Town have completed the signing of Leeds midfielder Toumani Diagouraga on loan for the remainder of the season.

The 29-year-old completed a medical at Portman Road earlier today and joins up with his new team-mates ahead of Saturday’s game at Preston North End.

Speaking about Diagouraga following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Huddersfield, manager Mick McCarthy said: “[He’s someone to add a bit of power to the midfield] and a bit of ability.

“He was the one at Brentford that got on the ball and started it all off in that really good team that got in the play-offs, I’m delighted with that one.”

Born in Paris of Malian descent, Diagouraga played youth football with Paris St Germain before moving on to Watford, where he made a handful of appearances and spent time on loan with Swindon, Rotherham and Hereford, who he joined on a permanent basis in 2008.

Spells with Peterborough, Brentford and Portsmouth (loan) followed, before he joined Leeds last January.

Delighted to have joined @Official_ITFC can't wait to get started– Toumani diagouraga (@toums20) January 23, 2017

He went on to made 14 starts and 16 sub appearances for the Whites, scoring three goals, but his only game this season was on the opening day of the campaign.

The 6ft 2in tall midfielder, who is contracted to Leeds until the summer of 2018, is surplus to requirements at Elland Road and had been close to a move to Rotherham, but that deal broke down last week.

Diagouraga, who was the Brentford Supporters' Player of the Year in their 2014/15 Championship play-off campaign, has been handed the number 37 shirt.

Photo: Action Images

12th_Man added 17:34 - Jan 23 Been talking to a Leeds utd fan mate of mine and he said he is cr@p
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Seasider added 17:35 - Jan 23 A fellow Parisian to keep Kevin Bru company! Sounds that he played his best with Brentford when they were playing expansive football under the now manager of Glasgow Rangers. I think Kevin Bru would also do well in a team that play pass and move football ,which sadly we don't,and never will whilst this Manager is in charge unfortunately.
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bluey123 added 17:45 - Jan 23 Another loan remember ME saying 5 point plan using young players the rest of the season as we have nothing to play for or have you all forgotten that. Remember Super Mick likes 3 holding players as he successfully did against Super Rotherham last season . Nothing against the bloke probably ok but must be desperate to join Super Micks heros
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1RWR added 17:47 - Jan 23 Give the guy a break, I wish him well & will applaud him when he makes his debut. If he doesn't cut the mustard then he'll soon get the message but let's give the guy a chance first? We've all been wishing for a replacement for Douglas, this could be the man! Manners, welcome dear boy hope you have a pleasant stay.
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righty added 17:47 - Jan 23 Can't believe yet another player no one wants McCarthy OUT
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blueboy1981 added 17:50 - Jan 23 Another 'world class' loanee - in the eyes of some - NOT required by another Championship competitor Club is worth remembering....... !!! I have a feeling that some would be pleased whoever we signed - even Del Boy the Donkey. Never mind - can't be any worse I guess - and he meets the criteria of costing nothing other than the minimum, otherwise he wouldn't be here. Hope he proves me wrong - but can see him only adding to the long list of debatable loanees in terms of value to us. I wish him well - he'll probably need a fair helping of such.

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NoelTheDub added 17:51 - Jan 23 Tounani welcome nothing against you but not the type of signing I was hoping for at this club.The only way I can see this working is getting Douglas and Skuse out of our team and having just you as a holding midfielder we dont need two same types in there.We clearly need changes in management but as this is not happening we have to try something different with the team.Our two young full backs should start in a back 4 with 1 holding 3 in the middle and 2 up top as we dont have the greatest of players available I do believe we can get something more than what McCarthy is getting form them because of his style and tactics it is clearly holding us back.

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blueboy1981 added 17:55 - Jan 23 What 5 Point Plan .... ??? ......... haven't seen much of it yet - and NOT likely to. Some people are easily pacified - and Evans / McCarthy are shrewd enough to know that.
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dugoutdave added 18:00 - Jan 23 I welcome him and hope he put some backbone in the midfield. Mind you god knows how we are going to get a chant going with his name. Perhaps we can call him T'Ga ( as in Tigger from Winnie to Pooh) or maybe just plain old Mani. Anyway I suppose idiot in charge will think up something
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Brownie added 18:00 - Jan 23 I get the issue re too many loans and as stated we would all prefer permanent transfers of quality.. But can I suggest it is unlikely that any club is going to loan you a player they want? So I don't get that point at all. Sometimes loans work for all parties so heres hoping this is one of those. And he is definitely better than other options we see on a weekly basis - one would assume MM will pick him but then again I thought he would pick Williams and he didn't for 2 months even though he was fit..

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mkbobby added 18:00 - Jan 23 I would guess he's better tha amuse and Douglas so I would think both there days are numbered and this fella will be able to do the holding role on his own and allow us to pla a more attacking line up with the 3-5-2 formation , we'll here's hoping anyway
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legoman added 18:07 - Jan 23 Welcome Toumani.
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geminimustang added 18:09 - Jan 23 With all due respect,Leeds are flying at the top and their standard of player is higher than ITFC at this time.He may not have been considered a good fit for Leeds but he's coming here with something to prove and credit to him for making the move.Three signings,Taylor in training,a couple of players still to be bought and suddenly scraping into the play-off's is possible so the season isn't a right off just yet.All good so far,just need a proven goalscorer.

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theblueginger added 18:17 - Jan 23 Well lets see, things can only get better in the midfield compared to the present.
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Spanishblueblood added 18:19 - Jan 23 Geminimustang, Playoffs, ffs, I'll have some of whatever your taking, it sounds great in your world!
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runningout added 18:46 - Jan 23 have learnt not to expect much from recent events
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Surco72 added 18:56 - Jan 23 Personally think this signing is more important than any other , wd need a dominating central midfielder to protect back four , break up play and let other players have more freedom to play attacking football . Skuse and Douglas not up to it look forward to Dozzell or Bishop starting alongside this signing , but as others say will soon probably have a midfield of 4 defensive midfielders when Hyam back to !!

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Bildestoned added 19:16 - Jan 23 By all means someone here check my vitals but........... Sometimes one player can make a huge difference to a team IF that player is able to bring to it something that was previously missing. Let's be positive, it may just be that a strong, bustling ball-winner might just be the catalyst to set off other players. Personally I fear this may prove to be yet another of MM's innefectual signings, but let's wait and see.

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Ipswichbusiness added 19:18 - Jan 23 Oh joy! Oh rapture! Oh bliss!
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geminimustang added 19:35 - Jan 23 "Spanishblueblood added 18:19 - Jan 23 Geminimustang, Playoffs, ffs, I'll have some of whatever your taking, it sounds great in your world!" Remember who told you so!Keep the faith,stay positive,play-off's beckon.I kid you NOT!!!!
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stringtheory added 20:28 - Jan 23 Simple one-line solutions to issues that are definately more complicated. 'Sack the manager', 'sell the club to a multi-millionaire'. One thing Marcus Evans is spot-on with is that this is a three-tier league and no prizes for guessing which tier we're in. Big money is not the guarantee of success that so many posters on here think it will be, just ask Cardiff or Forest supporters, to name just two. I'm friends with a Forest supporter, his club is in a complete mess, As for a new manager, it's a gamble with no guarantee of success. It's seems that posters think that just by changing the manager our problems will be over. Success in this league that so many fans crave will be enjoyed by just three clubs, so by default all other clubs will fail. And yes, I'd love to see scintillating football but would probably trade it for three points. By the way, don't question my loyalty or love the club which is considerably long-term. Let's support the club and team a bit longer, not boycott it.

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chepstowblue added 20:49 - Jan 23 Not at all enthused, Was dreadful against us in the 2 games I saw at Griffin Park. Clumsy and uncoordinated. Spent all game coming deep to take the ball out from the keeper and promptly either gave it straight to us or put it out of play. I remember thinking'jeez he's dreadful'. Thought it was someone winding me up when the news broke. Good luck to him but its got me shaking my head. Dark days.

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Algorfa1978 added 21:04 - Jan 23 He has to be better than Douglas ?
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runaround added 22:51 - Jan 23 Welcome Toumani to ITFC
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brian_a_mul added 23:29 - Jan 23 Think MM is looking to give more protection to his defenders with this signing. Should give the likes of Bish & dozzell more freedom in midfield to link up Lawrence. Best of luck toumani.
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