Sankhoun Diawara arrived at Milan at the end of July, with the club investing around €3 million to sign him from Troyes. In the 2025/26 season, he initially found himself down the pecking order, but following an injury to former Juventus defender Paolo Gozzi, he gradually earned a place in the starting XI. He went on to make 14 appearances, including 12 starts, contributing to the club’s promotion to Ligue 1 and establishing himself as a key player during the second and decisive part of the season. He has also made two appearances for the France Under-19s, making his debut in a friendly in September 2024, as pointed out via Calcio Mercato.
His arrival was initially intended to be for Milan Futuro, but the player was not convinced as he also had other offers. Ruben Amorim’s call-up to the first team changed the situation, and the deal was quickly completed. "When I found out that the club wanted to sign me, I was satisfied, happy and also a little surprised. Even though I was quite young, I always admired Alessandro Nesta, which is why I chose his number. Another great defender was, of course, Paolo Maldini,” he said on the day he was presented to the fans at the club store on Via Dante in Milan.
Who is Sankhoun Diawara?
An acquisition primarily aimed at the future given his young age and limited experience, Sankhoun Diawara is a left-footed defender with outstanding athletic qualities and an imposing physical frame, standing at 190 cm tall. His main strengths are his effectiveness in tackles, his ability to anticipate play and his strength in aerial duels. These qualities allow him to break through opposition lines and frequently support attacking transitions. He has characteristics similar to Pavlovic and is expected to be his natural deputy.
Although he started out as a centre-back, his versatility also allows him to play as a left-back. Sankhoun was born in Paris on 13 January 2006 and, after his first football experiences with FC Solitaires Paris and CA Paris-Charenton, developed through the youth ranks of ESTAC Troyes. He made his first-team debut in November 2024 in the Coupe de France, the same competition in which he scored his first professional goal a year later against UF Touraine.
He always wears a white wristband on his left arm. Although his first name is Sankhoun, everyone calls him “Papis”, a nickname given to him by his mother, who is originally from Guinea. He has so far represented France at youth level, but thanks to his dual French and Senegalese nationality, inherited from his father, his international future remains open between Les Bleus and the Lions of Teranga.
