Sunderland sent an ambitious statement before the 2025/26 Premier League season by breaking the club's transfer record to recruit a £ 30 million midfielder from Ligue 1.
After 8 years of absence, “black cats” returned to the highest tournament in England with great confidence. They have just completed the blockbuster contract called Habib Diarra from Strasbourg – a player who impressed the French league.
Diarra launched the first team Strasbourg in 2021 and had a total of 92 appearances in Ligue 1. Besides, the midfielder also played the Senegal team 11 times since the first international competition in 2024.
The Sunderland spent up to £ 30 million – a record number in the history of the team – showing the determination to build a team that was competitive enough in the Premier League. The deal has been confirmed by prestigious journalist Fabrizio Romano.
This is the first big step in Sunderland's summer transfer, just a few weeks after they won the right to promote with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Sheffield United in the Play-off final in May.
In that match, coach Régis Le Bris's army was led from the 25th minute by Tyrese Campbell's goal. However, Eliezer Mayenda equalized in the 76th minute, before the young talent Tom Watson came on from the bench and scored the decisive goal in the 5th injury time, bringing the team back to the Premier League in the joy of bursting.
The last time Sunderland played in the Premier League was the 2016/17 season – a nightmare season when they only won 6 matches and rolled the end of the table with only 24 points, less than 16 points behind the safety group.
With a methodical investment, a philosophical coach like Le Bris and potential factors like Diarra, Sunderland fans have a reason to expect the pet team to have a brighter new chapter in the most harsh tournament on the planet.