Bournemouth to Sign Lille Defender Bafode Diakite for £34.6m
Bournemouth are set to complete a £34.6m deal for French centre-back Bafode Diakite from Lille, marking the club's second-highest transfer fee.
Bournemouth Near £34.6m Signing of Bafode Diakite
Bournemouth are on the verge of securing the transfer of 24-year-old centre-back Bafode Diakite from Ligue 1 side Lille for an initial £30.3m, with potential add-ons worth £4.3m.
Player Profile and Career to Date
Since joining Lille from Toulouse in 2022, Diakite has made 85 league appearances and featured in 10 Champions League matches last season.
Transfer Context for Bournemouth
This move would become Bournemouth’s second most expensive signing after Evanilson from Porto, whose fee could reach £40.2m. Diakite is expected to join left-back Adrien Truffert and goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic as new additions this summer.
Defensive Overhaul Continues
The Cherries have already sold key defenders Milos Kerkez (£40m to Liverpool) and Dean Huijsen (£50m to Real Madrid). With Illia Zabarnyi close to a £63m switch to Paris Saint-Germain, Bournemouth are keen to bolster their back line before the transfer window closes.
Other Defensive Targets
- Chelsea’s Josh Acheampong
- Sevilla’s Loic Bade (reportedly headed to Bayer Leverkusen)
Diakite’s arrival highlights Bournemouth’s ambition to rebuild their defence after several high-profile departures.
This topic was reported by BBC Sport.
Discover engaging topics and analytical content in Sports News as of 10-08-2025. The article titled " Bournemouth to Sign Lille Defender Bafode Diakite for £34.6m " provides new insights and practical guidance in the Sports News field. Each topic is meticulously analyzed to deliver actionable information to readers.
The topic " Bournemouth to Sign Lille Defender Bafode Diakite for £34.6m " helps you make smarter decisions within the Sports News category. All topics on our website are unique and offer valuable content for our audience.