# Cheick Diabate (footballer, born 2002)

Cheick Tiemoko Diabate (born 21 January 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League One club Exeter City.

## Career
### Exeter City

Diabate started his career at Stevenage before a move to Exeter City in 2018. He first appeared in a matchday squad during Exeter's 2–0 away EFL Trophy group-stage victory over Newport County in October 2019, and then later that season enjoyed a brief loan spell with Buckland Athletic. In a disrupted 2020–21 campaign, Diabate had loan spells at Bideford and Tiverton Town before making his Exeter debut in November 2020, featuring for the final twenty-eight minutes of their EFL Trophy tie with West Bromwich Albion U23s, which resulted in a 4–0 win for The Grecians.
On 14 July 2021, Diabate joined Southern League Premier Division South side, Truro City and went onto make his debut during a 1–1 draw with Walton Casuals a month later. He then scored his first career goal in a 4–1 away victory over Poole Town in October before eventually returning to Exeter two months later following an injury crisis at the Devon-based side. He made his league debut for the club just a week later in a 2–1 defeat to Sutton United. He went on to feature heavily in the second half of Exeter's season as they secured promotion to League One. Diabate was rewarded with a new two-year contract in June 2022.
On 30 August 2024, Diabate joined League Two club Bradford City on a season-long loan deal. He was recalled in January 2025.

## Personal life

Diabate's cousin Mory Koné is a former professional footballer, having played for Troyes, Le Mans, and Parma.
Diabate is a Muslim.

## Career statistics

    As of Match played 1 February 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | Division | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Exeter City | 2019–20 | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exeter City | 2020–21 | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Exeter City | 2021–22 | League Two | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 2 |
| Exeter City | 2022–23 | League One | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 1 |
| Exeter City | 2023–24 | League One | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| Exeter City | 2024–25 | League One | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Exeter City | Total | Total | 70 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 80 | 3 |
| Buckland Athletic (loan) | 2019–20 | Western League Premier Division | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Bideford (loan) | 2020–21 | Southern League Division One South | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tiverton Town (loan) | 2020–21 | Southern League Premier Division South | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Truro City (loan) | 2021–22 | Southern League Premier Division South | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 17 | 2 |
| Bradford City (loan) | 2024–25 | EFL League Two | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 97 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 115 | 5 |
* 1 2 3 4 5 Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy
* 1 2 Appearances in the FA Trophy

## Honours

Exeter City
* League Two runner-up: 2021–22