Toumani Diagouraga (born 10 June 1987) is a French former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He played his entire career in the English Football League and made 529 League appearances between 2005 and 2023. Following his retirement, Diagouraga joined Middlesbrough as an academy coach.
Diagouraga began his career at Watford and played for Hereford United and Peterborough United, before rising to prominence with Brentford, for whom he made 246 appearances in all competitions. He was described as a midfielder who "can keep the shape and pick up the second ball". He is nicknamed "Toums".
Playing career
Watford
2004–2006
Diagouraga was born in Paris to Malian parents and began his career in youth football in the city. He subsequently suffered a broken shoulder in a traffic accident, but returned to football and was spotted in a trial match versus an academy team from English club Watford. After a number of further trial matches, he joined the Hornets' academy in December 2003. He signed a professional contract in November 2004 at age 17 and starred in the youth team's run to the quarter-finals of the 2004–05 FA Youth Cup. His performances during the run attracted transfer interest from Premier League club Chelsea.
Diagouraga received his maiden call-up to the first team for the first game of the 2005–06 season, when he was an unused substitute during a 2–1 Championship defeat at home to Preston North End. Diagouraga made his first team debut with a start in Watford's 2–1 League Cup second round victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on 20 September 2005 and he was substituted after 75 minutes by Junior Osborne. Diagouraga made three further appearances before joining League One club Swindon Town on loan on 23 March 2006. He made eight appearances and returned to Watford at the end of the season.
2006–2008
Following Watford's promotion to the Premier League, Diagouraga failed to be called into a league squad during the 2006–07 season and instead featured in two cup ties. He joined League One club Rotherham United on loan until the end of the season on 12 January 2007. The terms of the deal saw him arrive at Millmoor as a makeweight in a £1,000,000 deal that took Millers players Will Hoskins and Lee Williamson to Watford. Diagouraga made only seven appearances for the Millers.
Diagouraga spent the entire 2007–08 season away on loan and was released in June 2008, after his contract expired. He made only six appearances during his four years with the club as a professional.
Hereford United
Diagouraga joined League Two club Hereford United on 10 August 2007, on a loan that was later extended until the end of the 2007–08 season. He scored the first senior goal of his career in a 4–2 win over Bradford City on 22 September. He made 50 appearances during the 2007–08 season, scored two goals and celebrated promotion to League One at the end of the campaign, after the Bulls secured a third-place finish in League Two.
On 7 July 2008, Diagouraga transferred to Hereford United permanently and signed a three-year contract. He was a regular starter and scored his first goal of the 2008–09 season in a 2–2 draw at home to Tranmere Rovers on 26 December 2008. He was again a virtual ever-present, making 48 appearances and scoring two goals as the Bulls were relegated straight back to League Two after a bottom-place finish. He departed Edgar Street in June 2009. Across his two spells at the club, Diagouraga made 98 appearances and scored four goals.
Peterborough United
Diagouraga signed for Championship club Peterborough United on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee (believed to be in the region of £200,000) on 17 June 2009. He was an ever-present through the first half of the 2009–10 season and featured in Posh's run to the League Cup fourth round, where they were knocked out by Premier League club Blackburn Rovers. Diagouraga made what would be his last Peterborough appearance in a 0–0 draw with Ipswich Town on 8 December. Following that appearance, he fell behind new loan signings Jake Livermore and Josh Simpson in the pecking order and found himself relegated to the bench, which led to his departure on loan for the rest of the season in January 2010. He departed the club on 17 July 2010, having made 23 appearances.