Toumani Diagouraga has signed for Leeds United for an undisclosed fee. Brentford accepted an offer for the long-serving midfield player from the Sky Bet Championship side last week and Toumani completed a medical over the weekend. The paperwork was finalised today, Monday 25 January, and Toumani signed a two and a half year contract. He leaves the Club almost six years to the day since he first arrived, having made almost 250 appearances in all competitions.

The 28-year-old joined The Bees on loan from Peterborough United in January 2010. He had started out at Watford and helped Hereford United to promotion from the fourth tier during a loan spell before signing permanently in 2008 then made the move to Peterborough a year later. He spent the second half of the 2009/10 season at Griffin Park on a temporary basis and joined The Bees for an undisclosed fee at the end of that season.

In six years at Brentford Toumani established himself in the centre of the midfield. He has played 210 Football League games for The Bees, more than any other player born outside the British Isles. In total, Toumani leaves the Club having made 246 appearances for The Bees and scored six goals. His performances during the 2014/15 season earned him the Supporters’ Player of the Year award and he will make a swift return to Griffin Park with the Yorkshire side tomorrow when they visit for a Championship match.

Dean Smith, Brentford FC Head Coach, said: “As we have always said, every player at the Club has a valuation and Leeds met our valuation for Toumani. Toumani expressed his desire to speak to Leeds and to make the move. He will be a loss for us, he has been really good to work with since I arrived at the Club and I have enjoyed coaching him. I wish him all the best for the future. We can now look to go and replace him and continue the improvement of the Club.”

Phil Giles, Brentford FC Co-Director of Football, added: "On behalf of everyone at Brentford I'd like to thank Toumani for the fantastic service he's given to the club over several years. We wish him well in the next phase of his career and look forward to welcoming him back to Griffin Park tomorrow."