Ousmane Diomande — 22 years old, 87 Sporting CP league appearances, 5 career titles, 15 Ivory Coast caps, and a Transfermarkt valuation of €42.8m — has officially joined Nottingham Forest from Sporting CP for a fee of €40m (£34.3m), one of the biggest transfers in the club’s history.
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The Deal Confirmed
Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP for a fee of €40 million, roughly £34.3 million. The deal, confirmed on August 11, 2026, brings one of Europe’s most coveted young centre-backs to the City Ground.
The central defender has been sweating over a move to Forest for a number of weeks, with Oliver Glasner finally signing the player he’s wanted for two years. The defender almost signed for Crystal Palace last summer but that deal became off the table when Marc Guehi chose to remain at Selhurst Park.
Diomande will wear the No.2 shirt at Nottingham Forest.
Diomande in His Own Words
Diomande links up with Glasner as Evangelos Marinakis gets this huge deal over the line, and after checking in on Trentside he shared why he chose Forest. The 22-year-old expressed immediate excitement upon arrival, emphasising his belief in what Glasner is building at the City Ground.
Why Forest Moved — Glasner’s Defensive Rebuild
Stefan Ortega, Willy Boly, and Angus Gunn have all departed the City Ground this summer, and Forest were far too easily breached last season, making defensive reinforcements a necessity for Glasner.
Nuno Espirito Santo was replaced by Ange Postecoglu, which was a disappointing outcome for all, before Sean Dyche took over the reins, before Vitor Pereira led the club to safety — but Oliver Glasner has been selected as the latest man to hopefully bring some stability to Forest.
If they can get the deal for Diomande over the line, they will be signing a dominant centre-back, whose physicality should help him settle in the Premier League — he thrives in one-on-one duels and doesn’t back out of a tackle.
The transfer of Elliot Anderson to Manchester City would have come as a blow, but after the disappointment of last season, it’s clear the club need to strengthen in various areas.
2025/26 Season at Sporting — The Numbers
Diomande was a regular at Sporting CP in 2025/26, making 17 Liga Portugal appearances with 15 starts and 2 substitute outings. He did not score domestically and collected 5 yellow cards, but 9 Champions League appearances and 1 goal pointed to a centre-back trusted beyond league duty.
In the 2025/26 Liga Portugal season, Ousmane Diomande recorded 0 goals, 1 assist, 1,297 minutes, and an average FotMob rating of 7.25, collecting 5 yellow cards.
His clean sheet ratio stood at 47% — meaning Diomande kept a clean sheet in 8 matches out of the 17 that he played in.
He made 0.76 tackles and 0.90 interceptions for every 90 minutes on the pitch, while also averaging 4.02 clearances per 90.
| Ousmane Diomande — 2025/26 Sporting CP Stats | Figures |
|---|---|
| Liga Portugal Appearances | 17 (15 starts) |
| Liga Portugal Minutes | 1,297 |
| Liga Portugal Goals | 0 |
| Liga Portugal Assists | 1 |
| Champions League Appearances | 9 |
| Champions League Goals | 1 |
| Total Appearances (All Comps) | 26+ |
| Clean Sheets | 8 |
| Clean Sheet Ratio | 47% |
| Tackles Per 90 | 0.76 |
| Interceptions Per 90 | 0.90 |
| Clearances Per 90 | 4.02 |
| Yellow Cards | 5 |
| FotMob Rating (Liga Portugal) | 7.25 |
Career Overview at Sporting CP — 87 League Games
Across five seasons he has made 87 league appearances and scored five league goals, with his most productive campaign coming in 2023/24, when he scored twice in 26 league matches.
Sporting convinced Midtjylland to terminate Diomande’s loan and agree to a €7.5 million transfer, with the fee rising to €14.50 million through add-ons. The defender signed a four-year contract, with his release clause set at €80 million.
Throughout his career, Ousmane Diomande has won 5 titles: Taça de Portugal (2024/25) and Liga Portugal (2024/25, 2023/24) with Sporting CP, Africa Cup of Nations (2023) with Ivory Coast, and DBU Pokalen (2021/22) with FC Midtjylland.
| Season | Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | Liga Portugal | 13 | 1 | 0 | 7.1 |
| 2023/24 | Liga Portugal | 26 | 2 | 1 | 6.9 |
| 2024/25 | Liga Portugal | 31 | 2 | 0 | 7.0 |
| 2025/26 | Liga Portugal | 17 | 0 | 1 | 7.25 |
| Total | Liga Portugal | 87 | 5 | 2 | — |
Player Profile
Born on 4 December 2003 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Diomande stands at 6ft 3in (1.90m) and plays as a centre-back. He weighs 92kg (203lb) and is right-footed.
Diomande’s career path was compact at age 22: FC Midtjylland, a loan to Mafra, then a permanent move to Sporting CP.
His impressive performances earned him a call-up to the Ivory Coast national team for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. He made his debut in September 2023, playing in a match against Lesotho. He represented his nation at the FIFA World Cup 2026, playing 90 minutes against Curacao, and has earned 15 international caps.
| Ousmane Diomande — Player Profile | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ousmane Diomande |
| Date of Birth | 4 December 2003 |
| Age | 22 |
| Place of Birth | Abidjan, Ivory Coast |
| Nationality | Ivorian |
| Height / Weight | 1.90m (6ft 3in) / 92kg |
| Position | Centre-Back |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
| Forest Shirt Number | #2 |
| Joined From | Sporting CP |
| Transfer Fee | €40m (£34.3m) |
| Sporting CP Fee (2023) | €7.5m (+ €7m add-ons) |
| Career Titles | 5 |
| International Caps (Ivory Coast) | 15 |
| Transfermarkt Value | €42.8m |
Career Club Timeline
| Club | Period | League Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS Abobo (Youth) | 2014–2020 | — | — |
| FC Midtjylland | 2022–2023 | 13 | 0 |
| Mafra (Loan) | 2022–2023 | 13 | 0 |
| Sporting CP | 2023–2026 | 87 | 5 |
| Nottingham Forest | 2026– | 0 | 0 |
The Bigger Picture — A Statement Signing
Diomande has been one of Europe’s top defenders at Sporting CP, and this move comes at the envy of many clubs who have courted him before Forest.
At €40 million — against a Transfermarkt valuation of €42.8 million — Forest have moved decisively and smartly. At 22, it’s clear he can be rash from time to time, but under an experienced manager like Glasner, he should improve. His full-blown, committed style should make him a favourite with the Trent End faithful.
With 87 league appearances, 9 Champions League outings, 5 titles and a 2026 World Cup on his CV before turning 23, Ousmane Diomande is not a gamble — he is one of the most exciting young defenders in European football arriving at a club ready to build around him.
Read More: Jose Mourinho Backs Endrick: Real Madrid Confirm Brazilian Stays for 2026/27
FAQs
How much did Nottingham Forest pay for Ousmane Diomande?
Forest paid Sporting CP a fee of €40 million (£34.3 million), making it one of the highest transfer fees in the club’s history. Sporting CP had originally signed Diomande for €7.5 million rising to €14.5 million in add-ons from FC Midtjylland in January 2023.
How many appearances did Diomande make for Sporting CP?
Diomande made 87 league appearances across his 3 seasons at Sporting CP, scoring 5 league goals. He also featured in 9 Champions League matches in 2025/26, scoring 1 goal, and was a key part of their back-to-back Liga Portugal title wins in 2023/24 and 2024/25.
What trophies has Ousmane Diomande won in his career?
Diomande has won 5 career titles: 2 Liga Portugal crowns (2023/24, 2024/25), 1 Taça de Portugal (2024/25) with Sporting CP, the Africa Cup of Nations (2023) with Ivory Coast, and the DBU Pokalen (2021/22) with FC Midtjylland.
What are Diomande’s key defensive stats from 2025/26?
In Liga Portugal, he posted a 7.25 average FotMob rating across 17 appearances, kept 8 clean sheets (47% ratio), averaged 4.02 clearances per 90, 0.76 tackles per 90 and 0.90 interceptions per 90 — among the best metrics for defenders in the Portuguese top flight.
How many international caps does Diomande have for Ivory Coast?
Diomande has 15 caps for Ivory Coast. He debuted against Lesotho in September 2023, was part of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations winning squad, and represented his nation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, playing the full 90 minutes against Curacao.
