Lokomotiv Sign Lassana Diarra

Lokomotiv have signed a four-year contract with the French midfielder Lassana Diarra. The French international, aged 28, will wear the #85 shirt.

- We planned to improve the midfield this summer, - says Kirill Kotov. - Besides finding an attacking midfielder, our goal was to sign a high-class central midfielder. Lass Diarra is the one, with clubs like Real and Chelsea on his Experience list. He will bring in some more quality to our performance because he can both dismantle opponents' attacking efforts and launch own attacks.  

Player's Bio

Lassana Diarra was born on March 10, 1985 to a Malian family in Paris. As a U-18, he played for several teams before signing his first professional contract with Le Havre.

This team became his launchpad to the professional football. Playing for Le Havre, he was first selected to the Youth Team France and later recruited by the Chelsea scouts. In London, 20-year old Lass quickly became a diamond - he was named the Blues' Best Young Player and won the Premier League.  

In 2007 Diarra moved to Arsenal but never became a stable starter at the Gunners'. A year on the Frenchman moved to Portsmouth where his career made another spin.

At Potsmouth, Diarra's performance was quickly noted by big European clubs whose interest became even more intensive after Pompey won the Cup. The most active of all were Real Madrid who paid the transfer in 2008.

Los Blancos' fans nicknamed him Lass. Diarra played in more than a hundred games in the white jersey, won the Spanish championship, the Cup and the Supercup.

In 2012 Lassana joined Anji Makhachkala where he quickly became a key player of the midfield. Much due to his outstanding performance did Anji play so well in Season 2012/13.

Lassana Diarra was one of the main players of the Youth Team France. In 2008 he debuted in the French national team, and has played 28 matches since then.