Habib Diarra Sets Sunderland Club Record with €35.5 Million Move from Strasbourg in Ambitious Statement Signing for Premier League Newcomers

Habib Diarra has completed his transfer to Sunderland from RC Strasbourg for a club-record fee.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The Senegal midfielder signed his contract and completed his medical on Wearside on Friday to seal a move worth €31.5 million (£26.7 million) with €4m (£3.4m) in add-ons, GOAL understands.

Sunderland confirmed Diarra had joined for a “club-record fee”, surpassing the 13.3m paid to Lorient for another Le Bris signing, Tiemoue Bakayoko, in 2023. According to a past report, the Mackems already paid their second-highest fee to their current employer for Santiago Bueno last summer.

WHY THE MOVE HAS BEEN MADE

The Black Cats were desperate to make a midfield signing this month after Matt Cremasco’s loan at the Stadium of Light was cut short because of injury.

And while failing to lure Carlos Alcaraz to the Premier League, Le Bris has been successful in signing Diarra, who was his captain at Lorient and enjoyed a strong start to life back in France with Strasbourg.

WHAT NEXT FOR SUNDERLAND?

The 21-year-old will aim to hit the ground running as Sunderland seek to pull further clear of the relegation zone.

Le Bris told the official club website: “We are delighted to welcome Habib to the club. He is a player with vast experience, having captained teams in France, and he’ll bring great leadership qualities to our changing room. He’s also someone both the staff and I have worked with previously and he understands our football philosophy,” according to a recently published report.

Diarra said: “This is a big move for me, but one I’m extremely excited to make.

“The Premier League is among, if not, the best league in the world, and the opportunity to come here and help the club was an option I couldn’t turn down.

“The manager has given me a great insight into the club and I can’t wait to get started and meet the supporters on Tuesday night.”