCanadian Soccer Association
• Ballou Tabla at Soccerway