Ousmane Diomande (born 4 December 2003) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Primeira Liga club Sporting CP and the Ivory Coast national team.
Diomande is a youth product of the Ivorian club Olympic Sport Abobo, having joined at the age of 10. He moved to the youth academy of the Danish club Midtjylland in January 2020.
Diomande joined the Portuguese club Mafra on loan on 5 August 2022 on a season-long loan. The next day he made his professional debut with Mafra in a 3âÂÂ1 Liga Portugal 2 loss to Oliveirense on 6 August 2022.
Thanks to impressive performances with Mafra, Diomande's loan was cut short halfway through the season and he transferred to Primeira Liga club Sporting CP on 31 January 2023, signing a contract until June 2027 for a fee of â¬7.5 million, which could rise to â¬12.5 million with add-ons. Midtjylland is also owed 20% of the profit Sporting receives from a future transfer. Diomande's release clause was set at â¬80 million.
Diomande made his debut for the Lisbon club on 7 February, coming off the bench to replace Matheus Reis on the final minutes of a 1âÂÂ0 league victory away at Rio Ave. Two weeks later, he made his first start for the Lions, in a 3âÂÂ2 league victory away at Chaves, where he was replaced by Jeremiah St. Juste on the 71st minute. Diomande made his European debut on 9 March, coming off the bench to replace Ricardo Esgaio on the 77th minute of a 2âÂÂ2 draw at home to Arsenal in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg. Eight days later, on the return fixture in the Emirates Stadium, Diomande started and played the full match, as Sporting drew 1âÂÂ1 and eliminated Arsenal through penalty shootout. The Ivorian scored his first goal for the Lions on 21 May 2023, in the Lisbon derby, out-jumping ÃÂlex Grimaldo to head a Nuno Santos corner into the net, making the score 2âÂÂ0 for Sporting; however, Benfica went on to salvage a 2âÂÂ2 draw. Sporting CP finished the 2022âÂÂ23 season in 4th place in the Primeira Liga, qualifying for the 2023âÂÂ24 UEFA Europa League group stage.
On 21 September 2023, Diomande scored his first goal in European competitions, through a 84th minute winner in a 2âÂÂ1 victory away at Sturm Graz in the UEFA Europa League.
On 23 January 2026, Diomande extended his contract with Sporting CP until June 2030.
Diomande was called up to the Ivory Coast national team for a set of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches in September 2023. He debuted in a 1âÂÂ0 win over Lesotho on 9 September 2023.
In December 2023, Diomande was named to the Ivory Coast's squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Despite only featuring for first two group stage matches against Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria, Ivory Coast ended up winning the tournament on 11 February, after defeating Nigeria 2âÂÂ1 in the final.
Diomande was included in the list of Ivorian players selected by coach Emerse Faé to participate in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
As a central defender, he has the ability to play out from the back and drive the team forward, allowing his team to play out of trouble and turn defense to attack quickly. His main strengths are his physicality, his vision and his speed, but he has also notable short passing, dribbling, positioning, anticipation and tackling attributes.
Sporting CP
Ivory Coast
Individual