Africa: From Ivory Coast to Real Madrid – Malawi’s James Woods On Africa’s Most Expensive Footballer, Yan Diomande

James Woods, the Malawian diplomat and sports-business figure who was part of a sports group who backed Yan Diomande in the early years of his career, reflects on the making of a €140m footballer

Four years ago, Yan Diomande was an unknown teenager, his name familiar only to the small network of scouts and agents whose job is to spot players before anyone else does. This week, Real Madrid confirmed his signing in a deal worth up to €140m – the most expensive transfer of an African footballer…