[3][4][5][6] While living at the Netherlands, Bakayoko played for FC Groningen "for about a week or two" but left the club when his family moved to England.

[4] After moving to England, he began playing in Birmingham, including a Sunday football team before winning a scholarship at Walsall.

[3][7] After prolific goal scoring at youth and reserve team level, Bakayoko was offered a one-year professional contract at Walsall in December 2013.

[12][13] After his loan spell at Southport ended, Bakayoko returned to the club and continued to find his playing time coming from the substitute bench.

[33] In response, Bakayoko scored three goals throughout November, coming against Newport County, Shrewsbury Town and AFC Wimbledon.

[34] However in a match against Northampton Town on 16 December 2017, he received a straight red card for a poor challenge, in a 2–1 loss.

[48] He made his debut for the club, starting the match and played 63 minutes before being substituted, in a 2–1 loss against Corby Town on 16 January 2016.

On 7 August 2018, Bakayoko joined League One side Coventry City for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-year deal.

[55] uPON He made his debut for the club, starting a match and played 64 minutes before being substituted, in a 0–0 draw against AFC Wimbledon on 11 August 2018.

[57] However, he found his playing time from the substitute bench, due to the competition from Conor Chaplin and Jordy Hiwula.

[62] Since returning from injury, Bakayoko regained his first team place for Coventry City, becoming the club's first choice striker.

At the start of the 2019–20 season, Bakayoko found his playing time, coming from the substitute bench, due to competitions from new signing, Matt Godden and Maxime Biamou.

[68] Due to Gooden's injury, Bakayoko received more playing time for two months, becoming Coventry City's first choice striker.

[74] His contributions helped Coventry City to a first-place finish and promoted to the Championship in a season interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.

[77] However in Coventry City's return to the Championship at the start of the 2020–21 season, he continued to remain on the substitute bench, due to a competitions from Godden, Biamou, Tyler Walker and Viktor Gyökeres.

[78] With his first team opportunities, Bakayoko was expecting to leave Coventry City in the January transfer window, but the move never materialised.

[85] In a match against Lincoln City on 17 August 2021, however, he suffered a calf injury in the 39th minute and was substitute, as the club won 1–0.

[88] Three days later on 5 October 2021, Bakayoko scored twice for Bolton Wanderers' EFL Trophy match against Liverpool U21, as the club won 4–1.

[91] It wasn't until on 1 January 2022 when he made his return from injury, coming on as a 70th minute substitute, in a 2–1 loss against Rotherham United.

[92] Since returning from injury, Bakayoko was involved in every matches in the first team, with his playing time coming from the substitute bench.

[104] In the January transfer window, Bakayoko was linked a move away from Bolton Wanderers, with Salford City interested in signing him.

[105] On 12 January 2023, Bakayoko joined fellow League One club Forest Green Rovers on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee.

[107] However, since joining Forest Green Rovers, Bakayoko suffered a goal drought and soon found his playing time from the substitute bench.

[114] Bakayoko made his debut for the Dark Blues as a substitute in a Scottish League Cup group stage win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

[120] After it was reported that the Dark Blues were keen on signing Bakayoko on a permanent basis, it was revealed by parent club Forest Green Rovers that he was still under contract for next season and would be retained following their relegation to the National League.

[4][127] Bakayoko made his debut for Sierra Leone on 23 March 2022, as the side lost 3–0 to Togo in an international friendly.

[130] On the 10th June 2024 Bakayoko was substituted on at 86' and scored a minute later the equaliser for Sierra Leone in their World Cup Qualifier against Burkina Faso.