Clubs: AS Nancy-Lorraine, FC Dynamo Kyiv, AS Saint-Étienne (loan), Olympique Lyonnais (loan)

• Born in Dakar, Senegal, Diakhaté came through the youth academy at Nancy, making his Ligue 2 debut in October 2001; helped Nancy win promotion as champions in 2004/05, when he was voted into France Football's team of the year.

• Made his debut for Senegal in June 2005 and was a part of the squad that reached the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals six months later.

• Had played 66 Ligue 1 matches when he signed for Dynamo in July 2007, establishing himself at the heart of the defence despite missing seven weeks with a broken collarbone sustained in September.

• Won the 2008/09 Ukrainian Premier League title and played a total of 14 UEFA Champions League matches for Dynamo before returning to France in the second half of the following season for a loan spell at St-Etienne.

• Moved on a year-long loan, with a view to a permanent deal, to Lyon in summer 2010, becoming a first-team regular and starting all six UEFA Champions League group matches.