MOHAMED DIAME

Born: 14 June 1987, Creteil, France
Former clubs: RC Lens, CD Linares, Rayo Vallecano, Wigan Athletic

A strong and versatile player who predominantly operates in the defensive midfielder position, Mohamed Diame is adaptability personified.

Athletic, tall and committed, Diame played professionally in France and Spain before making his name in English football during a successful spell with Wigan Athletic.

Capped regularly by Senegal in recent years, the French-born midfielder joined West Ham United on a three-year contract in June 2012.

2012/13

Joined West Ham United on a three-year contract on 20 June 2012...Made his West Ham United bow in a 3-1 pre-season defeat at FK Austria Wien on 7 July 2012...Made his competitive debut for West Ham United in the 1-0 opening-day Barclays Premier League win over Aston Villa on 18 August 2012...Scored his first West Ham United goal in the 3-1 home Barclays Premier League defeat by Arsenal on 6 October 2012...Netted his second Hammers goal with the second in a 3-1 home Barclays Premier League win over Chelsea on 1 December 2012...Suffered a hamstring injury in the 3-2 home Barclays Premier League defeat by Liverpool on 9 December 2012...Returned to the team in February and scored a magnificent goal in the 2-2 Boleyn Ground draw with Manchester United on 17 April 2013. That strike was the Hammers' Goal of the Season, and Diame also picked up the Best Signing and Best Individual Performance (for his display in the home match with Chelsea) to mark a fine Player Awards night.

International career

Was called up to play for Senegal, for whom he qualifies as his father was born in Dakar, on 22 March 2011...Opted against waiting for a possible call-up to the France national team and made his debut in a 1-0 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win over Cameroon in March 2011...Appeared for Senegal in all three group-stage matches at the 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations against Zambia, Equatorial Guinea and Libya...Named as one of three over-age players in Senegal's squad for the 2012 Olympics...Captained Senegal in their London 2012 Olympics Group A 1-1 draw with Team GB.

Before West Ham United

Began his professional career with French club RC Lens in 2003 at the age of 16...Spent four seasons with RC Lens before moving to Spanish club CD Linares in 2007...Moved to Spanish Segunda Division club Rayo Vallecano in 2008, where he scored twice in 28 league appearances...Joined Wigan Athletic in summer 2009 alongside Rayo Vallecano team-mate Antonio Amaya...Made his Wigan Athletic debut in August 2009 in a 5-0 Premier League defeat by Manchester United...Spent three seasons with Wigan Athletic, making 103 appearances in all competitions and scoring seven goals.

Any other business

Hails from the same Paris suburb as former Blackburn Rovers defender Christopher Samba.