Senegal national team forward Boulaye Dia enjoyed an excellent season on loan in Italy’s Serie A with Salernitana and after securing their top division status, the Campania club have decided to exercise their purchase option. The 26-year-old joins from Spanish La Liga club Villarreal for a €12 million fee and will remain in Italy’s top tier following the move.
Dia was fantastic for I Granata this past season with 16 goals and 6 assists in 33 appearances as Salernitana finished in 15th place to avoid relegation for a second season since earning promotion from Serie B following the 2020-21 season. The Senegalese national team regular joined on loan after struggling to find a regular spot in the eleven at Villarreal. The transfer fee to join Salernitana matches the price Villarreal paid to bring in Dia from French Ligue 1 club Stade de Reims.
The French-born forward has made 25 appearances for Senegal with 6 goals, including one at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in a 3-1 victory over hosts Qatar. Dia had an unusual beginning to his career, working as an electrician to support his family before joining amateur side Jura Sud. It was at Jura Sud where Dia’s football career took off with 15 goals in 21 appearances for the fourth tier Championnat National 2 club during the 2017-18 season before he signed his first professional contract with Reims in July 2018.
