Michel Junior Diaz (born 23 July 2003) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a defender for French club Troyes. He is an international youth for Ivory Coast.

Junior Diaz
Junior Diaz in a press conference with Troyes in 2024
Personal information
Full name Michel Junior Diaz
Date of birth (2003-07-23) 23 July 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Saint-Herblain, France
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Troyes
Number 4
Youth career
2012-2022 Nantes
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2024 Nantes B 29 (2)
2022–2024 Nantes 0 (0)
2023–2024Annecy (loan) 20 (0)
2024– Troyes 1 (0)
International career
2023-2023 Ivory Coast Olympic 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 August 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Diaz was a youth player of FC Nantes. He joined Nantes' youth team in 2012, playing in the academy for ten years and winning the 2022 Under-19 league title under manager Pierre Aristouy.

During the 2022-23 season, Diaz started training with Nantes' first team and made his senior debut in a Coupe de France match against AF Virois, on 7 January 2023.[1]

On 30 August 2023, Diaz joined Ligue 2 side Annecy on loan.[2][3] Benched in the first matches of the season, on 26 September 2023, he made his Ligue 2 debut against AJ Auxerre.[4] Diaz immediately started get more space in the club's roster, becoming a starter.[5] At the end of the season, he had a cumulative number of 22 appearances.[6]

Back from the loan, on 8 August he joined Troyes on a permanent transfer.[7][8] The transfer reportedly commanded a fee of almost €2.5 million.[9] On 16 August he made his club's debut in a 4–0 loss against EA Guingamp.[10]

International career

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Junior Diaz has represented Ivory Coast at youth international level, having played for the Olympic team.

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 16 August 2024[11]
Club Season League Cup[a] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Nantes 2022-2023 Ligue 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
FC Annecy (loan) 2023–24 Ligue 2 20 0 2 0 22 0
Troyes 2024–25 Ligue 2 1 0 0 0 1 0
Career total 21 0 03 0 0 0 0 0 24 0
  1. ^ Including appearances in Coupe de France.

References

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  1. ^ "Coupe de France. FC Nantes : Doucet, Diaz, Zézé… Face à Vire, une jeunesse au niveau" (in French). 8 January 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  2. ^ "JUNIOR DIAZ PRÊTÉ AU FC ANNECY (L2)" (in French). 30 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Mercato : Bienvenue à Junior Diaz" (in French). 30 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  4. ^ Arthur Diard (27 September 2023). "Ex-FC Nantes. Junior Diaz a vécu un match difficile pour sa première avec le FC Annecy" (in French). Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  5. ^ Jean-Marcel Boudard (29 December 2023). "FC Nantes. À Annecy, le Canari Junior Diaz prend de l'altitude" (in French). Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  6. ^ Arthur Diard (28 May 2024). "FC Nantes. Junior Diaz de retour, bilan de sa saison à Annecy" (in French). Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  7. ^ "JUNIOR DIAZ TRANSFÉRÉ À L'ESTAC" (in French). 8 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  8. ^ "JUNIOR DIAZ EST TROYEN !" (in French). 8 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  9. ^ "FC Nantes. Encore une belle offre de Troyes pour Junior Diaz, un accord devrait être trouvé" (in French). 6 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  10. ^ "L'ESTAC CHUTE D'ENTRÉE À GUINGAMP" (in French). 17 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  11. ^ Michel Junior Diaz at Soccerway
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