Ousseni Bouda Bio
Ousseni Bouda (born 28 April 2000) is a Burkinabé professional footballer who plays as a forward and winger for Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes, where he wears the number 7 shirt, and represents the Burkina Faso national team. A former Stanford Cardinal standout, Bouda rose to national attention as the Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year for the 2017–18 season. He was the first Stanford soccer player to receive that prestigious high school honor.
Bouda combines the technical polish of the Right to Dream Academy with the physical and tactical grounding of American college soccer. His transition from Ghana to the United States, and later from the college game to MLS, has shaped him into one of the more distinctive young attackers in North American soccer.
Early Life and Background
Ousseni Bouda was born in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on 28 April 2000. Standing 5 ft 11 in tall, he grew up in a country where football serves as a central cultural touchstone for young people. His early years in Ouagadougou laid the foundation for a playing style built on quick footwork and attacking instinct.
At the age of twelve, Bouda enrolled at the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana, where he spent four formative years developing his game alongside other talented West African prospects. The academy’s emphasis on education, character, and professional pathways provided Bouda with a structured route into elite football. It was during this period that he began attracting attention from scouts and recruiters across the Atlantic.
Path to Soccer
Bouda’s path to high-level soccer continued when he moved from Ghana to the United States to attend the Millbrook School in New York. Playing for the Millbrook Mustangs, he led the program to a Class C championship in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council. He finished his high school career with 82 appearances and an extraordinary 156 goals, including five-goal performances in each of his final two matches as the Mustangs claimed the title.
His performances earned him the Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year award for the 2017–18 season, recognizing him as the top boys’ high school soccer player in the United States. Listed as a five-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer, Bouda committed to Stanford University, where he played for the Stanford Cardinal men’s soccer program from 2019 to 2021.
Ousseni Bouda Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Bouda made his amateur club debut with Black Rock FC as a substitute in a 1–1 draw with Seacoast United Phantoms on May 23, 2018. The appearance marked his first step into organized senior competition outside of academy football. He continued to develop with Black Rock while finishing his high school career at Millbrook.
Ahead of his first college season, Bouda rejoined Black Rock for the 2019 USL League Two campaign, where he scored 8 goals in only 6 matches played. That short stint reinforced his reputation as a clinical finisher and prepared him for the rigors of Pac-12 Conference soccer at Stanford.
Stanford Cardinal Breakthrough (2019–2021)
Bouda made his collegiate debut for Stanford on August 30, 2019, in a 5–0 win against Penn State, registering his first college start and his first college goal in the same match. His immediate impact continued on October 15, 2019, when he became the first freshman of the season to be named Pac-12 Men’s Soccer Player of the Week. He concluded the 2019 Pac-12 Conference men’s soccer season by being named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year on November 20, 2019.
Bouda sat out the 2020 season due to injury, but he returned strongly in 2021, leading Stanford with nine assists and five goals. His performances earned him spots on the United Soccer Coaches All-Region first team and the All-Pac-12 first team, cementing his status as one of the top collegiate attackers in the country.
San Jose Earthquakes Era (2022–Present)
On January 6, 2022, Bouda was announced as a member of the 2022 Generation Adidas class ahead of the MLS SuperDraft. Five days later, he was chosen by the San Jose Earthquakes as their first pick and the eighth overall selection. He made his professional debut on March 5, 2022, as a substitute in a draw with the Columbus Crew, and he scored his first professional goal on April 19, 2022, in a 5–0 victory over Bay Cities FC in the Third Round of the 2022 U.S. Open Cup.
In 2023, Bouda made the most MLS appearances of his career, featuring 15 times for the Earthquakes during the regular season. He also appeared in eight matches and scored seven goals in MLS Next Pro with San Jose Earthquakes II, helping propel the reserve side to the MLS Next Pro playoffs for the first time. Bouda started and scored in Earthquakes II’s first-ever playoff victory, a 2–0 win away to St. Louis City SC 2 in the Western Conference quarter-finals.
Bouda scored the game-winning goal for the Earthquakes in their 2024 U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 match against Oakland Roots SC on May 7, 2024. On June 28, 2024, he moved on loan to USL Championship side Monterey Bay FC for the remainder of their 2024 season. He made his Monterey Bay debut on June 29, 2024, as a substitute in a 1–0 loss away to Colorado Springs Switchbacks, and he scored a 91st-minute game winner in a 1–0 away victory over Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC the following week. San Jose recalled Bouda on July 20, 2024, ahead of a match away to Minnesota United FC.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bouda operates primarily as a forward and winger, relying on sharp movement, combination play, and a clinical finish inside the box. His time at the Right to Dream Academy gave him strong technical habits, while the American college game sharpened his physical conditioning and tactical discipline. He has shown a willingness to contribute in build-up phases, regularly registering assists alongside his goal-scoring contributions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bouda’s career highlights include winning the Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year in 2018, becoming the first Stanford soccer player to claim the award, and scoring the game-winning goal in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. He also netted a memorable 91st-minute winner for Monterey Bay FC against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC during his loan spell.
Ousseni Bouda Career Wins
Ousseni Bouda’s win portfolio spans club, collegiate, and national competitions, including a high school New England championship, an NCAA Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honor, an MLS Next Pro playoff victory, and an U.S. Open Cup game-winning strike. His winning moments also include clutch performances at the international level with Burkina Faso.
Stanford and Earthquakes Highlights
At Stanford, Bouda’s standout moments included a debut goal against Penn State and a Pac-12 Freshman of the Year award. For the San Jose Earthquakes, his 2023 campaign produced 15 MLS appearances and a starring role in Earthquakes II’s first-ever MLS Next Pro playoff win. He also delivered the decisive goal in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup match against Oakland Roots SC.
Other Wins & Performances
Bouda led the Millbrook Mustangs to a New England Preparatory School Athletic Council Class C championship during his high school years. With Black Rock FC in 2019, he scored 8 goals in 6 USL League Two matches, and he later produced a 91st-minute game winner on loan with Monterey Bay FC in 2024.
Ousseni Bouda Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ousseni Bouda was raised in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, before moving to Ghana to attend the Right to Dream Academy at the age of twelve. His early family environment in Ouagadougou nurtured his love for football and provided the foundation for his transition into elite academy soccer.
Personal Life
Bouda is a Muslim from the Mossi and Bissa ethnic groups, and he speaks Mossi, French, and English. He obtained his U.S. Green Card in 2023, allowing him to be classified as a domestic player within Major League Soccer roster rules. Outside of football, he continues to maintain ties to both Burkina Faso and the United States.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Ousseni Bouda is firmly part of the San Jose Earthquakes first-team picture following his recall from Monterey Bay FC in July 2024. His blend of MLS experience, MLS Next Pro production, and cup-stage goals gives the Earthquakes a versatile attacking option across the forward line and the wings. With multiple U.S. Open Cup and league goals already on his resume, Bouda enters 2025 looking to cement a regular starting role.
On the international stage, Bouda continues to feature for the Burkina Faso senior national team after scoring his first international goal in a friendly against Libya in March 2024. His combination of pace, technical quality, and finishing makes him a valuable squad piece as Burkina Faso navigates its competitive calendar. Expect continued contributions from the winger-forward as he builds on his growing MLS and international resume.
