Nottingham Forest are on the verge of signing Ousmane Diomande.
Sporting centre-back Ousmane Diomande will become Oliver Glasner’s first signing since being appointed Nottingham Forest manager.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Tricky Trees are working to complete a deal worth in the region of £34m.
“Nottingham Forest, confident to close Ousmane Diomande deal with Sporting shortly after bid sent. Proposal will be way below €80m release clause; around €40m total package add-ons included.”
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With that said, we’ve had a closer look at Diomande’s profile and background ahead of his imminent transfer to the City Ground.
Ousmane Diomande profile
- Age: 22
- Height: 6ft 2
- Place of birth: Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
- Foot: Right
- Position: Centre-back
Diomande’s career stats
Diomande started his career in the OS Abobo academy in Ivory Coast before making the move to Europe at the start of 2022.
The towering centre-back joined Danish giants Midtjylland as an 18-year-old but didn’t make a senior appearance for them.
After a productive loan with Portuguese outfit Mafra, Sporting shelled out around £12.3m on Diomande’s signature in the 2023 January transfer window.
Since then, the 22-year-old has established himself as a key player for Sporting, winning two league titles and a domestic cup.
| Club | Appearances |
| Sporting | 132 |
| CD Mafra | 17 |
| Midtjylland U19 | 17 |
Diomande also has a glittering international career already, having helped Ivory Coast win the African Cup of Nations in 2024.
The 15-cap international featured at the World Cup in America this summer, too.
What type of defender is Diomande?
The first thing to note is that Diomande is comfortable operating in a back three formation, as he played in the system under former Sporting boss Ruben Amorim.
So, the Ivorian should be able to seamlessly fit into Glasner’s 3-4-3, which is probably a key reason why he’s emerged as Forest’s top target.
In terms of Diomande’s strengths, pace is certainly one of them, as he possesses great recovery speed, making him ideal for a high line.
According to FotMob data, the Forest target is also highly proficient on the ball, averaging a quite staggering 93.1% pass completion rate last season.
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Ruben Amorim loved Diomande
As referenced above, Amorim managed Diomande before he departed Sporting for Manchester United in 2024.
Amorim was a huge admirer of the defender and praised his two-footed ability, speaking back in 2023.
“Diomande plays with both feet, and is very physically strong.
“He is a very talented player and most people don’t know how many clubs were after him. The truth is that we managed to get him because we took a risk by telling the kids that they’re coming to play for the first team, he’s got a lot of scope for progression.”
Diomande has been linked to Europe’s powerhouses
Throughout his fledgling career, Diomande has caught the eye of some of the biggest clubs in Europe, evincing his lofty potential.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City have all been keeping tabs on the 22-year-old in recent years.
Crystal Palace were reportedly close to signing him for £46m last summer, but for whatever reason, the deal failed to materialise.
Now, it looks as though Glasner finally has his man.
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