Real Madrid has reached an agreement with RB Leipzig for the transfer of Yan Diomande. The deal for the Ivory Coast international is reported to be worth up to €140 million, following extensive negotiations between the clubs.
Diomande, who is 19, joined Leipzig’s pre-season training camp in Austria on Monday. His former club, Leganes, is also expected to receive a percentage of the transfer fee, as per the terms of his previous move to Leipzig a year ago.
Reports on July 26 indicated that Madrid was anticipated to reach an agreement for Diomande after Paris Saint-Germain withdrew from negotiations. Liverpool had also shown prior interest in the player.
Diomande’s return to training and Leipzig’s stance
Diomande returned to training with Leipzig after his World Cup campaign with Ivory Coast. Initially, he did not travel to the club’s pre-season training camp in Austria on Saturday, as Leipzig continued discussions with Madrid regarding his transfer.
Leipzig stated that Diomande’s absence from the initial travel was due to him feeling unwell, and that his health was unrelated to his future at the club. He later joined the camp in Saalfelden, Austria, having recovered from an illness.
Leipzig’s sporting director, Marcel Schafer, addressed the transfer speculation directly. He emphasized that despite media reports, no agreement had been finalized for Diomande’s departure. Schafer stated that Diomande remains under contract with Leipzig until 2030 and is their player.
Diomande’s return to training is seen as a significant boost for Die Roten Bullen as they prepare for the 2026-27 campaign under new head coach Martin Demichelis. His involvement in tactical drills in Austria is considered important for Demichelis to build offensive patterns around the winger’s skills.
Impact and future prospects
Diomande joined Leipzig last summer after spending half a season with Leganes. In his debut season in Germany, he scored 13 goals and provided 10 assists in 36 games. He also featured in all four of Ivory Coast’s World Cup matches, where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Norway.
During the 2025-26 Bundesliga season, Diomande largely played on the right wing for Leipzig but also proved to be a useful option on the left. His ability to operate on either flank is a quality Madrid has been seeking, particularly for the right-wing position, which has been inconsistent for them over several years.
Diomande’s performance included attempting take-ons per 90 minutes last season, a figure surpassed by only five wingers across Europe’s top-five leagues. His 55 per cent success rate in take-ons was noted as being better than anyone in the top 75 for take-on attempts.
This summer, Madrid has already secured the signings of Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella, and Carlos Espi. The club is also working on a deal to sign Rodri from Manchester City.
Diomande could be a long-term difference-maker on the right for Madrid. If Vinicius Junior were to depart, Diomande could also fit in on the left. Last season, he played 675 league minutes on the left, contributing three assists and 12 shots, though he did not score in that position.
Leipzig’s competitive schedule for the 2026-27 season is approaching, with their season officially starting with a DFB Cup first-round trip to Eintracht Trier on 22 August. This will be followed by their Bundesliga opener against Borussia Monchengladbach at the Red Bull Arena a week later.
The hype surrounding Diomande is partly due to his rise over the last year, which includes a nomination for the 2026 Golden Boy award alongside teammate Lennart Karl.
The expectation is that Vinicius Junior’s future will be decided in the coming days, with his agent, who also represents Diomande, in Madrid to continue contract negotiations.
Source: nytimes.com
