Stade Brest interested in signing Ivory Coast defender Junior Diaz

Stade Brest have expressed firm interest to sign Ivory Coast defender Junior Diaz in the ongoing summer transfer window.

The 21-year-old centre-back has attracted significant interest from several clubs particularly in France, with RC Lens, FC Lorient, and Belgian club Royal Antwerp expressing keen interest in him following a standout campaign with Troyes.

Brest, who are yet to make a signing now faces a daunting task in acquiring the signature of the in-demand central defender this summer. The French Ligue 1 club are bent on augmenting their squad and has identified Diaz as a priority target.

Diaz is a product of the FC Nantes academy. He made 26 appearances for Nantes B, but struggled to break into the first team.

The talented defender spent the 2023/24 season on loan in Ligue 2 with FC Annecy before making a return to Nantes at the end of the loan spell.

In 2024, Nantes transferred the defender to Troyes for €2.5 million, where he made 34 Ligue 2 appearances for Troyes last season as the club finished 10th.

Diaz’ current Troyes contract runs until 2029, with Brest pushing for his signing before the closure of the transfer window.