AFC Bournemouth has reached a binding agreement with Lille OSC to acquire French centre-back Bafodé Diakité for an initial €35 million, with a further €5 million payable in performance-related add-ons. Diakité, 24, arrived in London on Sunday to complete his medical examinations ahead of signing a five-year deal with the Premier League club. The defender was Bournemouth’s preferred option to replace Ukraine international Illya Zabarnyi, who is poised to finalise a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. Diakité, a product of Toulouse’s academy, has made 67 Ligue 1 appearances for Lille since joining in 2023 and featured in last season’s Europa Conference League campaign. Subject to the successful medical, Diakité will become Bournemouth’s third major signing of the summer window as the south-coast side continues to strengthen its back line for the upcoming Premier League season.