AFC Bournemouth announced on its official website that it has signed French defender Bafodi Diakite, coming from Lille, in a deal that strengthens the team's defense ahead of the new Premier League season.

Diakite, who is 24 years old, has significant experience despite his age, having played 107 matches with Lille, and began his career in the French league with Toulouse when he was seventeen.

Diakite will join coach Andoni Iraola's squad in preparation for the match against Liverpool in the league opener, and Thiago Pinto, the club's director of football operations, expressed his happiness with the signing, confirming that the player's ambitions align with the club's project.

For his part, Diakite expressed his excitement about joining Bournemouth, confirming that he is a defender who loves to play with the ball and will do his utmost to help the team, noting that the team has a coach with ideas that will help them shine in the Premier League, and he will wear the number 18 jersey.