Real Madrid complete €140m signing of Diomande

Real Madrid have announced the signing of Ivory Coast national team player Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig in a deal worth up to €140 million (£120 million), with the highly regarded youngster signing a seven-year contract with Real Madrid.

As BBC Sport had reported on Thursday, the transfer ensures that the 19-year-old winger is now one of the most expensive players signed by Real Madrid with the transfer fee being higher than the amount paid to Borussia Dortmund for England midfielder Jude Bellingham in 2023.

The young player had been a target of many top European sides after putting up an impressive show for RB Leipzig. However, Paris Saint-Germain were leading the pack in the race for his signature before pulling out of the chase after their €120 million (£102.5 million) bid was rejected.

Liverpool were also among the clubs interested in the Ivorian winger and had an initial £69 million offer turned down as they searched for a replacement for Mohamed Salah.

The teenager becomes Real Madrid’s sixth signing of the summer under head coach Jose Mourinho, joining Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella and Carlos Espi.

Diomande arrives in Spain after an impressive 2025–26 season in Germany, where he was named the Bundesliga Young Player of the Season. He scored 12 league goals and provided eight assists, while registering 13 goals and 10 assists across all competitions.

The winger also represented Ivory Coast at the FIFA World Cup, featuring in all four matches as the Elephants reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Norway.

Diomande’s rise has been rapid. After leaving his native Ivory Coast for an academy in the United States, he joined Spanish side Leganés in 2025 before securing a move to RB Leipzig later that year.

Known for his pace, dribbling ability and versatility, Diomande is capable of playing on either wing and is expected to strengthen Real Madrid’s attacking options ahead of the new season.

The Spanish champions view the teenager as one of Europe’s brightest young talents and believe he has the potential to become a key player for the club in the years ahead.