AFC Sunderland have completed the signing of Senegalese midfielder Habib Diarra from RC Strasbourg on a five-year contract for a club record €35.5m fee, add-ons included. A top signing for the present and future, the newly promoted Premier League side swooped in quickly to secure his signature as they learnt of the availability of the in-demand midfielder.
The 21-year-old midfielder captained Strasbourg throughout a remarkably successful season, culminating in a seventh-place finish in the French League, qualifying for the UEFA Conference League. A memorable campaign on a personal and collective note, Diarra made 30 league appearances for Le Racing last term, scoring four goals and registering five assists as The Blue-and-Whites clinched their second European football qualification in 20 years.
A Strasbourg youth academy graduate, he made his Ligue 1 debut in 2021 at the age of 17 but had to bide his time before he became a first-team regular the following season. A vital cog in Strasbourg’s engine, he has been an ever-present figure in the Starting XI since 2022, belittling his youth.
A box-to-box midfielder by trade, Diarra is versatile and capable of playing across different positions in midfield and on both wings, as seen during his time in France. Defensively sound and hardworking, with an eye for goal, he is a complete midfielder who is effective on both ends of the pitch.
A Senegal native, Habib Diarra represented France at the youth levels before switching his senior international allegiance to Senegal. He made his international debut for the Teranga Lions in a friendly match against Gabon in March 2024 and has been capped on 11 occasions. He was among the goals as Senegal claimed a famous 3-1 victory over England last month.
Diarra becomes the sixth Senegalese international to feature for the Black Cats, following in the footsteps of El-Hadji Diouf and Alfred N’Diaye.
Habib Diarra expressed his delight at the transfer:
“I’m happy and excited to become a Black Cat, and I can’t wait to discover the Stadium of Light and its fans. Everyone saw last season’s success, and I guarantee that I’ll give everything for this team and fight for these colours in the Premier League. I’m ready for the challenge, and I can’t wait to get started.”
