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Ivory Coast teenager Yan Diomande joined DME Academy in Daytona Beach in September 2022 after a video of his play was sent to the school
The 19-year-old from Ivory Coast joined DME Academy after a video from the under-17 AFCON reached the program. He trained there for roughly two years before emerging as a top European transfer target.
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Yan Diomande arrived at the DME Academy in Daytona Beach in mid-September 2022 after a video of him from the under-17 AFCON was sent to the academy, ESPN reported. The 19-year-old from the Ivory Coast joined several other African players in the program. Todd Eason, director of soccer at DME from 2021 to 2024, said the video made clear the newcomer would be entertaining to watch.
James Eliuda, already at the academy for one week, met Diomande at reception and helped carry his bags. Diomande spoke French and Eliuda spoke Arabic, so the roommates used basic sign language and miming to communicate. Diomande mimed for Eliuda to take a photo of him to send to his mother.
Students from Puerto Rico soon invited the pair to play soccer, where Diomande juggled the ball on his shoulders and performed skills Eliuda had not seen. The two learned English through the Duolingo app and at school. Eliuda played central midfield in training while Diomande operated on the wing.
Diomande also translated Eason's advice into French for two Senegalese players.
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