Senegal youngster Waly Diouf has joined La Liga side Leganes on a three-year deal, ending his brief stay with Valenciennes.
The defender, who is a graduate of the Olympique Lyonnais academy, represented Auxerre before joining Valenciennes earlier this season.
Having come to the end of his deal with the Ligue 2 side, he marked his 20th birthday by putting pen to paper on his first professional contract, joining Spanish top flight outfit Leganes.
Speaking to Senegalese source Jour de Sport, Diouf expressed optimism that his game will improve significantly with the Cucumber Growers, who are still battling to avoid relegation from La Liga.
"I'm going to Spain to learn," he began, "to show what I'm worth and to earn more experience in order to be able to adapt to the new philosophy of the Spanish league.
"I know what awaits me in this league," Diouf added. "It won't be easy for sure, but first of all I'm going to work and double my efforts in order to show my talent to win the trust of the staff."
While Diouf is still at the beginning of his nascent club career, he's already caught the eye at international youth level, where he was part of the Senegal squad that were defeated by Zambia in the final of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in March.
Diouf will also be in action for the Young Lions of Teranga when they head to the U-20 World Cup in South Korea later this month.
"I'm always happy to wear the national team shirt and to defend the colours of my nation with dignity," he continued. "So for the moment, the aim is to concentrate on the World Cup before thinking about La Liga.
"We have our objectives to reach and we're asking all of the people to unite around us."
Senegal have been drawn alongside Ecuador, the United States and Saudi Arabia at the global youth showpiece, and kick off against the Green Falcons on May 22nd.
