Aliou Fadiala Diarra has joined Italian basketball outfit Virtus Bologna after a one-year spell with APR.

The Malian power forward, 23, has recently featured in the NBA Summer League 2025 with Dallas Mavericks, recording a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds during his side's 92-69 victory over Orlando Magic.

He will be teaming up with his fellow players of African descent, including Senegalese-Italian Saliou Niang, Senegalese-Italian Mouhamet Diouf, and Italian-Congolese Nicola Akele at Virtus Bologna.

Virtus Bologna are aiming to defend the Italian Lega Basket Serie A title, having claimed the 2024-25 championship.

Diarra became part of APR in July 2024 and spearheaded them to a historic third-place finish at the BAL 2025. He was named the Dikembe Mutombo Defensive Player of the Year at the BAL 2025.

Moreover, he guided APR to the 2024 league glory and the finals of the 2025 playoffs, which he missed while participating in the NBA Summer League 2025. However, APR clinched the title with a 4-2 series win against REG.

The Power forward also played for Stade Malien and FUS Rabat in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns, respectively.