Lassana Diarra Bio Send To Friend  

Lassana Diarra signed for Portsmouth in January 2008 from Arsenal, just six months after joining the Gunners from Chelsea ahead of the 2007/08 season.

The hugely-talented defensive midfielder argued that he needed to leave Arsenal in order to secure for himself first team football or risk missing out on the France squad for Euro 2008.

The decision to move was vindicated as Diarra finished the season as an established member of the Pompey side which won the FA Cup and by being included in the France squad for Euro 2008.

Arsenal signed Diarra from London rivals Chelsea on the final day of the summer 2007 transfer window for an undisclosed fee.

Cleary ambitious Diarra left Stamford Bridge was unhappy with the lack of first team opportunities, opting for Arsenal having been attracted by Arsenal's style of play as well as Arsene Wenger's success in the English game.

Chelsea signed Diarra from Le Havre for an undisclosed fee in July 2005, with the ultimate plan being to groom him as the eventual successor to compatriot Claude Makelele.

He was on the books of Nantes and Le Mans as a schoolboy before moving to Le Havre.

Whilst at Le Havre, Diarra was Young Player of the Year in 2004 and in 2004/05 he was in the first team which finished 16th in the Second Division.

Diarra made his debut as a 76th minute replacement for Makelele in a 4-0 Champions League win over Real Betis in October 2005, though he is seen very much as one for the future at the Bridge.

The midfielder was a member of the France Under-21 side which reached the European Championships at the expense of England in November 2005.

Although rarely seen in the first team he was named as Chelsea's Young Player of the Year for 2005/06.

Diarra was fully welcomed into the first team squad in the second half of 2006/07, making 23 appearances - 17 of them starts.

His performances earned him his first full French cap, alongside Makelele, in a Euro 2008 qualifier away to Lithuania in March 2007.

With Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard, Mikel John Obi and Micheal Essien all ahead of him in the central midfield pecking order, Diarra decided not to extend his contract with Chelsea, which was due to expire in January 2008, and was sold to Arsenal, before he could leave on a free transfer.