Floridian Rookies Series: Yan Diomande

From Daytona Beach to Debuting at the Bernabéu

Born: November 14, 2006 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Current Team: CD Leganés in La Liga in Spain

Connection to Florida: Attended the DME Academy in Daytona Beach, FL

Yan’s may not be a name well known to readers. However, and despite a more tenuous connection to Florida, we truly must talk about him - partly because he might be the most exciting prospect to play here. What makes Diomande so impressive? After playing high school soccer on the east coast, he moved to Spain and joined the first team of a side playing in La Liga for one. He even made his debut against Real Madrid at their storied home, the Bernabéu.

Information about Diomande’s earliest years is sadly hard to come by at this time. However, after moving to the United States, he made a name for himself in scouting circles. A speedy winger, the Ivorian youth international joined the DME Academy in Daytona Beach in 2022. Better known for its basketball, DME competes at the high school level in soccer, while also fielding a team in the quasi-fourth division United Premier Soccer League with AS Frenzi.

Diomande earned praise for his play with Frenzi from publications and professionals in the game alike. Representing his team in the UPSL at just 16-years-old, the attacker raised his profile by scoring two goals in the final to beat Sporting Wichita 2-1 in 2023. This brace also gave him the Golden Boot in the league overall. The win secured for the club a berth in the 2024 US Open Cup, a losing effort which did not feature Diomande, in March of 2024.

Racking up awards for his play, Dio, as coaches called him, would go on to earn interest from clubs in MLS and in Europe. After trials including in Scotland, the youngster eventually joined CD Leganés in Spain’s La Liga. He officially joined the club in January after having turned 18, saying to the UPSL website, “I am very grateful for this opportunity; I want to express my gratitude to all the people involved in my signing. I can’t wait to start.”

Only two months into his professional career, Diomande has now played for the senior team for los Pepineros after coming on as a late substitute in multiple games. His first appearance came against Real Madrid. Dio could not impact the result, coming on after all five goals in the 3-2 win for los Blancos had been scored. However, he could have had a hand in it if the referee had agreed with what the player himself thought was a penalty. “But that’s how it always is with Real Madrid,” he said.

Yan Diomande’s international eligibility is not fully known at this stage. What is certain is that he’ll be getting more interest soon. Following a draw vs. Mallorca, Leganés sit on 29 points. Dio recently started against Barcelona, showing how much trust the coaching staff have in him already. The next game, played the full 90 minutes against Mallorca. Truly, for this teenager, the sky's the limit. And, back in Florida, there are teammates and coaches who’ll be able to say I knew him when…