Sankhoun Diawara: Troyes Franco-Senegalese defender linked with Udinese move

Sankhoun Diawara, the French-Senegalese centre-back currently at Troyes, is being linked with a move to Serie A side Udinese as the Italian club survey defensive options ahead of the new season.

The 20-year-old, born in Paris and under contract with Troyes until 30 June 2027, has emerged on Udineses radar after breaking into senior football in France. He stepped up to the first team last summer, earning a promotion from the clubs B side on 1 July 2025, and has since accumulated regular game time in Ligue 2.

Diawara, a left-footed central defender standing at 1.88m, has made 14 appearances in the French second tier, contributing one assist and logging over 1,000 minutes. That exposure in a physically demanding division, together with his age and profile, is understood to have drawn attention from scouts in Italy.

Udinese are looking to refresh their back line and are monitoring players whose contractual situations could make a deal attainable. Diawaras current market value is listed around 2 million, and with a year left after the upcoming season on his Troyes contract, the French club face a decision over whether to cash in or extend his deal.

Troyes have overseen Diawaras development through their youth structure, with the defender progressing from academy level to the under-17s, then into the under-19s and B team before his recent integration into the senior squad. For now he remains a Troyes player with two years left on his contract, while Udinese weigh up whether to turn their interest into a formal approach.