Adama Traoré
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Personal information
Full name
Adama Traoré Diarra
Date of birth
25 January 1996
Place of birth
L'Hospitalet, Spain
Height
1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position
Winger
Club information
Current team
Middlesbrough
Number
37
Youth career
Hospitalet
Barcelona
2004-2014
Senior career*
Barcelona B
2013-2015
63x apps / 8x goals
Barcelona
2013-2015
1x apps / 0x goal
Aston Villa
2015-2016
11x apps / 0x goal
Middlesbrough
2016-
34x apps / 0x goal
National team
Spain U16
2012
5x apps / 0x goal
Spain U17
2012-2013
5x apps / 1x goal
Spain U19
2013-2014
6x apps / 0x goal
(* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 November 2017.)
Adama Traoré Diarra, known simply as Adama, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger for English club Middlesbrough.
He started his career with Barcelona, appearing mainly for the reserves.
In 2015 he signed with Aston Villa, and a year later Middlesbrough.
Adama represented Spain at under-16, under-17 and under-19 levels.
Club career
Barcelona
Born in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia to Malian parents, Adama joined FC Barcelona's youth setup in 2004 at the age of eight, after a brief period with neighbouring CE L'Hospitalet.
In 2013 he was promoted to the B-team, and made his professional debut on 6 October in a 1:0 away defeat against SD Ponferradina for the Segunda División championship.
On 9 November 2013, Adama came on as a half-time substitute but was sent off for conceding a penalty in a 0:3 loss to Real Jaén at the Mini Estadi.
Two weeks later, he played his first La Liga game at the age of only 17, replacing Neymar late on in the 4:0 home win over Granada CF.
He made his first appearance in the UEFA Champions League on 26 November, coming on for Cesc Fàbregas in the 82nd minute of a 1:2 defeat at AFC Ajax for the group stage.
Adama also featured for Barcelona's under-19 side in the inaugural edition of the UEFA Youth League, playing five times and netting twice as they won the trophy.
He scored his first goal for the Blaugrana's main squad on 16 December 2014, playing 16 minutes and contributing to an 8:1 home demolition of SD Huesca in the Copa del Rey.
Aston Villa
On 14 August 2015, Adama joined Premier League club Aston Villa on a five-year deal for a reported £7 million (€10 million) that could rise to €12 million, with Barcelona inserting a three-year buy-back clause in his contract.
He made his debut eight days later against Crystal Palace, and his cross led to an own goal from Pape Souaré eight minutes after he had entered the game as a substitute for Carlos Sánchez.
He scored his first goal three days later, the team's first of a 5:3 home win over Notts County in the League Cup second round.
Adama came on as a second-half substitute for the last-placed Villans away to relegation rivals Sunderland on 2 January 2016, and via a counter-attack he assisted compatriot Carles Gil's aerial volley equalizer. He was later replaced himself through injury, as his team lost 3:1.
Following that game, he was dropped from the team due to indiscipline, as the season ended with relegation.
Middlesbrough
On 31 August 2016, Adama signed with fellow league team Middlesbrough on a four-year deal, under compatriot manager Aitor Karanka.
He made his debut on 10 September 2016, in a 1:2 home loss to Crystal Palace, replacing Cristhian Stuani for the final nine minutes.