Premier League club Bournemouth officially announced the signing of French center back Bafodé Diakité from Ligue 1 side Lille.

The 24-year-old defender will wear the number 18 shirt and join manager Andoni Iraola's squad straight into the Premier League opener against Liverpool on Friday night.

A graduate of Toulouse's youth academy, Diakite made his Ligue 1 debut at the age of 17, making his professional mark in a 1-0 win against Reims. During his time with Lille, he made 107 appearances across all competitions, gaining extensive experience at a high level.

Bournemouth's president of football operations, Thiago Pinto, welcomed the new signing: "We are very pleased to have Barford join us. Although still in the early stages of his career, he has already played a lot of games and his ambitions are highly aligned with the club's goals."

Diakite is full of anticipation for joining the Premier League: "I am very happy to be here and look forward to starting a new journey with the team. I understand the coach's philosophy and believe it will help us play exciting games in the Premier League. This is a good opportunity to show how I can help the team move forward."

"I am a defender who likes to control the ball and actively participate in passing. I hope to show my characteristics both with and without the ball. I will give my all for the team and hope to create many wonderful moments with my teammates."

With the joining of Diakite, Bournemouth's defensive strength will be further enhanced, and the new season's Premier League journey will add more highlights.