Valentin Adama Diomande (born 14 February 1990) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a forward for KFUM Oslo. He has previously played for Lyn, Skeid, Hødd, Strømsgodset, Dinamo Minsk, Stabæk, Hull City, Los Angeles FC, Cangzhou Mighty Lions, Al-Sailiya, Al-Arabi, Odd, and Toronto FC.

Early life

Diomande was born in Oslo to parents from the Ivory Coast. He played youth football for the clubs Holmlia, Vålerenga, and Lyn. He has attended the sport secondary school Norges Toppidrettsgymnas, like most of Lyn's young players. He initially studied sports science at Ulsrud High School.

Club career

Diomande made his senior debut on 19 October 2008 against Hamarkameratene, as a substitute in the 86th minute. He played one more game in 2008 and one in 2009. Ahead of the 2010 season he joined Skeid. On 26 March 2015, Diomande signed a 2.5-year contract with Stabæk. Playing for head coach Bob Bradley in 2015, Diomande had his most productive season to date, scoring 25 goals in 26 appearances. On 1 September 2015, Diomande joined English club Hull City of the Championship for a fee of £1.7 million. Because of injury, he had to wait until 12 December 2015 to make his debut when he came off the bench as a 77th-minute replacement for Chuba Akpom, in a 1–0 home win against Bolton Wanderers. Diomande made his Premier League debut on 13 August 2016, scoring a spectacular overhead kick in a shock 2–1 defeat of reigning champions Leicester City. On 1 May 2018, Diomande signed with Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC, reuniting him with Bradley in his first season at LAFC. Diomande made an immediate impact, scoring nine goals in his first seven league contests and being named MLS Player of the Month in his first full month on the squad. On 13 August 2020, Diomande released a statement on Twitter that he was terminating his contract with LAFC "with immediate effect" for family reasons. On 2 April 2021, Diomande joined Chinese club Cangzhou Mighty Lions. On 8 August 2021, Diomande joined Qatari club Al-Sailiya. In January 2023, he joined Toronto FC. Diomande made his debut for the club starting in a 3–2 loss at DC United in the season opener on 25 February 2023. After missing most of the 2023 season due to injury, he was waived by the club ahead of the 2024 season. On 30 August, he joined KFUM Oslo.

International career

Diomande received his first international call-up to the senior team in June 2015, making his debut for the senior team on 12 June when he came on as a substitute for Joshua King in the 79th minute of a goalless UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying draw against Azerbaijan at Ullevaal Stadion.

Career statistics

Club

International

Honours

Strømsgodset Los Angeles FC Individual