AFC Bournemouth has completed the signing of defender Bafode Diakite from French club Lille on a five-year deal, making him the second most expensive acquisition in the club’s history.
While financial details were not officially disclosed, British media reports the transfer fee to be around 35 million euros ($41 million), with an additional 5 million euros ($5.86 million) in performance-based add-ons. This places the 24-year-old Frenchman just behind forward Evanilson, for whom Bournemouth paid a reported 40.2 million pounds ($54.49 million) a year ago.
Diakite, who will wear the number 18 shirt for the Cherries, is expected to join Andoni Iraola’s squad immediately ahead of their Premier League season opener against Liverpool on Friday evening at Anfield. The centre-back scored 13 goals in 112 appearances for Lille, including four goals in 48 games last season.
The signing is seen as a move to reinforce the team’s back line, which saw the departures of Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid and Illia Zabarnyi to Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
In a statement, Diakite expressed his enthusiasm for the move, stating, “I know the coach has great ideas, which enables us to play well in the Premier League. Now I’m at the club, it’s a good opportunity to show how I can help the team going forward.” He added, “I’m a defender who likes to have the ball and play with it, and I hope to show my qualities both with and without it. I will give everything for the team and I hope we will have some great moments together.”
