Bournemouth, having sold Ukrainian defender Illia Zabarnyi to Paris Saint-Germain, has quickly secured a replacement. The Premier League club has reached an agreement with Lille for the transfer of 24-year-old Bafode Diakite. According to Radio Monte Carlo, the deal is worth €35 million, with an additional €5 million in potential bonuses.
Born in Toulouse to Guinean parents, Diakite began his football journey in the Toulouse academy before joining Lille in 2022. The central defender has represented France at every youth international level, including the Olympic team that reached the final in Paris last summer, losing to Spain. He has made 85 appearances and scored 12 goals for Lille over the past three Ligue 1 seasons.
Bournemouth is reinvesting funds from recent player sales, including Zabarnyi to PSG for €66 million, Dean Housen to Real Madrid for over €60 million, and Milos Kerkez to Liverpool for approximately €46 million.