Ivory Coast international Oumar Diakité has joined Austrian top-flight side SK Sturm Graz on loan from Stade de Reims for the 2026-27 season.
The deal, announced by Reims on Wednesday, September 2, includes an option for Sturm Graz to make the move permanent when the loan expires.
For Diakité, the transfer represents a return to Austria, but this time he will compete in the country’s top division and have the opportunity to play in the Europa League.
The 22-year-old striker previously spent time in Austria before moving to France, making 35 appearances in the country’s second tier.
He will now step up to the Austrian Bundesliga with Sturm Graz, while also gaining European experience as the club competes in the Europa League this season.
Diakité arrives at Sturm Graz after spending the previous campaign on loan at Belgian club Cercle Brugge.
During his spell in Belgium, he made between 25 and 26 appearances, according to figures provided by the clubs, and scored seven goals while contributing two assists.
That spell gave the Ivorian an opportunity to maintain his development away from Reims and continue building his experience in European football.
His career has also included a significant international breakthrough.
Diakité developed initially in Ivory Coast before continuing his career in Europe and has made 54 Ligue 1 appearances for Stade de Reims.
At international level, he has earned 31 caps for the Elephants and scored six goals.
He was also part of the Ivory Coast squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations, adding a major international achievement to his developing career.
His move to Sturm Graz now gives him another opportunity to make progress at both club and European level.
The Austrian club have been monitoring the striker for some time and were already in discussions with him in the summer of 2025.
Sturm Graz sporting director Michael Parensen says the club particularly values Diakité’s physical attributes, pace and movement away from the ball.
Those qualities are expected to add another dimension to Sturm Graz’s attacking options as they compete domestically and in Europe.
For Reims, the loan provides Diakité with an opportunity to gain further regular playing experience, while the option to buy leaves open the possibility of a permanent move to Austria.
The striker will therefore begin the new season with two objectives: helping Sturm Graz compete in the Austrian top flight and making an impression in the Europa League.
The move also marks another stage in a career that has already taken the Ivorian from his early development in Ivory Coast to Austria, France and Belgium.
After experiencing the Austrian second division earlier in his career, Diakité is now returning to the country with the chance to test himself at a higher level.
