Who is Chérif Baba Yaya, the Beninese talent signed by Nottingham Forest?

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·8 juillet 2025

Who is Chérif Baba Yaya, the Beninese talent signed by Nottingham Forest?

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Who is Chérif Baba Yaya, the Beninese talent signed by Nottingham Forest?

Vidéos OneFootball

On July 7, 2025, Nottingham Forest officially announced the signing of a young prospect from Benin: Chérif Baba Yaya. Although he will initially play with the youth team of the storied Premier League club, this is a remarkable achievement for a player born about 350 kilometers from Cotonou. Let's take a closer look at the journey of this quiet yet determined footballer.

Chérif Baba Yaya: a low-profile but promising rise

Born on November 19, 2006 in Toui, in the commune of Ouèssè, right in the heart of the Collines department, Chérif Baba Yaya took his first steps in football far from the spotlight. It was in northern Benin that he caught the eye of Dynamo de Parakou, a modest club renowned for nurturing quality talent. He joined their youth ranks and quickly made a name for himself.

In the 2020-2021 season, he was crowned champion of the Borgou Amateur League with Dynamo Junior. This title drew the attention of Coton FC, one of the most well-structured clubs in the country. The club offered him a paid internship in Ouidah. After this formative experience, Chérif Baba Yaya returned briefly to Dynamo de Parakou before joining Union Sportive de Sèmè-Kraké (USSK), a club famous for providing a springboard to Europe, particularly under the leadership of its president Magloire Oké.

🚨 Le Jeune Milieu de Terrain Défensif Béninois BABA YAYA CHÉRIF DINE 🇧🇯 (18 ans) a paraphé un contrat de 02 ans et demi avec RIO AVE 🇵🇹 (Liga Portugal) en provenance de l'US Sèmè Kraké 🇧🇯. Il va évolué avec l'équipe U23 dans un premier temps avant de rejoindre l'équipe 1ère.
– jeudi 3 avril 2025

It was there that he caught the attention of Portuguese scouts. In early 2025, Chérif Baba Yaya made the move to Rio Ave FC, a top-division club in Portugal. He split time between the U19s and U23s, taking part in the Liga Revelação U23 playoffs and amassing 418 minutes of play in just a few months.

Premier League dreams on the horizon?

On July 7, 2025, Nottingham Forest made the signing of the young Beninese defensive midfielder official. He will start out with the club's youth squad, but there's every chance he'll climb the ranks quickly. That's exactly what Craig Mulholland, Nottingham Forest's head of football development and talent management, is hoping for:

We wish Cherif, a very exciting young talent, all the best as he embarks on this thrilling chapter of his football journey, and we look forward to seeing him in Warren’s team as they begin another PL2 campaign.

We’re delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Cherif Yaya from Rio Ave. ✍️
– lundi 7 juillet 2025

Chérif Baba Yaya “loves to get stuck in”

Bello Madjid is the coach who gave Chérif Yaya his senior team debut at Dynamo de Parakou during the 2022-2023 season. The tactician has vivid memories of the young Chérif, especially his combative character:

He was a small kid, considering his age, but physically very impressive, and he loved to battle. He thrives in duels. He’s a very modern defensive midfielder. Even at his young age, he knows to play quickly—no more than two touches in the middle of the park. He loves to get stuck in. That’s the combative, destructive profile I like. But he also enjoys playing with simplicity.I remember he didn’t get many chances to start, because he was still a child. But one day, we had to play against Buffles du Borgou. And in Parakou, Dynamo vs. Buffles is always a special fixture. That day, our regular starters weren’t available. So I had to give Chérif Baba Yaya a chance. And he seized it—he was nearly man of the match.

From the Benin Pro League to the Premier League, the road remains long. But with determination, Chérif Baba Yaya is moving forward step by step. He’s often compared to Yaya Touré—and perhaps this is the right moment, and the perfect place, to prove why.