Diarra to Sunderland: Transfer fee, salary and likely shirt number after record deal
Sunderland are on the verge of completing a club-record deal to sign Strasbourg star Habib Diarra.
Regis Le Bris has pulled off a coup as the Black Cats have beaten several other clubs including Leeds to his signature, in a big statement of intent.
Sunderland lost Jobe Bellingham earlier in the window, but may now have their midfield replacement in Diarra, who performed superbly in Ligue 1 last season.
With a deal set to be finalised in the coming days, more details over the transfer have now emerged, as Sunderland prepare for his arrival.
Diarra to become Sunderland’s highest earner
Diarra’s move to the Stadium of Light is one of the highest-profile transfers the club has pulled off in years, and he will be paid accordingly.
As per the Sunderland Echo (30 June), the 21-year-old was on a salary of just under £21,000 per week, but he is now set for a significant increase to £70k.
This will see him become Sunderland’s highest earner, with a five-year contract agreed and set to be announced.
The transfer fee is expected to be around £30million, which is higher than any fee Sunderland have paid in their history.
It is also the most a newly promoted Premier League club has played for a player.
Diarra could take the number 19 shirt
Diarra wore the number 19 shirt for Strasbourg, and this is the same number he wore when representing the France Under-21s, but has worn 21 when representing the Senegal senior side.
With Sunderland’s number 19 shirt available, this will likely be his choice of number when Diarra confirms his move, although there are lower numbers also vacant.
This is the same number worn by Dwight Yorke, Paddy McNair and Aiden McGeady among others, and fans will hope that Diarra ends up becoming the most memorable player to don this kit out of them all.
This number was last worn by Jewison Bennette before he departed for LNZ Cherkasy a few months ago, and the current vacancy would make this choice a no-brainer.
Bellingham wore the number seven shirt during his time at Sunderland, and Diarra may be keen to avoid this number to avoid direct comparisons between himself and the now-Borussia Dortmund midfielder.
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