Sankhoun Diawara, a case to watch closely for the FSF

A new defender could soon join the Lions’ den, provided the Senegalese Football Federation plays its cards right in negotiations. His name is Sankhoun Diawara, and he’s on the verge of signing with... AC Milan.

A new milestone with AC Milan’s first team

At just 20 years old, Sankhoun Diawara has already made his mark in France with ESTAC Troyes. A homegrown product, he featured in 14 Ligue 2 matches (registering 1 assist) and 4 Coupe de France games (scoring 1 goal) for Troyes, last season’s French second division champions.

According to Italian sports daily "La Gazzetta dello Sport," the central defender trained at Estac is set to sign with Milan for a €3M fee. Initially expected to join the "Milan Futuro" project—a U23 bridge between the Primavera and the first team—the 20-year-old will instead go straight into the first team as backup to Serbian international Pavlovic.

Kalidou Koulibaly’s successor with the Lions?

Born in Paris, Diawara holds Senegalese nationality. His transfer to Milan speaks volumes about his defensive qualities. His rise to the elite is no coincidence, but the result of relentless work and unwavering consistency.

Having represented France’s U19 national team in 2024, the 20-year-old defender has yet to make a definitive choice about his international future. This leaves the door wide open for him to join the Lions. However, it will depend on the efforts of the FSF and how compelling the project they present to the Troyes starlet is. Some are already dreaming of a new Kalidou Koulibaly, ready to take up the mantle for years to come after the legendary Lions of Teranga defender’s retirement.

A celebration that gives hope to Senegalese fans

On the night Troyes clinched their return to the top flight, Diawara celebrated with a Senegalese flag. This gesture was far from trivial; it could be seen as a sign of attachment to his roots and a hidden desire to play for the Lions of Teranga. Still, nothing is set in stone, and the FSF must act quickly to engage with the player’s entourage if they want to get ahead of the FFF in this pursuit.

The chase for dual nationals always needs to start early, because if Diawara makes his mark at Milan and becomes a defensive pillar, convincing him to join the "Senegal project" may become a real challenge—especially with the "France project" about to enter a new era under Zinédine Zidane, the legendary former captain, who’s arriving with big ambitions to take Les Bleus back to the top of the world.

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.

Related teams and leagues

AC Milan

Serie A Italy