Saudi club ‘to step up’ move for Sunderland’s Habib Diarra | OneFootball

According to Media Foot, an unnamed Saudi Pro League club have stepped up their pursuit of Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra ahead of the summer window.

The side have made the 22-year-old a priority target and are prepared to spend heavily to land him. No formal bid has been submitted and any approach is at an early stage, with initial contact understood to have taken place.

Diarra joined from RC Strasbourg in July 2025 for around £30 million, a club-record fee, after turning down interest from AC Milan and Atlético Madrid.

He made an immediate impact on Wearside before a groin injury in September kept him out for close to three months.

Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, he has re-established himself under Régis Le Bris, starting regularly and impressing in midfield.

Diarra is under contract until 2030, leaving Sunderland in a strong position should interest intensify in the coming months. The club’s stance on a sale is unclear, and any move would likely demand a significant offer. He has played 14 Premier League games since his comeback, scoring against Burnley and Leeds United.

Source: Sunderland Echo