London City Lionesses have officially signed Kadidiatou Diani, the French forward, on a three-year deal for a fee exceeding £500,000. This move marks a significant addition to the team as Diani leaves Olympique Lyonnais after spending three successful seasons.

The 31-year-old announced her departure from Lyon on Monday, despite having a year left on her contract. London City had been in advanced discussions for several weeks, and although other European clubs expressed interest, Diani opted for the Women’s Super League (WSL).

During her time at Lyon, Diani made 93 appearances and netted 41 goals. Reflecting on her new journey, she stated, "It is an opportunity for me to discover a new country, a new city, a new team, and I can't wait to start this next chapter."

Diani expressed her excitement about joining an independent and ambitious club, emphasizing the team's goals:

• To win as many matches as possible
• To qualify for the Champions League
• To win a trophy for the club

She added, "I think we are going to experience a very beautiful season."

Before her time at Lyon, Diani had a successful stint at Paris St-Germain, where she won two French Cups and a league title. However, she experienced disappointment in the Women’s Champions League, having lost in the finals twice, including missing the last match due to a knee injury.

Diani will reunite with Michele Kang, the owner of both London City and Lyon, as the Lionesses aim to build on their sixth-place finish in their debut WSL campaign with an impressive transfer window.