London City Lionesses to sign France forward Diani for over £500,000
Short overview
London City Lionesses are set to sign France forward Kadidiatou Diani for a fee exceeding £500,000, beating competition from other European clubs.
London City Lionesses are on the verge of signing France international forward Kadidiatou Diani for a transfer fee exceeding £500,000, sources have confirmed. The 31-year-old announced her departure from European giants Lyon on Monday, despite having one year remaining on her contract.
Advanced negotiations and competition
It is understood that London City have been in advanced discussions with Diani for several weeks and have successfully fended off interest from other European clubs to secure her signature. The deal represents a significant investment for the Women's Super League side, which finished sixth in its debut campaign last season.
Reunion with owner Michele Kang
Diani will be reunited with London City owner Michele Kang, who also owns Lyon and American club Washington Spirit. Kang's multi-club ownership model has facilitated a series of high-profile transfers this summer, with Diani expected to join star arrivals Alexia Putellas, Mapi Leon and Mary Earps.
Career highlights and recent injury
Diani spent three seasons at Lyon after moving from Paris St-Germain in 2023, scoring 41 goals in 93 appearances. During her time at PSG, she won two French cups and a league title. However, she missed out on Women's Champions League success with Lyon, losing twice in the final. This year, a knee injury sustained in the semi-finals forced her to miss the European final, where Barcelona beat Lyon 2-0.
On the international stage, Diani has earned over 100 caps for France and was the second-highest scorer at the 2023 Women's World Cup. Her arrival is expected to bolster London City's attacking options as they aim to improve on their sixth-place finish in the WSL.
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