Ousmane Diabate 'officially' a Newcastle United player after bizarre Premier League reveal
Well, that's one way to announce a signing.
Ousmane Diabate is, for all intents and purposes, officially a Newcastle United player after appearing on the Premier League's newly-published squad lists.
The Premier League released every club's 2026/27 submission on Thursday, 3rd September, explaining that the lists were submitted by Premier League clubs following the closure of the summer transfer window.
Scroll down to Newcastle's Under-21 section and there he is: "Diabate, Ousmane (Loan)".
He's not part of the senior 25-man squad, to be clear. But this is Newcastle's official Premier League submission, with Diabate registered amongst our Under-21 players and marked as being out on loan.
So, unless something extremely strange has happened, that's that.
Bizarrely, Newcastle themselves still haven't announced the transfer.
Diabate deal finally confirmed
Back on 19th August, we reported that Diabate was set to sign for Newcastle, with the plan for the 18-year-old midfielder to immediately return to Gençlerbirliği on loan.
Turkish reports then went a stage further. Gençlerbirliği boss Metin Diyadin confirmed the transfer was finished, while DHA reported a few days later that Diabate had joined Newcastle and would spend the remainder of the season back at the Turkish club.
Now the Premier League list has removed any lingering doubt.
Diabate is a Newcastle player. He's just not actually at Newcastle yet.
Another one for the future
The Guinea international is very much another project signing rather than somebody expected to help Matthias Jaissle immediately.
As we discussed when Newcastle's interest in Diabate first emerged, the club have been making a clear effort to bring in high-potential youngsters before their price and reputation explode.
Diabate can now continue playing senior football in the Turkish top flight rather than sitting around our Under-21s, then Newcastle can assess where he stands further down the line.
A bizarre way for this one to finally become official, but good to see another deal completed regardless.
One day Newcastle might even tell us about it.
