(Picture: Action Images via Reuters)
Bristol City have smashed their club record transfer fee to secure the signing of Angers striker Famara Diédhiou.
The Senegal international, 24, arrives for £5.3m, surpassing City’s previous record that was also paid to Angers for Jonathan Kodjia in 2015.
Diédhiou has signed a four-year deal at Ashton Gate, with the Robins beating a host of English clubs to his signing, with the likes of Wolves and Fulham reported to have shown an interest in the powerful forward.
Speaking to the club’s website, Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson said: “I’m absolutely delighted. I think he’s going to be a huge player for us.
“He fits the bill for us because he’ll complement all of our strikers perfectly. He’s powerful, he’s quick and I think he’s got the potential to get even bigger and stronger physically.”
Diédhiou has risen through the French divisions, with a prolific spell in Ligue 2 with Clermont prompting Angers to pay £1.3m for his services at the beginning of last season.
During his first campaign in Ligue 1, the striker carried on his impressive form and fired ‘Le SCO’ to the final of the Coupe De France, before they finally succumbed to PSG, with nine goals in 45 appearances in all competitions.
Johnson will be hoping Diédhiou can fill the sizeable void left by Tammy Abraham, who was City’s top-scorer last season, and the boss said: “The beauty is that now is his time to shine.
“He’s a goalscorer in that he gets into good areas and can score different types of goals – volleys, headers and he’s got an attitude to shoot, which is what we’re after.
“I think we can work with him and improve him, which is exciting for me because he’s a raw talent who can go as far as he wants in football.”
Diédhiou is Bristol City’s second signing in two days, after right-back Eros Pisano agreed a two-year deal with the club on Tuesday following the expiration of his contract with recently promoted Serie A club Hellas Verona.
