As a child, Axel practised judo and athletics at the same time as football. However, it was not long before he opted for football. Son of Yacouba Bamba, an Ivorian international striker who played in Switzerland (FC Zurich and Yverdon Sport FC in D2), Axel arrived in France in 2004. He played one season at ES 16e and another at ACBB before joining Paris FC at the age of 10. The Abidjan-born midfielder, who has played in the club’s youth and academy categories, moved down a step at U19 level to play in central defence. Captain of the U19 Team, he joined the B-Team, then the pro Team during the 2017-2018 season. In January 2019, Axel signed his first professional contract.
