Bakambu ends his San Diego FC spell after two months

Cedric Bakambu's spell in the United States, where he has also worn the Galatasaray shirt, lasted much shorter than expected. The 35-year-old striker left Real Betis and joined MLS club San Diego FC on September 3, 2026. He recorded 5 goals and 3 assists in 9 official matches. However, less than two months after joining the team, he announced his departure on November 6 through his social media account.

Reports suggest that a serious off-field crisis lay behind the decision. According to allegations, Bakambu and his family faced housing discrimination in San Diego. Bakambu and his wife, Laure Huber, filed a complaint in federal court. The petition claims that a real estate agency, two property owners and two real estate agents treated them unfairly because of their family situation and the presence of their children.

According to information based on the court filing reported by Goal.com, the family struggled to rent a home after the transfer. The player wanted to rent a 528-square-meter mansion for $17,500 a month. He offered to install a protective barrier around the pool for the children's safety, to cover the cost himself, and to pay one year's rent in advance. Despite this, the offer was rejected. After a real estate agent warned of violations of housing discrimination laws, the listing was taken off the market.

In a second attempt, an offer of $23,500 a month for a 585-square-meter house in the Santa Fe area also failed to secure a deal for the couple. The house was later listed again at $20,000 a month, which was below that offer, and was removed from the market on November 6. Bakambu, who had long struggled with housing and had difficulty enrolling his children in school, was forced to end his career in San Diego for the sake of his family's well-being.