El Hadji Malick Diouf Player Profile: Career, Playing Style and Potential

El Hadji Malick Diouf Player Profile: Career, Playing Style and Potential

West Ham United announced the signing of El Hadji Malick Diouf to bolster options on the left side of the defence on 15 July.

The Senegalese international signed for the East London outfit from Czechia side Slavia Prague for a reported £19m over the summer on a five-year deal.

It hasn’t been a great start to life for Diouf in the English top-flight, but there is still plenty of time for him to prove his worth to the fans and to help them stop this current rut they find themselves in.

The 20-year-old has risen spectacularly from an academy in Senegal to the Premier League within just four years, and here we highlight his special career so far and his prospects for the future.

🚨⚒️ El Hadji Malick Diouf to West Ham, here we go! Deal agreed to bring in the left back from Slavia Prague.

Transfer fee will be €22m plus add-ons after #WHUFC improved their bid.

Player has been authorized to travel for medical, as @Santi_J_FM reports. pic.twitter.com/mpHXcontA1

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 13, 2025

Career Story

Diouf began his footballing journey in the city of Dakar at just 13 years old, where he was also born, when he was picked up by the Galaxy Football Academy. After a successful stint of four years spent here, he went on to join the Academie Mawade Wade. This academy set up was best known for producing ex-Manchester United and Stoke City baller Mame Brian Diouf.

A year on, Diouf went all in on a professional football career, evident by the Senegalese defender to take the massive risk of moving right into the centre of the Arctic Circle from western Africa, as he completed a move to Tromsø, still just 18.

He took no time at all to get himself integrated into their first team set up, playing a critical role in helping them finish high enough to compete in Europe the following campaign. Diouf went on to score three goals in 21 appearances, adding onto the four goals in nine matches he featured in for their second side. In January 2024, he then made another leap by joining Slavia Prague.

In their most recent season, he helped Slavia qualify for this upcoming season’s Champions League, and he will be a massive miss for the Slavic side this season, after registering seven goals and three assists throughout the last campaign.

As for his international career thus far, Diouf made his debut in September last year, and has since made six appearances for The Lions of Teranga, including a full 90 minutes in their historic 3-1 win against England at Wembley.

Now 20, he has made his move to West Ham where he seeks invaluable Premier League experience and joins a host of players who also paved their way to the Hammers via Slavia Prague with Vladimír Coufal and Tomáš Souček both enjoying successful careers at the London Stadium.

Style of Play

Malick Diouf’s primary position on the field is left wing-back, where he established himself in the position whilst in Norway. He is powerful full back who possesses a unique set of skills. Despite being probably one of the taller wingbacks around, standing at 6 feet tall, he is well-known for his powerful runs up and down the left flank, and being physically strong, he also has the ability to bully his marker on that side and cause havoc. Adding that on to his immense work rate, Diouf will be an absolute engine on the left flank.

Being a wingback, his issues remain on the defensive end, as he does not have the right tools to stand his man and cut passing lanes. In reference to the picture below, provided by fbref, it is clear that Diouf is not strong defensively, as he is in the bottom 30% in the clearances, blocks, and tackles metrics, and the bottom 37% of the interceptions metric, when compared to other players in his position.

Returning to his strengths, the Senegalese international is immaculate at crossing balls into the box and getting the ball up the pitch via progressive passes and carries. Known for the way he progresses up the field, do not be surprised when you are watching Potter’s West Ham, that they will utilise the left side when attacking. With Diouf clearly one of the best in his positions for creating opportunities for his team and earning space on the pitch through these runs, this also makes him potential differential for your FPL teams once the Hammers return to some form.

Is There Potential at West Ham?

He has already showed a lot of promise for West Ham in pre-season, showing he has what it takes to star in the left wing-back role, but he will need time to refine his skills and somewhere to settle for a while. He will hope West Ham can give him that opportunity to gain the experience and see the Hammers as a club he can spend a few years with, given his 18-month stint in Prague was his longest stay at a club since the Galaxy Football Academy.

🇸🇳🎯 West Ham's new signing El Hadji Malick Diouf (20) getting assists already in pre-season from left wing-back. 💫 pic.twitter.com/9T8JKfqG9U

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) August 5, 2025

There may not be much time left for Diouf to be working under Graham Potter, and instead he will have to get used to another system where hopefully he can shine. But if Potter stays, we could see both him and Aaron Wan-Bissaka shine as the wingbacks. Back when Potter was at Brighton, he utilised his wingers in these spots and created chances from there.

But Diouf could succeed spectacularly in East London, as he has of course already picked the assist of their only goal of the Premier League season so far, and especially with tall figures such as Niclas Füllkrug and Souček to aim for in the middle. He is inside the top 10-15% for all attacking and creating metrics and will be a key creative spark if West Ham are to turn their fortunes around this season and Diouf must be fully fit if they are to have a chance to do so.