Former France international Lassana Diarra has reached an agreement with FIFA and the Belgian Football Association, bringing an end to his long-running legal dispute reportedly worth €65 million ($76 million).
A source close to the matter told AFP on Monday that the settlement resolves years of litigation that stemmed from a disagreement over the midfielder’s departure from Lokomotiv Moscow in 2014.
Diarra, who previously played for Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid, challenged FIFA’s transfer regulations, leading to a landmark ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union in October 2024.
The court found that certain FIFA transfer rules restricted the free movement of players by exposing them and prospective clubs to significant legal, financial and sporting risks. The ruling prompted FIFA to revise aspects of its transfer regulations.
Following the judgment, Diarra announced plans to pursue further action through Belgian courts to enforce the decision. However, both sides have now reached a comprehensive settlement.
In a statement to AFP, FIFA confirmed that all legal proceedings involving Diarra had been resolved through an agreement. The governing body stressed that it did not admit any wrongdoing and had not paid compensation as part of the settlement.
The dispute originated after Diarra left Lokomotiv Moscow following a substantial reduction in his salary. The Russian club argued that he had terminated his contract unfairly and initially sought €20 million in damages, later reducing the claim to €10.5 million.
The case also affected a proposed move to Charleroi, which reportedly declined to sign the player because of concerns over potential financial liability linked to the dispute.
The ruling has since fuelled wider calls for reform of the international transfer system, with the Justice for Players Foundation launching a class-action initiative backed by several national footballers’ unions, including France’s UNFP.