Real Madrid make Diomande Africa's most expensive player

Real Madrid has secured the services of Ivory Coast international striker Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig in a deal worth up to £120 million (140 million euros). The 19-year-old winger has agreed to a seven-year contract, a price tag that could exceed the £115 million (133.9 million euros) Real paid for Jude Bellingham last June. Initially, Paris St-Germain were leading the race for Diomande, but the Champions League winners rejected a £102.5 million offer.

If Real complete the full £120 million transfer, the young player would become the fourth most expensive player in history, behind Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, and Alexander Isak of Liverpool. Diomande is also the most expensive African player, surpassing the £72 million Arsenal paid for Lille's Nicolas Pepe in 2019. The young Ivorian was previously targeted by Liverpool, who had already rejected a £69 million bid in June.

Diomande's rapid rise to Real Madrid marks his sixth summer signing under new coach Jose Mourinho, joining Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella, and Carlos Espi. The teenager expressed his gratitude to Leipzig fans and emphasized that the move to Madrid is a childhood dream coming true. In his debut season with Leipzig, Diomande scored 13 goals and provided 10 assists across all competitions.

His versatility, speed, dribbling, creativity, and attacking impact make him an attractive prospect for the Spanish giants, who have been seeking a reliable right-wing player to bolster their squad.