Real confirm Diarra deal

Real Madrid have confirmed they have agreed a deal to sign Mali midfielder Mahamadou Diarra from Lyon, subject to a medical.

No fee has been confirmed, but it has been reported Real will pay in the region of €25m for the player, who joined Lyon from Vitesse Arnhem in 2002 and has made over 200 appearances for the club, helping Les Gones win four of their five consecutive Ligue 1 titles.

A statement on Real Madrid’s official club website read: “Real Madrid would like to announce the agreement reached with Olympique Lyonnais and Mahamadou Diarra for the transfer of the player.

“Diarra will have his medical exam and be officially presented to the media in the upcoming days.”