AFC Bournemouth have reached an agreement to sign centre-back Bafodé Diakité from French club Lille in a deal worth £35 million plus £5 million in add-ons, according to David Ornstein of The Athletic.
The 24-year-old is undergoing a medical in London today ahead of putting pen to paper on a five-year contract. The move would represent the second-biggest transfer in Bournemouth’s history.
Bournemouth’s push for Diakité comes amid strong interest from Paris Saint-Germain in Ukraine international Illya Zabarnyi, who is on the verge of sealing a move to the French capital.
Diakité enjoyed a standout campaign with Lille last season, making 48 appearances and scoring four goals. A France youth international up to under-21 level, he began his career at Toulouse, where he progressed from the B team to the senior squad, helping the club win Ligue 2 in the 2021-22 season.
That summer, he joined Lille on a four-year contract and has since made 112 appearances, scoring 13 goals. He signed an extension until 2028 in September last year.
If finalised, Diakité will become Bournemouth’s third signing of the summer following the arrivals of goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic from Chelsea and left-back Adrien Truffert from Rennes.
Credit: @David_Ornstein via X
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