HABIB DIARRA: WHO ARE YOU?

Sunderland have broken their record transfer fee for the second time this window, spending €31.5 million plus €4 million in add-ons, (equating to around £27 million plus £4.7 million), on Senegal international midfielder Habib Diarra. But what has he done so far in his career?

Born in the city of Guédiawaye in Senegal in 2004, Diarra began his career in the academy of French outfit Mulhouse in 2011. He spent seven years with the club before moving to Strasbourg in 2018, where he remained until moving to Wearside.

Early on, he was registered to play for France rather than his country of birth and he was capped at a youth level at U16, U18, U19 and U21 levels before making his debut for the senior Senegal national team in March 2024. He captained Les Bleus at an U18 level.

The midfielder’s debut in senior football came in September 2021, starting away in a 2-0 victory over Amnéville in the fifth tier of French football and scoring the opening goal for Strasbourg's B team. The following month he made his debut for the senior Strasbourg team in Ligue 1, coming off the bench late on in a 5-1 win versus Saint-Étienne and his first start came later on in the same season, a 1-1 draw against ESTAC Troyes.

2022/23 was the real breakout campaign for the youngster though, with him playing a total of 30 times for Strasbourg, scoring three and assisting three. Notable moments included his first goal, the second in a 3-1 win against AC Ajaccio, and assisting both goals only eight days later as his team beat Stade Reims 2-0.

He’d score four and assist two in 35 matches the following season and earn his first four caps for his country in friendlies at home to Gabon and Benin and in World Cup qualifiers, hosting DR Congo and travelling to Mauritania. Standout moments came when he scored a late winner away to FC Metz and when he scored and assisted in the same Coupe de France match.

Last season, he improved his goal contribution tally from six to nine (four goals and five assists) at a club level, as well as finding the back of the net an additional four times for his country. Most memorably, he scored against England at the City Ground in June of this year. Habib also captained his side throughout the campaign, as they improved to finish 7th in the top flight up from 13th and qualified for Europa Conference League football.

Diarra is able to operate in the centre of midfield as well as in a more attacking or defensive role in the middle of the park. Senegal have qualified for the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the dates for that are between the 21st December 2025 and 18th January 2026, so he will miss some of our games in the upcoming season. The amount of games will depend on how far they progress of course. Overall, he has played just over 100 games for the club he is signing from and has earned 11 caps for his nation.