Ousmane Diakité’s attributes will provide a welcome boost to Albion ahead of the 2024/25 season.
The defensive midfielder, who stands at 6ft 2in, is an Africa Cup of Nations U20 winner with his native Mali and joins the Baggies hoping to kickstart a successful chapter during his maiden campaign in English football.
Born in Africa’s eighth largest country, Diakité’s initial steps in the game came at local side Yeelen Olympique. But it was clear opportunities further afield were going to be pivotal to fulfilling his potential in the game - something which Austrian giants RB Salzburg were willing to offer in 2018.
On a personal note, it turned out to be a memorable year for Ousmane who, after agreeing terms with Salzburg the day after his 18th birthday, was thrown straight into senior football during a loan spell at FC Liefering.
In addition to making his professional bow for the Austrian second division club during the same month his move to Europe was made official, the midfielder’s maiden campaign saw him rack up 19 appearances and net his first senior goal.
Further success followed on the international scene with Mali’s U20s in February 2019. With experience in the under-17s already under his belt, Diakité helped his nation’s youth team make history - featuring in their run to a first-ever Africa Cup of Nations triumph.
As a result, teams in Austria’s Bundesliga were keen to see what the midfielder could do. SCR Altach agreed to give the Malian his first exposure to the country’s elite tier in 2019, before a move to Switzerland at St. Gallen in 2021 further enhanced Ousmane’s footballing education.
Stints in two different countries' top divisions boosted his numbers close to 50 senior outings by the age of 21, which set him up for the most progressive spell of his career back in Austria when he departed Salzburg permanently for fellow top-flight club TSV Hartberg in February 2023.
Overall, Ousmane made 49 appearances over 18 months at Stadion Hartberg, bagging two goals as they secured a play-off finish at the end of the 2023/24 season.
Now, the Mali youth international is set for his first term working under Carlos Coberán in a move which sees Diakité become the third Malian to play for the Albion after Sékou Berthé and Bakary Sako.
And the powerful midfielder’s arrival also boosts the Baggies’ African representation in the current playing squad, joining Semi Ajayi (Nigeria), Josh Maja (Nigeria), Grady Diangana (DR Congo) and Brandon Thomas-Asante (Ghana).
