In a swift response to Illia Zabarnyi's departure to Paris Saint-Germain, Bournemouth has secured the services of Bafode Diakite. The Cherries moved quickly to reinforce their defensive line, landing Diakite from French club Lille in a deal reportedly worth £34.6m (€40m). This move aims to fill the void left by Zabarnyi, who joined PSG for €66m (£57.1m) on Tuesday.
Diakite, 24, brings a wealth of experience from his time with Lille, having played 107 matches across all competitions. He is now in contention to make his debut for Bournemouth in the opening match of the 2025-26 Premier League season. The Cherries are set to face reigning champions Liverpool at Anfield on Friday, and Diakite's presence could provide a significant boost to their defense.
The club officially announced the transfer with a post, indicating their excitement with the new signing. Diakite's transfer marks him as the second-most expensive signing in Bournemouth's history, trailing only Evanilson, who arrived from Porto last year.
Last season, Diakite played a crucial role in Lille's defensive solidity, contributing to 10 clean sheets. His defensive statistics highlight his capabilities, ranking second among his team-mates for duels won (118), interceptions (27), clearances (96), and headed clearances (58). Bournemouth fans will be hoping he brings the same level of performance to the Premier League.
