Former West Brom striker Mbaye Diagne is on the move, signing for Saudi First Division side Neom SC.
The Senegal striker was promoted last season with Al-Qadsiah, scoring 26 goals as they romped to the First Division title, earning them a place in the top flight. However, the 32-year-old will not be promoted with his employer, opting to help Neom towards a dream of back-to-back promotions.
His new club announced the signing on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying, “The management of Neom Sports Club has officially completed the signing procedures with Senegalese striker Mbaye Diagne for the first football team. All the best to our new star”
أنهت إدارة نادي نيوم الرياضي إجراءات التوقيع رسميًا مع المهاجم السنغالي مباي دياني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم ✍
كل التوفيق لنجمنا الجديد 👏🏻#صيفية_نيوم#نادي_نيوم_الرياضي pic.twitter.com/CDe9wwVsjA
— نادي نيوم الرياضي (@NEOMSportsClub) July 16, 2024
Honestly, that is what it says!
Diagne has had a long career with many clubs, including Juventus, Galatasaray and Club Brugge. His brief flirtation with English football came in 2021, when he spent time on loan at the Hawthorns. The Baggies were Premier League at the time, and between January and May 2021 he grabbed three goals in 16 outings.
He scored his first Premier League goal against Manchester United in a 1-1 draw, with manager Sam Allardyce claiming his striker could have had a hattrick. He also scored in a 5-2 win against Chelsea and the only goal of their 1-1 draw with fierce rivals Wolves. Despite bagging in high-profile fixtures, he was not retained by the club following their relegation.
He rose to worldwide fame prior to his West Brom stint, when he snatched a penalty away from the regular taker in a game for Club Brugge. Despite netting four goals in nine matches, he missed the penalty and was immediately cast aside by Brugge, never to play again.
However, since his West Brom spell he has been prolific, netting 25 goals in 35 outings for Turkish outfit Fatih Karaumruk, as well as his exploits last season for Al-Qadsiah. In total, he has 172 career goals, a sum that could well top 200 this time next season.
Writer’s View
Diagne is one of those players likely to invoke good memories for Baggies fans. They may have been relegated, and the 1-1 draw with Wolves played a big part in that, but it still pulled a draw from the jaws of defeat.
At 32, he is clearly still in great shape and with last season’s exploits firmly in the memory, he looks to be a solid acquisition for his new employers.
He might be a name that has slipped from West Brom supporters’ minds, not least because they’ve not been back in the top flight since, but hopefully, they’ll read this and think of him fondly, albeit during a challenging time for the club.
Editor In Chief
