Latvian champions FC RFS have officially announced the signing of BFC Daugavpils standout Barthelemy Diedhiou. The 24-year-old Senegalese winger joins RFS on a loan deal, with an option to make the transfer permanent.
Diedhiou, who had previously undergone a trial with RFS during the winter, first arrived in Latvia ahead of last season. He joined Daugavpils from the reserve squad of French Ligue 1 side LOSC Lille. Since then, he has established himself as one of the most successful foreign players in Daugavpils club history, playing a crucial role in securing a fifth-place finish in the Virslīga last season — a position that, due to Valmiera FC’s licensing issues, granted Daugavpils their historic first-ever berth in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers.
However, they will now face that challenge without their star player, as Diedhiou heads to RFS.
Last season, Diedhiou made 30 league appearances, scoring six goals and providing five assists. This season, he has already bettered that output in just 20 matches, netting seven goals and delivering two assists.
Diedhiou joined Lille’s system in 2019 and played a dozen matches for their second team, but never made a senior appearance for the Ligue 1 side. He also spent a season on loan with Portuguese second-division club CD Trofense.
