Preston have finalised the signing of defender Bambo Diaby on a contract until the end of the season after a successful trial.
North End took Diaby on trial in December as the Senegal-born defender looked to earn a contract at Deepdale.
Diaby had been released by Barnsley in October 2020, nine months after first testing positive for the banned substance higenamine.
Diaby has always maintained his innocence, but was given a two-year ban. That ban was backdated to January 2020, the time of the positive test.
Preston decided to take a look at Diaby in December, knowing that his ban ended on January 16th.
North End’s senior recruitment analyst James Beet was at Barnsley when Diaby signed, which may have given Preston an inside view on the defender.
Diaby has been trying to impress boss Ryan Lowe, who ideally wanted to see Diaby in a reserve game before deciding on a deal.
Yet with last week’s Central League game against Huddersfield Town postponed and the next figure not for another two weeks, Preston have made the call.
Diaby has signed on a deal until the end of the season, with North End open to giving him an extension should he impress.
Formerly of Belgian side Lokeren, Diaby showed potential with Barnsley but has now spent more than two years out of the game.
With Jordan Storey loaned to Sheffield Wednesday, Diaby seemingly comes in as a right-sided centre back to offer cover for Sepp van den Berg.
Van den Berg will return to Liverpool this summer though, meaning Diaby has a real chance to make that role his own for next season and beyond.
Lowe has offered his take on Diaby, telling the club’s official website that he thinks Diaby is ‘different’ to anything Preston currently have in defence.
Diaby’s ‘fantastic attitude’ has been praised by Lowe, who even thinks that Diaby would play at right wing back.
Lowe believes Diaby is desperate to put his doping ban behind him, but now has a battle to get into this Preston side.
“He’s got a fantastic attitude and his application has been spot on. He’s trained on a daily basis for us and he’s looked sharp,” said Lowe. He’s different to what we’ve got. He can play in a few different positions around the back and probably right wing back, so we’ve offered him a short-term deal until the end of the season to go and showcase what he’s got to potentially earn a longer contract.”
“He’s very humble. He’s had a kick in the teeth, he’s been out for two years and he’s very eager now to put that behind him and get on a streak. First and foremost [he has to] get in the squad and then get in the team and showcase what he’s about,” he added.