Ivorian star Yan Diomande has opened up on the death of his younger sibling, Roxane. The 19-year-old penned an emotional letter to his late sister, dedicating his entire footballing career to her memory.
Born in Abidjan, the capital of Cote d’Ivoire, Diomande moved to the USA in 2021, at just 15 years of age. After playing high school football in the States, he underwent trials with European sides Bournemouth, Chelsea, Rangers, Olympiacos and Crystal Palace.
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However, he failed to secure a contract with any of them and was sent back to Africa upon the expiration of his visa. He eventually signed for LaLiga side Leganes in November 2024, making his senior debut against Real Madrid in March 2025.
Last summer, he joined Bundesliga side RB Leipzig and immediately took the footballing world by storm. He racked up 13 goals and 10 assists in 36 games across all competitions and was named the league’s Rookie of the Season for the 2025-26 campaign.
On the Players’ Tribune, Diomande addressed an open letter to Roxane, who passed at the tender age of 15 just weeks after he joined Leganes. The young forward claimed that he has been blank and emotionless since her passing and claimed that his only goal is to make her dreams come true.
Diomande wrote (via @fabriziorom on Instagram):
“Dear Roxane, Remember when somebody bought me a fake United jersey, and I wrote Ronaldo 7 on the back with the black marker? Remember 25 people sleeping in one house back in Abidjan? We didn’t know rich or poor. We just knew happiness… No one signed me. In England, everywhere as even the B teams in the MLS didn’t want me. My visa was up. My dream was over. Back to Africa.”
“You were the one who never stopped believing. A few weeks later, I signed for Leganes and we cried different tears. That was back when I used to have emotions. Now, I don’t feel anything. It’s like I’m not even human. Since you died, I’m just blank. I don’t even think I shed a tear the day they told me that you were gone. I was just in shock.”
“We’re at the World Cup. For real. You always said that I could be better than Cristiano. If I see Cristiano here, I’ll tell him hello for you. I’m going to do what you predicted, I swear. Before I even had real boots, you said: My brother is going to be the greatest in the world. I will prove that you were right, or I will die trying… Your brother, Yan,” Diomande concluded.
Up next, Diomande will be seen in action in Cote d’Ivoire’s fixture against Germany in Group E of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday (June 20).
Yan Diomande impressed in his FIFA World Cup debut for Cote d’Ivoire vs Ecuador
Yan Diomande delivered a stellar performance in his first-ever FIFA World Cup game, a 1-0 win for Cote d’Ivoire against Ecuador (June 14). The winger, who has been linked with moves to top European sides like Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, showcased his quality on the biggest global stage.
Playing on the right wing, Diomande outplayed the opposition defenders with his scintillating pace, smooth dribbling and unbelievable work rate. The 19-year-old completed 41 of his 51 passes (80%) and four of his six dribbles (57%), created five goalscoring chances and won 11 of his 15 duels (73%).
He also contributed on the defensive end, making five tackles and two interceptions to cap off a comprehensive all-round performance (stats via Sportskeeda h/t FotMob).
Edited by Aaryan Nagraj