Key Takeaways:
- Bafode Diakite joins Bournemouth from Lille in €35M deal
- Bournemouth signed Lille defender Bafode Diakite for €35M plus €5M in bonuses
- Transfer is the club’s second most expensive after Evanilson
Bournemouth have announced the signing of Lille defender Bafode Diakite. The 24-year-old Frenchman will wear the number 18 shirt for his new team, with the transfer fee set at €35 million plus additional €5 million in bonuses.
Diakite has been with Lille since 2022, making 112 appearances in which he scored 13 goals and provided 3 assists.
Bournemouth confirm defender Bafode Diakite has joined from Lille. €35m+€5m package. It’s the second highest purchase in the club's history behind Evanilson.🍒 pic.twitter.com/S0GTqPF50X
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) August 13, 2025
The Cherries were in need of a new central defender after Dean Huijsen moved to Real Madrid and Ilya Zabarnyi joined PSG.
Ben Jacobs reports that the transfer fee makes Diakite the second most expensive signing in Bournemouth’s history, behind Brazilian forward Evanilson.
“I am very happy to be here and very excited to start with the team. I know the coach has great ideas that allow us to play well in the Premier League. Now that I am at the club, this is a good opportunity to show how I can help the team move forward,” Diakite commented.
