Who is Ousmane Diomande? The €80m-rated Sporting defender wanted by Arsenal
Suraj Radia
- 11 Sept 2023 17:49 BST
- 6 min read
Few players have seen their careers flourish more in 2023 than Ousmane Diomande, with the Sporting CP defender rapidly establishing himself as one of the most coveted young stars in world football.
The 19-year-old only made his professional debut in August 2022 in the Portuguese second-tier but, just over a year later, he is a fully-fledged international and an ever-present in the heart of the defence of a European giant.
Diomande has even attracted the attention of the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City, with the Gunners reportedly considering activating his €80 million release clause next summer.
WANTED: Arsenal 'promise' €80m transfer for Diomande next summer
But just who is this youngster that has gone from having an obscure reputation to potentially becoming one of the most expensive defenders of all time?
What position does Ousmane Diomande play in?
Diomande is a right-footed centre-back who often drifts to the flank to cover the right-side of defence.
How good is Ousmane Diomande?
Diomande moved to the youth academy of Danish side Midtjylland from his native Ivory Coast as a 16-year-old and made his first professional appearance in football while on loan at Mafra in the Portuguese second division in August 2022.
The teenager made just 17 appearances in all competitions for Mafra in the first half of last season, scoring once, but his form for the Portuguese side led to interest from major European sides including Man City.
However, Sporting won the race to sign him, paying Midtjylland €7.5m to cut his loan short and move to the Primeira Liga giants, where he instantly slotted into their defence.
Diomande did not look out of place despite his small reputation and the step up in quality, continuing to impress with his ability on the ball as well as his speed and physical ability.
The Ivorian made 17 appearances in the second half of the season for Sporting, prompting Arsenal to reportedly make a bid of €35m for him in the summer – an offer that was swiftly rejected by Ruben Amorim’s side.
He has started this season as the first name on the team sheet for Sporting and, despite never featuring for his country at youth level, Diomande made his debut for the Ivory Coast senior team in September 2023.
For a player who is only just beginning his second year as a professional, Diomande has adapted with ease to the repeated step ups in his career and his profile as a physically-imposing, modern-day centre-back has led to his dramatic increase in pedigree and ability.
What clubs are interested in Ousmane Diomande?
Manchester City failed to beat Sporting to his signing in January 2023 but Pep Guardiola’s side will likely continue monitoring the defender, while the likes of Newcastle and Monaco are also said to be keen.
However, reports in Portugal have claimed that Arsenal have already made offers for Diomande and will look to return with a bid for him in the summer of 2024, although Sporting are unwilling to sell him for less than his €80m release clause.
When does Ousmane Diomande’s contract expire?
Diomande only joined Sporting in January and still has four years remaining on his contract, which is set to expire on June 30th 2027.
How old is Ousmane Diomande?
Diomande was born on December 4th 2003, making him 19-years-old as of September 2023.
What is Ousmane Diomande’s Instagram?
Diomande has 30.4k followers on Instagram as of September 2023.
