Monday proved to be a chaotic deadline day for Huddersfield Town, as the club targeted multiple strikers but failed to capture one, while also completing the signing of Canadian goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler.

Perhaps news that slipped under the radar in the midst of the push to sign a striker, and the arrival of Leutwiler was the departure of Adama Diakhaby to French side Amiens, ending the Frenchman’s two and a half year long stint in West Yorkshire.

An underwhelming signing

A player who arrived full of promise, Diakhaby joined the Terriers ahead of their second Premier League campaign in 2018, for a reported £11 million from European giants AS Monaco, but failed to make the cut in England.

After an underwhelming first season at Huddersfield in which the Terriers were relegated from the top flight, it appeared that Diakhaby would settle well in the Championship after a run of games in the team during the previous season.

However, a fall out with then manager Danny Cowley saw Diakhaby move to Nottingham Forest where even fellow countryman Sabri Lamouchi was unable to unlock the potential of the 24-year-old in English football.

Diakhaby returned to Huddersfield after the expiry of the loan, and was handed a fresh start with the Terriers under new coach Carlos Corberan, but once again Diakhaby fell short of expectation.

Perhaps the final blow for Diakhaby’s career in England was in the Terriers' victory over his former loan side Forest, earlier on in the season. Diakhaby squandered a glorious opportunity just yards from goal,  and has barely featured since for Corberan.

Can he recover his potential in France

While the Terriers' failure to sign a striker will rightfully take the headlines, the departure of Diakhaby will feel bitter sweet to the Huddersfield Town faithful. The Frenchman, a complete enigma of a player, wasn’t ever able to sparkle in a Huddersfield Town shirt or English football in general.

The story of Diakhaby isn’t one that gets told too often. While you frequently hear of the French stars who are shining on the other side of the Channel. you don’t hear so often of the ones who struggle. 

So while Diakhaby returns to France in a bid to recover his reputation and career, his tenure in England has gone without a trace and the mystery over why he never showcased his qualities may not be resolved. 

 

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