Ousmane Diomande has completed a transfer deadline day move to Sporting CP after links with Arsenal and Manchester City earlier in the January window.
Danish club Midtjylland confirmed the deal after receiving an offer “too good to refuse” for a player who was yet to make his first-team debut.
The defender, 19, has impressed on loan at Portuguese second-tier team CD Mafra during the first half of the campaign.
Midtjylland had hoped to bring Diomande back to their squad for next season amid reports linking him with a Premier League move for around £7million.
𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐄 💎 𝐃𝐈𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄
— Sporting Clube de Portugal (@Sporting_CP) January 31, 2023
Novo Leão para a defesa verde e branca ✍️ Bem-vindo! 🇨🇮 #EuSouSporting
Sporting director Svend Graversen said: “Normally the aim is for our loaned players to take some steps and then return to FCM, but in this case it is a unique case where Ousmane's development has been accelerated in an unusual way.”
Diomande’s contract runs to 2027 with a £70.5m release clause.
Arsenal are still expected to bolster their squad on deadline day with the arrival of Jorginho from Chelsea.
Sporting, meanwhile, have allowed Pedro Porro to join Tottenham and have Barcelona’s Hector Bellerin lined up as a replacement.
