Baba Diocou

Baba Diocou
Personal information
Full name Babacar Diocou Ndiaye
Date of birth (2005-06-10) 10 June 2005
Place of birth Fassada, Senegal
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position Winger
Team information
Current team
 Granada
(on loan from Tenerife)
Number 40
Youth career
2016–2017 Complutense
2017–2024 Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024–2025 Real Madrid C 14 (1)
2025 Real Madrid B 4 (0)
2025– Tenerife 0 (0)
2025–2026 → Arenas (loan) 18 (5)
2026– → Granada (loan) 0 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18 January 2026

Babacar "Baba" Diocou Ndiaye (born 10 June 2005) is a footballer who plays as a winger for Spanish club Granada CF, on loan from CD Tenerife. Born in Senegal, he has been called up to represent Spain internationally at youth level.

Early life

Diocou was born in Fassada, Sédhiou department, and moved to Spain in 2015.[1] The younger brother of Spanish handball player Mamadou Diocou, he lived with his stepmother, father, and siblings.[2]

Club career

Diocou joined the youth academy of Spanish side AD Complutense in 2016, before moving to Real Madrid's La Fábrica in the following year.[3][4] In 2024, after finishing his formation, he was promoted to the C-team in Segunda Federación.[5]

Diocou made his senior debut on 1 September 2024, coming on as a second-half substitute for Pol Fortuny in a 3–3 home draw against CD Coria. He first appearing with the reserves on 11 January of the following year, in a 2–0 Primera Federación home win over CD Alcoyano, before scoring his first goal on 16 February, netting the C's opener in a 1–1 home draw against CD Atlético Paso.[6]

In August 2025, Diocou signed a contract with third division side CD Tenerife,[7] and was immediately loaned out to fellow league team Arenas Club de Getxo for the 2025–26 season.[8] He scored three goals in his first three matches for the club,[9] and remained an undisputed starter afterwards.

Diocou left Arenas on 23 January 2026,[10] and moved to Segunda División side Granada CF just hours later, also on loan with a buyout clause.[11]

International career

On 29 September 2021, Diocou was called up to the Spain national under-17 team for two friendlies against the Netherlands.[12]

Style of play

Diocou plays as a winger and is right-footed. Spanish newspaper El Español wrote in 2018 that he "is characterized by his physical strength, the way he uses his body to win balls... his outside kicking is one of his strong points".[13]

References

  1. ^ "Babacar Diocou entrena a las órdenes de Carlo Ancelotti: el senegalés de la cantera del Real Madrid se estrena con el primer equipo" [Babacar Diocou trains under Carlo Ancelotti: the Senegalese Real Madrid youth player makes his debut with the first team] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Los hermanos Diocou: Baba es promesa del Madrid y Mamadou juega en el Barça… de balonmano" [The Diocou brothers: Baba is a promising player for Madrid and Mamadou plays for Barça… in handball] (in Spanish). Okdiario. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  3. ^ "Baba Diocou, de crack en la Promises a 'sparring' para Anfield" [Baba Diocou, from best player in Promises to a 'sparring' for Anfield] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  4. ^ "Baba Diocou: "Cuando estás mal en lo personal es muy complicado, pero ir a Valdebebas me salvó"" [Baba Diocou: "When you are going through a tough time personally, it is very difficult, but going to Valdebebas saved me"] (in Spanish). Marca. 13 September 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  5. ^ "Ancelotti 'vigila' a Baba Diocou" [Ancelotti 'watches' Baba Diocou] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 22 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  6. ^ "Baba, en la rampa de salida" [Baba, on his way to leave] (in Spanish). Marca. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  7. ^ "Baba Doncou, un fichaje sorpresa y con cesión exprés" [Baba Doncou [sic], a surprise signing with an express loan] (in Spanish). El Día. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Baba Diocou, incorporación de calidad para el Arenas Club" [Baba Diocou, quality signing for Arenas Club] (in Spanish). Arenas Club de Getxo. 28 August 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  9. ^ "El Arenas descubre a Babá, la sensación de la categoría" [Arenas discover Babá, the sensation of the category] (in Spanish). El Correo. 20 September 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  10. ^ "Baba Diocou se desvincula del Arenas Club" [Baba Diocou leaves Arenas Club] (in Spanish). Arenas Club de Getxo. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  11. ^ "Comunicado Oficial | Baba Diocou, nuevo jugador del Granada CF" [Official statement | Baba Diocou, new player of Granada CF] (in Spanish). Granada CF. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  12. ^ "OFICIAL | Convocatoria de la Selección sub-17 para enfrentarse a Países Bajos" [OFFICIAL | Call-up of the under-17 national team to face the Netherlands] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  13. ^ "Baba, la joya africana del Infantil A de Xabi Alonso" [Baba, the African jewel of Xabi Alonso's Infantil A squad] (in Spanish). El Español. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
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