adminSunderland Close In on Major Signing as Habib Diarra and Reinildo Deals Near Completion
Sunderland are on the brink of pulling off a significant statement signing with the imminent arrival of highly rated midfielder Habib Diarra, as fresh reports from Senegal shed light on the details of his contract.
According to D Sports, Diarra has agreed a five-year contract with the newly promoted Premier League club after completing a smooth medical in Paris over the weekend. The 21-year-old reportedly passed his physical “without any hitch” before officially signing his deal.
Big Wages Reflect Big Ambitions
The financial terms highlight Sunderland’s growing ambition under their new regime. Diarra was previously earning around €110,000 per month at Strasbourg, but Sunderland are reportedly tripling that figure to €330,000 (£282,000) per month, equating to about £70,000 per week – potentially making him the club’s top earner. The deal is believed to be worth around £30 million, representing a club-record transfer and underlining Sunderland’s determination to compete in the top flight.
Standout Numbers in Ligue 1
Diarra was one of Strasbourg’s standout performers last season, scoring seven goals in 2,969 minutes – averaging 0.21 goals per 90 minutes. In comparison, Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham managed five goals in 4,363 minutes, or 0.10 per 90.
The Senegal international also averaged 1.97 shots per game with a 9.0% conversion rate, outperforming Bellingham’s 1.35 shots per game and 7.7% conversion rate. His total of nine Ligue 1 goal contributions put him in the same bracket as Chelsea target Malick Fofana and Monaco’s rising star Eliesse Ben Seghir, further underlining his impact for a youthful Strasbourg side that finished seventh — their second-best Ligue 1 finish this century.
An official announcement is expected imminently, with D Sports even publishing an image of Diarra undergoing medical tests – though it’s unclear if it was from the Sunderland screening.
Le Bris’ First Major Signing
Diarra marks the first marquee signing under new head coach Régis Le Bris, who is reshaping Sunderland’s midfield for Premier League competition. The potential combination of Diarra, Dan Neil, and Enzo Le Fée could form a dynamic new core in midfield, with young talent Chris Rigg also set to play a key role. Sunderland are expected to remain very active in the transfer market in the coming weeks.
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Reinildo Also Set to Join
In a second major piece of transfer business, Sunderland have also agreed a deal to sign Reinildo Mandava on a free transfer from Atlético Madrid. The 31-year-old left-back is expected to be the club’s next confirmed arrival.
Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano confirmed the move, declaring: “Reinildo to Sunderland, here we go! Two-year deal done for the left-back set to join from Atlético Madrid.”
Reinildo, who made 74 appearances for Atlético since joining from Lille in 2022, brings a wealth of experience. He featured at the Club World Cup earlier this year but fell out of favour at the Spanish club. His arrival adds a seasoned presence to a Sunderland side being carefully rebuilt for Premier League life.
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Sunderland’s Ambitious Project Gathers Momentum
Following their investment in youth with Diarra’s £30m move, the capture of Reinildo demonstrates Sunderland’s commitment to finding a balance between youth and experience. The club’s project, led by owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, manager Régis Le Bris, and incoming director of football Florent Ghisolfi, is moving at pace.
Sunderland are actively monitoring several other targets, including Armand Laurienté and Marcin Bulka, as they continue to push forward in what promises to be a bold summer of recruitment.
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