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<p>Ligue 1 standout</p>
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<img alt="Bournemouth signs Diakité for a record transfer fee" src="https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/galerie/bafode-diakite-losc-2024-2025-1053566848-1733499577-156031.jpg" title="Bournemouth signs Diakité for a club-record transfer fee">
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<p><span>©IMAGO</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr">Bournemouth kicked off their defensive overhaul on Wednesday morning, officially announcing the acquisition of Lille defender Bafodé Diakité on a five-year contract. Reports indicate that the 24-year-old French defender will join the Premier League team for an initial fee of €35 million, with an additional €5 million in performance-related add-ons. This transfer positions Diakité as the club's second most expensive signing, and once the add-ons are fulfilled, he will surpass Evanilson's €37 million transfer from Porto last season, setting a new club record.</p><br>
<p dir="ltr">Aside from the signing of goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic from Chelsea for €28.9 million and left-back Adrien Truffert from Stade Rennais for €13.5 million, Diakité marks the club's first significant addition following the departure of Andoni Iraola's defensive unit. Disappointingly for Bournemouth fans, the team has sold last season's central defensive pairing of Dean Huijsen and Ilya Zabarnyi to Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, netting a combined €125.5 million. When you factor in other sales, including left-back Milos Kerkez’s €46.9 million move to Liverpool, the club's total income from player sales has reached a staggering €187 million—the highest total in a single transfer window for Bournemouth.</p><br>
<h2 dir="ltr">What to Expect from Bafodé Diakité</h2><br>
<p dir="ltr">Having progressed through the youth ranks at his hometown club Toulouse, Diakité made a €3 million move to Lille in 2022, quickly becoming a mainstay for the Ligue 1 team. Capable of playing as a right-back, center-back, or even on the left flank, Diakité has consistently shown his worth over the last three seasons. His market value has climbed from €3 million at the time of his transfer to Lille to €28 million today, thanks to his consistent and impressive performances.</p><br>
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<p>Player Comparison</p>
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<p>AFC Bournemouth</p>
<p>Real Madrid</p>
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<p>€28.00m</p>
<p>Market Value</p>
<p>€60.00m</p>
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<p>Centre-Back</p>
<p>Position</p>
<p>Centre-Back</p>
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<p>-</p>
<p>Contract until</p>
<p>30.06.2030</p>
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<p><span>Full Player Comparison</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><em><strong>Transfermarkt France Content Manager Joachim Durand:</strong></em> Bafodé Diakité may not have been the most sought-after player in Ligue 1, but he was undoubtedly the standout of the second-best defense last season. He also made a mark against top-tier clubs in the Champions League, including Real Madrid, Juventus, and Atlético Madrid. Though he stands at 1.84m, he exhibits strength in one-on-one situations and is versatile enough to play as a right-back. It’s puzzling that larger clubs did not pursue him, likely due to his age—24, placing him neither in the young prospect category with high resale potential nor as an experienced player. Nevertheless, he is an excellent addition for any Premier League club outside of the 'Big Six.'</p>
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