Sol Bamba left Cardiff City earlier this summer following the expiry of his contract, having recovered from non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer. The 36-year-old was given the news late last year and went public with his diagnosis in early 2021. Consequently, a flurry of well-wishes and messages of support flooded Bamba’s inbox, many of which were from Leeds United fans and former teammates.
The club issued a statement upon Bamba’s diagnosis which read: “The thoughts and best wishes of everyone at Leeds United are with Sol Bamba. Get well soon, the Leeds family is right behind you! #MOT”.
Ex-Leeds United boss Neil Warnock has confirmed that Bamba is back in West Yorkshire, having returned to live in the region following his time in south Wales. He has offered the Paris-born defender the opportunity to train with his Middlesbrough side in a bid to gain match fitness once more. Bamba and Warnock worked together for three seasons at the Cardiff City Stadium, where the central defender became a trusted lieutenant of the managerial veteran.
Neil Warnock said: “Sol telephoned me to say he’d moved back to Leeds since his release from Cardiff and asked if I’d help him. I’ve known him years, he’s a good lad, and after everything he’s been through this is the least I can do. We wish him well. No doubt he’ll get as fit as he can with a week or so under his belt with us.”
The defender insisted he would not let his diagnosis deprive him of taking to the field once more earlier this year, something he achieved by making an appearance in Cardiff’s final match of the season against Rotherham United.
