Diomansy Kamara

1. Early Life and Club Career Beginnings

Diomansy Kamara's early life and formative years in football began in his native France before he transitioned to Italian clubs to commence his professional career.

2. Major Club Career

Kamara's major club career saw him transfer between several prominent European leagues, where he made significant contributions as a dynamic forward, before moving to Asia for the final stages of his playing days.

2.3. Fulham

On 9 July 2007, Kamara signed a four-year contract with Fulham for a fee of 6.00 M GBP. This transfer marked a club record sale for West Bromwich Albion. Following his move to Fulham, Kamara expressed his confidence, stating that he could score "a lot of goals" in the Premier League with his new team. He made his debut for the Cottagers on 12 August 2007 in a 2-1 away defeat against Arsenal, entering the match in the second half as a substitute for fellow debutant David Healy.

Kamara scored his first goal for Fulham on 28 August 2007 in a League Cup match against Shrewsbury Town, which Fulham won 1-0. Four days later, he netted his first league goal for the Cottagers with a superb late overhead kick, securing a 3-3 draw against Tottenham Hotspur. After the match, Kamara described the overhead kick goal as "possibly the best of his career." On 25 November 2007, he scored his second goal in a 2-2 draw against Blackburn Rovers. His third goal came on 29 March 2008, in another 2-2 draw against Derby County, a result which led to Derby County's relegation to the Football League. Later in the 2007-08 season, after a relatively dry spell, Kamara rekindled Fulham's Premier League survival hopes by scoring two crucial goals in the final twenty minutes of a match against Manchester City. Fulham ultimately avoided relegation on the last day of the season. In June 2008, while playing for Senegal against Liberia, Kamara ruptured his cruciate ligament, an injury that necessitated reconstructive surgery.

In his first start for Fulham since the injury, Kamara scored a brace and provided an assist for Danny Murphy's goal, helping his side to a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on 9 May 2009. Following this performance, manager Roy Hodgson lauded Kamara. He also scored the winning goal in a 1-0 triumph over Newcastle United on 16 May 2009.

After the 2008-09 season, Kamara was linked with a potential move to French champions Bordeaux, who sought him as a replacement for the departing Marouane Chamakh, and also with Italian club Roma. However, these moves did not materialize as Kamara was reportedly not interested in an overseas transfer, preferring to find a new club within the UK.

During the 2008-09 and 2009-10 Premier League seasons, Kamara's playing time diminished. He scored his sole league goal of the 2009-10 season for Fulham in a 2-0 win over Hull City on 19 September 2009. On 17 September, he helped Fulham secure an away draw against CSKA Sofia in the Europa League, a match that ended 1-1. On 5 November 2009, Kamara scored from a penalty kick after being fouled in the box against Roma; he was substituted off in the 46th minute for Erik Nevland, and Fulham eventually lost after Roma made a two-goal comeback. On 1 December 2009, he suffered a knee problem that sidelined him for a month. He returned to action for Fulham on 26 January 2010, coming on for Zoltán Gera in the 72nd minute during a 2-0 loss against Tottenham Hotspur.

2.3.1. Loan to Celtic

On 1 February 2010, Kamara moved to Celtic on loan until the end of the 2009-10 season, with Celtic having an option to make the deal permanent if he performed well. This move was made possible after Fulham brought in Stefano Okaka on loan from Roma. Kamara had previously played under then-Celtic manager Tony Mowbray at West Bromwich Albion. He made his debut for Celtic on 2 February 2010 in a 1-0 defeat against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

On 7 February, Kamara scored his first goal for Celtic against Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup with a strike from the edge of the box; this match also saw his strike partner Robbie Keane score his first goal for Celtic. On 13 February, he netted his second goal for Celtic and his first SPL goal, coming against Aberdeen in a thrilling 4-4 draw at Pittodrie Stadium. He also provided an assist for a goal by Keane, who in turn had assisted Kamara's goal. On 20 February 2010, Kamara assisted Keane's winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Dundee United. He then sustained an injury that kept him out for approximately one month, returning to play on 13 April 2010 in a 2-0 win against Motherwell. On 25 April, he scored the first of two goals in a 2-0 win against Dundee United after recovering from his injury.

As his loan spell neared its end, Kamara expressed his desire to remain at Celtic permanently, indicating he would be happy to continue at the club under interim boss Neil Lennon following Tony Mowbray's dismissal. He emphasized that securing a permanent deal at Celtic was his "priority." However, the transfer did not materialize as Celtic opted not to pay the 2.50 M GBP buyout clause in his contract. Kamara returned to Fulham and subsequently expressed his ambition to move to his boyhood club, PSG.

2.3.2. Return to Fulham

Upon his return to Fulham, Kamara stated that the newly appointed manager, Mark Hughes, had convinced him to stay, providing him with a fresh opportunity. He also revealed that he would have left Fulham if Roy Hodgson had remained in charge (Hodgson had instead become manager of Liverpool). Kamara received more playing time for Fulham as the club faced limited options due to injuries to Bobby Zamora and Mousa Dembélé. He scored his first league goal of the 2010-11 season on 16 October 2010 against Tottenham Hotspur in a 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage. He also scored in a 2-1 defeat against Arsenal on 4 December 2010 at the Emirates Stadium, playing 73 minutes before being replaced by Andrew Johnson. Despite the loss, Mark Hughes praised Kamara's performance, and Kamara himself expressed his keenness to secure a regular first-team spot. On 8 January 2011, Kamara netted a hat-trick and played the full 90 minutes in the third round of the FA Cup against Peterborough United in a 6-2 victory at Craven Cottage. However, after Zamora and Dembélé returned from injury, Kamara's opportunities became limited once more.

2.3.3. Loan to Leicester City

Leicester City signed Kamara on loan until the end of the 2010-11 season on 21 March 2011, following confirmation of interest from Leicester City manager Sven-Göran Eriksson. Kamara made his competitive debut on 2 April 2011 against Middlesbrough, providing an assist in a 3-3 draw. He scored his first goal for Leicester in a 4-0 victory over Burnley on 9 April. His second goal came against Ipswich, contributing to a 4-2 scoreline. This goal was also notable as the last league goal scored at the Walkers Stadium before it was renamed the King Power Stadium in the summer of 2011. After his loan spell concluded, Kamara admitted his contribution to Leicester City was disappointing but expressed openness to a potential return.

3. International Career

Diomansy Kamara had a distinguished international career with the Senegal national team. He earned 50 caps and scored 10 goals for his country between 2003 and 2011. He represented Senegal at three editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, showcasing his talent on the continental stage.

4. Career Statistics

The following tables detail Diomansy Kamara's professional appearances and goals across his club and international career.

5. Honours

Diomansy Kamara received the following individual honour during his football career:

• PFA Team of the Year: 2006-07 Football League Championship

6. Assessment

Diomansy Kamara was a professional footballer highly regarded for his exceptional speed and agility, qualities that allowed him to be a potent threat in the attacking third. Throughout his career, he consistently demonstrated a knack for scoring crucial goals, particularly evident during his time at West Bromwich Albion where he achieved a prolific 23 goals in a single season. His contributions were often vital for his teams, helping West Bromwich Albion reach the Championship playoff final and scoring key goals that aided Fulham in their successful fight against Premier League relegation. While he faced periods of injuries and fluctuating form, Kamara's ability to impact games with moments of individual brilliance, such as his notable overhead kick goal for Fulham, left a lasting impression. His strong performances also earned him individual accolades, including multiple Player of the Month awards and a spot in the PFA Championship Team of the Year, solidifying his legacy as a valuable and dynamic forward in the leagues he competed in.