Siren Diao

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Diao and the second or maternal family name is Balde.
Siren Diao
Personal information
Full name Siren Diao Balde
Date of birth (2005-01-21) 21 January 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth Figueres, Spain
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Granada
(on loan from Atalanta)
Number 30
Youth career
Esplais
FE Figueres
Girona
L'Escala
–2022 Costa Brava
2022–2024 Hellas Verona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Atalanta U23 19 (5)
2024– → Granada (loan) 0 (0)
International career‡
2023– Spain U19 6 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:21, 26 March 2024 (UTC)

Siren Diao Balde (born 21 January 2005) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a striker for Granada CF, on loan from Italian club Atalanta BC.

Early life

Born in Figueres, Girona, Catalonia, Diao moved to neighbouring Castelló d'Empúries at the age of eight months and was raised in the city.[1] He is of Senegalese descent.[2]

Club career

Early career

Diao started playing football at the age of five.[3] He represented Esplais CF, FE Figueres, Girona FC, FC L'Escala and UE Costa Brava[4] before moving to Italy with Hellas Verona FC in 2022.[5]

Atalanta

On 4 January 2024, Atalanta BC announced the signing of Diao, and assigned him to the under-23 team in the Serie C.[6][7] He made his senior debut nine days later, coming on as a late substitute for Giuseppe Di Serio in a 1–0 home win over AC Trento 1921, and scored his first goal on 4 February by netting the opener in a 1–1 away draw against FC Pro Vercelli 1892.

Loan to Granada

On 15 August 2024, Diao returned to his home country after agreeing to a one-year loan deal with Granada CF in Segunda División.[8][9]

International career

On 3 November 2023, Diao was called up to the Spain national under-19 team,[10] and made his debut for the side twelve days later in a 5–0 win over Moldova.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Debut exitós de Siren Diao amb Espanya sub-19: gol i accés a la Ronda Elit de l'Europeu" [Successful debut of Siren Diao with Spain under-19s: goal and qualification to the Elite Round of the European] (in Catalan). Empordà. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  2. ^ News, Atalanta- (4 January 2024). "A new signing for the U23s: Siren Diao, damas y caballeros! | A new signing for the U23s: Siren Diao, damas y caballeros! | Atalanta". Atalanta - News. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ "Chi è Siren Diao: il classe 2005 già convocato da Gasperini e che segna con l'Atalanta Under 23" [Who is Siren Diao: the 2005 class player already called up by Gasperini and who scores with Atalanta Under 23] (in Italian). Bergamo News. 15 February 2024.
  4. ^ "¿Quién es Siren Diao, la nueva perla que golea con España?" [Who is Siren Diao, the new pearl who scores with Spain?] (in Spanish). Sport. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Diao e la virtù di credere in se stessi: il futuro dell'Hellas Verona" [Diao and the virtue of believing in yourself: the future of Hellas Verona] (in Italian). Mondo Primavera. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  6. ^ "A new signing for the U23s: Siren Diao, damas y caballeros!". Atalanta BC. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Siren Diao, el español de 18 años que destroza el fútbol juvenil italiano... y ficha por Atalanta" [Siren Diao, the 18-year-old Spaniard who destroys Italian youth football... and signs for Atalanta] (in Spanish). Marca. 3 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Siren Diao joins Granada on loan". Atalanta BC. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Comunicado Oficial | Siren Diao, nuevo jugador del Granada CF" [Official announcement | Siren Diao, new player of Granada CF] (in Spanish). Granada CF. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  10. ^ "La selecció espanyola sub-19 crida Siren Diao, davanter de Castelló d'Empúries" [Spain national under-19 team call up Siren Diao, forward from Castelló d'Empúries] (in Catalan). Empordà. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Siren Diao debuta amb la selecció espanyola sub-19 amb una victòria contra Moldàvia" [Siren Diao debuts with the Spain under-19 national team with a victory over Moldova] (in Catalan). Empordà. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2024.