Official | Yan Diomandé departs RB Leipzig on record-breaking deal

Official | Yan Diomandé departs RB Leipzig on record-breaking deal RB Leipzig have officially confirmed Yan Diomandé’s record-breaking transfer to Real Madrid. The Spanish giants will pay an initial €125m for the 19-year-old Cote d’Ivoire international. Bonuses could increase the total package to €140m, with €10m of the additional payments reportedly considered easily achievable. Real have handed Diomandé a seven-year contract through June 2033. The agreement makes Diomandé Leipzig’s record sale by a considerable distance. Should the entire package become payable, the winger could also become Real Madrid’s most expensive signing and the highest-priced African footballer in history. Leipzig and Real reached an agreement earlier this week following several difficult negotiating rounds. Leipzig’s strong position was underpinned by Diomandé’s contract through 2030, which contained no release clause. Questions surrounding the player’s representation reportedly complicated discussions, while an illness delayed Diomandé’s arrival at Leipzig’s Austrian training camp. The youngster eventually returned to team training , ending suggestions that he was attempting to force the transfer by refusing to report. Yan Diomandé departs after extraordinary Leipzig season Leipzig paid approximately €20m to sign Diomandé from Spanish second-tier club Leganés last summer. The fee appeared substantial for a player with only ten La Liga appearances at the time, but the winger immediately justified the investment. Diomandé registered 13 goals and ten assists across 36 competitive appearances for Leipzig. His Bundesliga record stood at 12 goals and nine assists from 33 outings. The Ivorian’s pace, direct dribbling and finishing ability enabled him to establish himself without requiring a lengthy adaptation period. His estimated market value subsequently rose from €1.5m to €90m. Former club Leganés are reportedly entitled to five percent of Leipzig’s transfer profit. Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain were previously linked with Diomandé before Real emerged with the most attractive financial package. His arrival in Madrid could eventually see him feature alongside Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior in one of Europe’s fastest attacking units. Marcel Schäfer praises Diomandé’s development Leipzig managing director for sport Marcel Schäfer believes the transfer demonstrates the development opportunities available to young players at the Bundesliga club. “Yan impressed from the first day with his fearlessness, willingness to learn and courage,” Schäfer said. “Within a very short period, he established himself at the highest level with his pace, dribbling ability and goal threat.” “It makes us proud that Yan attracted considerable international attention through his strong performances for RB Leipzig,” Schäfer continued. “It demonstrates the development that young, hungry players with potential can make with us.” Diomandé fulfils childhood dream Diomandé thanked Leipzig for providing the platform that enabled him to establish himself in the Bundesliga, earn a place with the Ivory Coast national team and represent his country at the World Cup. “I am incredibly grateful to RB Leipzig,” Diomandé said. “The club and its management believed in me one year ago. None of this would have been possible without RB Leipzig, and I will always be grateful for that.” “The move to Real Madrid is the fulfillment of a childhood dream,” the winger added. “I will always look back on my time in Leipzig with great pride. This club will always have a special place in my heart.” GGFN  |  Peter Weis