Ivorian midfielder Toumani Diakité sets ambitious goals after joining Slovan Liberec

Ivorian midfielder Toumani Diakité has expressed his determination to make an impact at Slovan Liberec after completing his move from Latvian side Daugavpils.

The 19-year-old, who signed a long-term contract until 2029, has outlined his ambitions both for his new club and for his career in Europe.

Diakité only began his professional journey earlier this year, joining Daugavpils in January before securing his first contract with the club in March.

His time in Latvia, though brief, provided him with valuable first-team experience. Last week, his career took another turn when his agent informed him of Liberec’s interest, opening the door to a step up in competition.

“After arriving in Daugavpils on 22 January, I started training with the squad and later signed my first professional contract in March,” Diakité explained. “I continued playing with the team until recently, and then my agent spoke to me about the interest of a club in the Czech Republic.”

Before committing to the move, the midfielder travelled to the Czech Republic to familiarise himself with his potential new surroundings.

He visited the club’s facilities, explored the city, and took time to understand the project on offer. Those impressions left a strong mark and helped to shape his decision.

“Before signing, I visited the club’s facilities, the restaurants, and the city. They have excellent football pitches and a good project,” he said. “It was after that visit that I decided to sign with Slovan Liberec. It is an ambitious club that showed a lot of interest in me.”

Having now sealed his transfer, Diakité is aware of the challenges that lie ahead in a more competitive league. He has set his immediate target on breaking into the squad, with longer-term ambitions of success both domestically and on the European stage.

“I know that the Czech Republic is on another level,” he noted. “My first objective is to fight for playing time and to progress naturally. After that, I want to bring new energy to the squad and have a strong season.

I would obviously like to win trophies with Slovan Liberec. My biggest dream is to play in the biggest European competitions.”

For the teenager, the move represents a critical step in his career path, one he hopes will eventually propel him towards Europe’s elite leagues. France, Spain, Germany, Italy and England remain in his sights, but he insists that his current focus lies solely on contributing to his new club.

“The Czech Republic is a football country, which is why I didn’t hesitate to sign with Slovan Liberec,” he said. “With good performances here, I believe I can quickly earn a move to a more elite league. Things can move very fast in football. But for now, I remain concentrated on my objectives with Liberec.”

The confidence and ambition of Diakité underline his belief in his potential. For Slovan Liberec, the signing of a young, motivated midfielder reflects the club’s desire to blend experience with emerging talent as they seek greater success in Czech football.

As he begins this new chapter, Diakité’s eyes are firmly set on development, trophies, and eventually fulfilling his dream of competing at the highest levels of European football.