Unexpected West Brom twist revealed involving Ousmane Diakite | OneFootball

The Baggies midfielder has admitted he still could leave The Hawthorns despite penning a 12-month contract extension.

Joy was brought to many West Brom supporters when it was announced that Ousmane Diakite had his 12-month contract extension triggered by the club earlier this week.

The Mali midfielder, while not always possessing the most quality on the ball, has been a fan favourite for his commitment and grit in the heart of the midfield, while recently nailing down a starting spot under interim boss James Morrison.

He produced a Man of the Match display against Southampton in their 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns, before following that up with an excellent performance against Hull City, helping his side secure a 3-0 rout and earn a first league victory in three months.

The Baggies did hold the option of adding 12 months onto Diakite’s contract when he originally signed from Austrian Bundesliga side TSV Hartberg in the summer of 2024.

And with his deal initially coming to an end, Albion have decided to keep him on in the midfield ranks.

Speaking to West Brom’s official website, Diakite said: “I’m so happy to be extending my stay here for another year. I’m really proud.

"I’m so determined to keep going, keep improving and keep trying to make the fans happy. I really want to impress and improve every day, and that’s the only thing I think about.

"This place feels like home. I love West Bromwich Albion, I love the fans and I love the people that work here.

"It’s clear what we have to do as a group in the last few games of the season. We are so focused and we are going to keep pushing each other. We are ready for battle and I am ready to keep battling."

But a fresh twist has now emerged that was so unexpected.

Despite his pleasantries, Diakite has been speaking to Africa Foot about his extended deal at The Hawthorns, revealing that the Black Country outfit have purely done this to avoid losing him on a free transfer, with the midfielder admitting he could still depart the club during the upcoming summer transfer window.

Ousmane Diakite reveals fresh West Brom twist after contract extension

As per Africa Foot’s interview with Ousmane Diakite, the midfielder has admitted West Brom exercised the option for another year on his contract to avoid letting him leave on a free transfer, while also confirming that multiple teams are keen on securing his services in the summer.

Diakite said: “Even though other clubs are interested, the one-year option has been activated, and negotiations will continue with interested clubs during the next summer transfer window to ensure we don’t miss this opportunity.

“Yes, of course, before the start of this season, several Saudi clubs expressed interest, with some even going so far as to revise their offers. I also received offers from England and France.

“However, having reached specific agreements before extending my contract with West Bromwich Albion, it was imperative to honour those commitments. That is why this announcement was made, as it is a step toward preparing for the future.

“God willing, I hope the next transfer window will be fruitful. My club is currently in negotiations with all interested clubs. My agent will then take care of the rest. God willing, we’ll have good news this summer, as several clubs have expressed interest in signing me.”

In a shock turn of events, these words from Ousmane Diakite seem to imply that he expects to leave West Brom during the upcoming summer transfer window.

It appears the Baggies have put their financial interests at heart and have made sure they make a return from the sale of the Mali midfielder, giving them further funds to work with when building a squad for either another season in the Championship or if they drop down into League One.

It will certainly be disappointing news for all concerned with Albion to hear given that Diakite is so well liked, not just by the fans but by the playing squad as well, who all seem to be invigorated by his constant smiling and upbeat attitude to life.

But it appears now that Diakite is ready for a new challenge. Of course, more twists and turns can happen as the transfer window draws closer, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the club sanction a sale and receive some much-needed funds.

We’ll see what the future holds in time, but right now, it seems Diakite is ready to move on from The Hawthorns after a two-year stay.