Leandro Bacuna is one of Caribbean football’s most accomplished exports — a versatile midfielder who spent a decade in England’s top two divisions before making history as the captain who led Curaçao to their first-ever FIFA World Cup.
With a career spanning clubs from the Dutch Eredivisie to the English Premier League and now Turkey’s first division, Bacuna has built steady wealth over 15+ professional years.
Here’s a complete breakdown of his net worth, salary, and career earnings.
Leandro Bacuna’s Biography
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Leandro Jones Johan Bacuna |
| Date of Birth | 21 August 1991 |
| Age | 34 |
| Place of Birth | Groningen, Netherlands |
| Nationality | Dutch / Curaçaoan |
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Weight | 77 kg |
| Position | Central Midfielder / Right-Back |
| Current Club | Iğdır FK (Turkey, TFF First League) |
| Turned Professional | 2009 (FC Groningen) |
| Net Worth | ~$5 million (estimated) |
| Current Salary | ~£4,000/week (£208,000/year) |
| Career Earnings | ~$16.2 million (gross, estimated) |
| International Caps | 71 (Curaçao captain) |
Early Life & Career
Leandro Jones Johan Bacuna was born on 21 August 1991 in Groningen, Netherlands. His parents are of Curaçaoan descent, and he holds dual citizenship in the Netherlands and Curaçao.
He began his football journey in the youth academy of GVAV-Rapiditas before joining FC Groningen’s youth setup in 2002.
Groningen is more than just his birthplace — it is the club that gave him his first professional opportunity. “I’m always grateful for every chance Groningen gave me; they made Leandro Bacuna.
Of course, I’ve been to a lot of other clubs, but that’s where it all started for me, and they believed in me,” Bacuna has said.
He became a regular almost at once and netted his first goal in a game versus Heracles Almelo on 6 November 2009.
All in all, he took part in 109 fixtures and fired 14 goals for the club before completing a move to English Premier League side Aston Villa in June 2013.
Bacuna was capped 20 times at youth levels for the Netherlands and also represented the Netherlands Antilles at youth level. His decision to commit to Curaçao at senior level would later define his legacy in international football.
Professional Career
After impressing in the Eredivisie, it was announced on 13 June 2013 that Bacuna had signed a three-year contract with Premier League club Aston Villa.
Handed the number 7 shirt, Bacuna impressed many with his debut season for the Villains, despite constantly playing out of position at right back.
Bacuna went from FC Groningen to Aston Villa, where he played for four seasons, including three that were in the Premier League. His Transfermarkt profile confirms his move to Aston Villa was for a reported fee of around €1.4 million.
Villa were relegated from the Premier League in 2016, and Bacuna remained for the Championship season before departing.
In August 2017, Bacuna moved to Reading, where he earned over 50 caps in Championship matches for the Royals.
His strong form at the Madejski Stadium attracted Premier League interest, and on 31 January 2019, Bacuna moved to Premier League side Cardiff City, signing a four-and-a-half year deal for a transfer fee believed to be around £3 million.
He remained at Cardiff until December 2022, before brief spells at Watford and then a sentimental return to his hometown club Groningen for the 2023–25 seasons.
In July 2025, he joined Bandırmaspor as a free agent, before transferring to Iğdır FK on 6 January 2026.
On the international stage, Curaçao defied expectations and stunned the football world back in November by securing a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the smallest country by population — around 185,000 people — ever to book a ticket for the major tournament.
Team captain Leandro Bacuna anchors the squad; he and veteran goalkeeper Eloy Room are the country’s most-capped players, with 71 caps each.
Leandro Bacuna’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Leandro Bacuna’s has an estimated net worth of $5 million.
He built this wealth through over 15 years of professional football, with the bulk coming from his high-earning years in the English Premier League and Championship — most notably at Aston Villa, Cardiff City, and Reading.
Contract
Bacuna’s current contract runs with Iğdır FK in Turkey’s TFF First League. His contract at the club is set to expire on 30 June 2027.
He joined the club on 6 January 2026 following a short stint at fellow Turkish club Bandırmaspor, where he arrived as a free agent in the summer of 2025.
Both moves reflect the latter stage of a career where earning potential has decreased from his English football peak, but he remains active and influential at club and international level heading into the 2026 World Cup.
Salary
Leandro Bacuna earns £4,000 per week, £208,000 per year playing for Bandırma Spor in the Turkish 1. League.
His current salary at Iğdır FK is in a similar bracket. This is a significant step down from his peak earnings at Cardiff City and Aston Villa, where he was pulling in well above £1 million annually.
His Premier League wages — particularly during the Cardiff City years — represent the financial pinnacle of his club career.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Club | Weekly Wage | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–2014 | Aston Villa | £8,000 | £416,000 |
| 2014–2015 | Aston Villa | £15,000 | £780,000 |
| 2015–2016 | Aston Villa | £25,000 | £1,300,000 |
| 2016–2017 | Aston Villa | £25,000 | £1,300,000 |
| 2017–2018 | Aston Villa / Reading | £20,000 | £1,040,000 |
| 2019–2020 | Cardiff City | £26,538 | £1,380,000 |
| 2020–2021 | Cardiff City | £27,500 | £1,430,000 |
| 2021–2022 | Cardiff City | £27,500 | £1,430,000 |
| 2022–2023 | Cardiff City | £27,500 | £1,430,000 |
| 2024–2025 | Groningen | £4,869 | £253,000 |
| 2025–2026 | Bandırmaspor / Iğdır FK | £4,000 | £208,000 |
Career Statistics
| Club | Seasons | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC Groningen | 2009–2013 | 109 | 14 | — |
| Aston Villa | 2013–2017 | 116 | 7 | 7 |
| Reading | 2017–2019 | ~59 | 4 | 6 |
| Cardiff City | 2019–2022 | ~109 | 5 | — |
| Watford | 2022–2023 | ~14 | 0 | — |
| FC Groningen | 2023–2025 | ~31 | 4 | 3 |
| Bandırmaspor | 2025 | ~33 | 1 | 6 |
| Iğdır FK | 2025–present | ~31 | 9 | 4 |
| Curaçao (International) | 2016–present | 71 | 16 | — |
FAQs
What is Leandro Bacuna’s net worth?
Leandro Bacuna’s estimated net worth is around $5 million. He accumulated this through over 15 years of professional football, including high-earning stints at Aston Villa and Cardiff City.
What club does Leandro Bacuna play?
He currently plays for Iğdır FK in Turkey’s TFF First League, where he signed on 6 January 2026. His contract runs until June 2027.
How many caps does Leandro Bacuna have for Curaçao?
Bacuna has 71 international caps for Curaçao, making him the joint most-capped player in the nation’s history alongside goalkeeper Eloy Room. He captains the side.
Is Leandro Bacuna playing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Yes — he is part of Curaçao’s historic 2026 FIFA World Cup squad and captains the team. Curaçao became the smallest nation by population ever to qualify for a World Cup.
Who is Leandro Bacuna’s brother?
His younger brother is Juninho Bacuna, a fellow professional footballer and Curaçao international. Both brothers were selected in Curaçao’s 2026 World Cup squad and played together during qualifying.
