Latest news with #BafodeDiakite
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Bournemouth signs Diakite in second most expensive deal
The 24-year-old Bafode Diakite has scored 13 goals in 112 appearances for Lille. (AFP pic) LONDON : Bournemouth signed Bafode Diakite from Lille on a five-year deal on Wednesday, making the defender the second most expensive signing in club history. While no financial details were disclosed, British media reported the fee was €35 million (US$41 million) plus €5 million (US$5.86 million) in add-ons, the second highest behind the £40.2 million (US$54.49 million) Bournemouth paid for Evanilson a year ago. Diakite links straight up with Andoni Iraola's squad, who face Liverpool in the Premier League season opener on Friday evening at Anfield. He will wear the number 18 shirt for the Cherries. The 24-year-old scored 13 goals in 112 appearances for Lille. He played in 48 games last season, scoring four goals. Diakite helps fill a hole on the back line left by the departure of Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid and Illia Zabarnyi to Paris Saint-Germain. 'I know the coach has great ideas, which enables us to play well in the Premier League,' the centre-back said in a statement. 'Now I'm at the club, it's a good opportunity to show how I can help the team going forward.' '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.'
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Iraola on Diakite, player sales and Liverpool
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Liverpool at Anfield (kick-off 20:00 BST).Here are the key lines from his news conference:New signing Bafode Diakite is "physically ready" after training for two days with the squad but Iraola has yet to decide whether the centre-back will feature on Christie has been in training this week after "two or three set-backs" from a groin injury but Liverpool comes too soon, meanwhile Justin Kluivert is still recovering from a calf injury and is also out of contention alongside Lewis Ouattara is likely to travel to Merseyside but his future at the club remains doubtful while Luis Sinisterra's expected move away to Brazil is "more advanced" but neither deal is are "not where they want to be" regarding transfers but the Cherries boss confirmed that there will be some "important movements" before the market closes and hopes his team will be able to adjust to them. On facing Liverpool he said: "We are the first game and a lot of people will be watching us. It's not the place you want to start your season, at the home of the champions. Also after they lost the other day [in the Community Shield] despite controlling and they probably want a reaction."He added: "It's a big test for us and in the beginning it's going to be emotional with the passing of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva. But we will focus on our job, try and create some chances, keep believing and give them a hard game. Let's try to go there and give them a surprise."Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
How will Cherries' defence look after summer of sales?
The signing of Lille centre-back Bafode Diakite on Wednesday will boost morale after fans spent the summer watching their defence dismembered by Europe's sales of Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid, Milos Kerkez to Liverpool and Illia Zabarnyi to Paris St-Germain brought in a staggering £147m, but left boss Andoni Iraola needing to rebuild a backline that last season conceded the fewest Premier League goals of their eight seasons in the top the signs are encouraging. The lengthy Kerkez saga meant his left-back replacement Adrien Truffert was signed before Kerkez had even put pen to paper at Anfield, and the former Rennes captain has slotted in seamlessly in Diakite, signed barely 48 hours before the start of the new season, may take time to adjust to his new surroundings, in central defence Bournemouth already have Marcos Senesi (a Premier League regular for two seasons before his injury propelled Huijsen into the limelight), and James Hill.A £1m capture from Fleetwood in 2022, Hill has had to wait patiently for first-team opportunities, but never let Iraola down when called upon last season. His versatility allowed him to fill in at full-back when required, and he also came on in a defensive midfield role a couple of times when the Cherries were frantically chasing may seek another central defender before the transfer window closes and that could spell the end of Chris Mepham's first-team chances as he enters the last year of his contract. The Wales international spent last season on loan at Sunderland although a rumoured permanent move to Wearside has not materialised. He featured in pre-season and would provide experienced back-up if no further defenders are from Mark on Thursday.
eNCA
3 days ago
- Sport
- eNCA
Bournemouth splash out on Diakite as Zabarnyi replacement
Bournemouth completed the signing of centre-back Bafode Diakite from Lille on Wednesday to help fill the void left by Illia Zabarnyi's move to Paris Saint-Germain. Diakite will reportedly cost up to £34.6 million ($47 million), making him the Cherries second most expensive ever signing after striker Evanilson's arrival last year. The 24-year-old, who played for France at last year's Olympics, made 112 appearances for Lille, including 10 in the Champions League last season, since joining from Toulouse in 2022. Zabarnyi became the third key defender to leave Bournemouth during this transfer window when the Ukrainian joined the European champions for a reported £57 million on Tuesday. Dean Huijsen made a £50 million move to Real Madrid in June, while Milos Kerkez joined Liverpool for £40 million. "I'm really happy to be here and I'm very excited to start," said Diakite, who could face a daunting debut when Bournemouth open up the new Premier League season away to champions Liverpool on Friday. "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."
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Bournemouth splash out on Diakite as Zabarnyi replacement - World
Bournemouth completed the signing of centre-back Bafode Diakite from Lille on Wednesday to help fill the void left by Illia Zabarnyi's move to Paris Saint-Germain. Diakite will reportedly cost up to £34.6 million ($47 million), making him the Cherries second most expensive ever signing after striker Evanilson's arrival last year. The 24-year-old, who played for France at last year's Olympics, made 112 appearances for Lille, including 10 in the Champions League last season, since joining from Toulouse in 2022. Zabarnyi became the third key defender to leave Bournemouth during this transfer window when the Ukrainian joined the European champions for a reported £57 million on Tuesday. Dean Huijsen made a £50 million move to Real Madrid in June, while Milos Kerkez joined Liverpool for £40 million. "I'm really happy to be here and I'm very excited to start," said Diakite, who could face a daunting debut when Bournemouth open up the new Premier League season away to champions Liverpool on Friday. "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." Bournemouth finished ninth in the Premier League last season, equalling their best ever season in the English top-flight. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
