Bournemouth Football Club Signs Bafode Diakite as New Player, Replacing Illia Zabarnyi
Bafode Diakite, a 24-year-old French center-back, has joined Bournemouth from Lille in a deal worth up to £34.6 million ($47 million), making him the second most expensive signing in the club's history, surpassed only by Evanilson.
Diakite's arrival comes as a direct replacement for Illia Zabarnyi, who was sold to Paris Saint-Germain for €66 million (£57.1 million).
The young defender, born on January 6, 2001, stands at 182 cm tall and weighs 77 kg. He began his professional career at Toulouse FC before transferring to Lille in August 2022 for approximately €3 million.
Diakite is known for his ability to play with the ball, maintaining a comfortable balance between defensive responsibilities and possession. His performance statistics with Lille in Ligue 1 are impressive, with 112 appearances since joining in 2022, including 10 in the Champions League last season.
While specific goal, assist, or card statistics weren't provided, Diakite's consistent appearances suggest he was a regular starter and key player for Lille. His defensive prowess is evident in his clean sheet contributions, having been involved in 10 for Lille last season, and his impressive clearance statistics: 96 clearances, 27 interceptions, and 58 headed clearances.
Diakite's Bournemouth debut could potentially be against the reigning Premier League champions, Liverpool, in the opening match of the 2025-26 Premier League season scheduled to take place on Friday at Anfield. This move indicates that Bournemouth have lost some key players this summer, with Zabarnyi being one of them.
Bournemouth have been active in the transfer market this summer, with Diakite's signing being one of several moves aimed at strengthening the squad. The club's significant investment in Diakite underscores their confidence in his ability to make a positive impact at the club.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain have made a significant investment in acquiring Illia Zabarnyi, as they look to bolster their defensive ranks ahead of the new season.
[1] BBC Sport. (2025). Bafode Diakite joins Bournemouth from Lille. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62162377
[2] Sky Sports. (2025). Bafode Diakite: Bournemouth sign Lille defender for £34.6m. [online] Available at: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11682/12474001/bafode-diakite-bournemouth-sign-lille-defender-for-346m
[3] Sky Sports. (2025). Illia Zabarnyi: Paris Saint-Germain sign Lille defender for €66m. [online] Available at: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11682/12474000/illa-zabarnyi-paris-saint-germain-sign-lille-defender-for-66m
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