Manchester United's Eric Bailly is a "calm guy" who has made the Ivory Coast proud, according to his former international colleague Kolo Toure.

At international level, Bailly is helping to make up for the departure of Toure -- who retired from Ivory Coast duty in February 2015 after winning 118 caps, which made him the nation's second most-capped player after Didier Zokora on 123.

Bailly, 22, made his debut for Ivory Coast in January 2015 and then played alongside Toure in the triumphant Africa Cup of Nations campaign the following month.

The new Manchester United centre-back became Jose Mourinho's first signing at Old Trafford when he joined from Villarreal on June 8, subject to obtaining a work permit.

Eric Bailly moved to Manchester United from Villarreal earlier this summer. Tom Purslow/Man Utd via Getty Images

"He's a calm guy who works a lot, and today, this work has been noticed by one of the biggest clubs in Europe," Toure told Sport Ivoire.

Bailly is set to join a long list of Ivorians who have featured in the Premier League since Ibrahima Bakayoko became the first, making his debut for Everton in a Merseyside derby in October 1998 that ended in a 0-0 draw.

While United's local rivals Manchester City have Wilfried Bony and Yaya Toure on their books -- at least until new manager Pep Guardiola starts rebuilding -- Bailly is the only Ivorian at United.

"We're proud of Eric," Toure said. "We're all very happy for his move to Manchester United. It's the whole country who's honoured."