Bambo Diaby Diaby (born 17 December 1997) is a Senegalese footballer who plays as a centre-back for Spanish club Granada CF, on loan from Elche CF.

Bambo Diaby
Personal information
Date of birth (1997-12-17) 17 December 1997 (age 28)
Place of birth Ziguinchor, Senegal
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Granada
(on loan from Elche)
Number 17
Youth career
Cerdanyola
Sánchez Llibre
Vilassar Mar
2010–2013 Premià
2012–2013Badalona (loan)
2013–2016 Cornellà
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016 Cornellà 1 (0)
2016–2018 Sampdoria 0 (0)
2017Mantova (loan) 7 (0)
2017–2018Peralada (loan) 34 (4)
2018–2019 Lokeren 18 (1)
2019–2020 Barnsley 21 (1)
2022–2023 Preston North End 24 (0)
2023–2024 Sheffield Wednesday 34 (0)
2024– Elche 26 (0)
2026–Granada (loan) 0 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19 January 2026

Club career

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Early career

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Diaby was born in Senegal, but moved to Mataró, Catalonia at the age of four and went on to represent clubs of the region as a youth.[1] He made his first team debut for UE Cornellà on 15 May 2016, coming on as a substitute in a 0–1 Segunda División B home loss against CF Reus Deportiu.

In September 2016, Diaby joined Serie A club U.C. Sampdoria, returning to the youth setup.[2] On 1 February 2017, he was loaned to Serie C side Mantova F.C. until June.[3]

On 28 July 2017, Diaby agreed to a one-year loan deal with Girona FC, being immediately assigned to the reserves in the third division.[4] He made his first team debut on 28 November, replacing Carles Planas in a 1–1 away draw against Levante UD, for the season's Copa del Rey.[5]

Lokeren

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On 21 June 2018, Diaby agreed to a three-year contract with Belgian First Division A side KSC Lokeren.[6]

Barnsley

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On 5 July 2019, Diaby signed for Barnsley on a four-year contract.[7][8] On 21 January 2020, it was revealed that Diaby had failed a drugs test after a game against Blackburn Rovers on 23 November 2019.[9][10] On 6 October 2020 Diaby was handed a two-year ban by the FA for testing positive for the banned substance higenamine and his contract with Barnsley was subsequently terminated.[11]

Preston North End

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On 31 January 2022, Diaby joined EFL Championship club Preston North End on a short-term deal until the end of the 2021–22 season.[12] The club entered discussions surrounding a new contract at the end of the season[13] and on May 30 announced he had signed a new two-year deal.[14]

Sheffield Wednesday

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On 2 August 2023, Diaby joined Championship side Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee.[15] Diaby made his Sheffield Wednesday debut in the EFL Cup against Stockport County.[16]

Elche

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On 22 August 2024, Diaby joined Elche for an undisclosed fee.[17] A backup to starters David Affengruber and Pedro Bigas, he featured in 24 matches during the season as his side achieved promotion to La Liga.

Diaby made his debut in the Spanish top tier on 21 September 2025, coming on as a late substitute in a 1–0 home win over Oviedo. On 29 January 2026, after being rarely used, he was loaned to Granada until June.[18]

Career statistics

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As of match played 7 April 2025[19]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cornellà 2015–16 Segunda División B 1000000010
Sampdoria 2016–17 Serie A 0000000000
2017–18 Serie A 0000000000
Total 0000000000
Mantova (loan) 2016–17 Lega Pro 7000000070
Peralada (loan) 2017–18 Segunda División B 344000000344
Girona (loan) 2017–18 La Liga 0010001020
Lokeren 2018–19 Belgian First Division A 181100000191
Barnsley 2019–20 EFL Championship 211100000221
Preston North End 2021–22 EFL Championship 7000000070
2022–23 EFL Championship 170110000181
Total 240110000251
Sheffield Wednesday 2023–24 EFL Championship 340001000350
2024–25 EFL Championship 0000100010
Total 340002000360
Elche 2024–25 Segunda División 220200000240
Career total 16166120001707

References

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  1. "Bambo Diaby, un central per al Peralada" [Bambo Diaby, a stopper for Peralada] (in Spanish). Diari de Girona. 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  2. "Bambo Diaby, un mataroní que prova sort a la històrica Sampdoria" [Bambo Diaby, a mataroní who tries his luck at the historical Sampdoria] (in Catalan). Capgròs. 14 September 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  3. "El mataroní Bambo Diaby marxa cedit al Mantova fins a final de temporada" [The mataroní Bambo Diaby goes ou on loan at Mantova until the end of the season] (in Catalan). Capgròs. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  4. "Bambo Diaby arriba cedit de l'UC Sampdoria" [Bambo Diaby arrives on loan from UC Sampdoria] (in Catalan). CF Peralada. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  5. "Morales no tira la Copa" [Morales does not take away the Cup] (in Spanish). Marca. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  6. "Bambo Diaby: Nieuwkomer bij Sporting" [Bambo Diaby: Newcomer at Sporting] (in Dutch). KSC Lokeren. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  7. "Bambo Diaby Joins The Reds!". Barnsley F.C. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  8. "Bambo Diaby: Barnsley sign KSC Lokeren centre-back on four-year deal". BBC Sport. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  9. Lanagan, Adam (22 January 2020). "On October 7th Barnsley defender Diaby was given a two year ban from all sport for use of prohibited substance". Daily Telegraph.
  10. "Bambo Diaby: Barnsley defender being investigated for 'potential anti-doping violation'". BBC Sport. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  11. "Bambo Diaby: FA hands Barnsley defender two-year doping ban". BBC Sport. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  12. "Bambo Diaby Joins Until End Of Season". www.pnefc.net. 31 January 2022.
  13. "Preston North End Retained List Confirmed". www.pnefc.net. 9 May 2022.
  14. "Bambo Diaby Signs Two-Year Deal". www.pnefc.net. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  15. "Bambo Diaby joins Wednesday". www.swfc.co.Uk. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  16. "Shootout victory sends Wednesday through". Sheffield Wednesday FC. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  17. "Bambo Diaby leaves Hillsborough". Sheffield Wednesday FC. 22 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  18. "Comunicado oficial | Bambo Diaby" [Official statement | Bambo Diaby] (in Spanish). Elche CF. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  19. Bambo Diaby at Soccerway
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