Real Madrid announced the signing of Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig on August 6, 2026. The 19-year-old inked a seven-year deal running until June 30, 2033, after the club agreed a transfer fee reported to be up to €140 million including add-ons, making it Real Madrid’s most expensive signing ever [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7].
Diomande joins Real Madrid following a breakthrough season in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig. He scored 12 league goals and provided between 8 and 9 assists during the 2025-26 campaign. His performances helped Leipzig finish third in the Bundesliga and secure a spot in the Champions League for the next season [1, 2, 3, 5, 7]. The winger was also named Bundesliga Rookie or Young Player of the Season for 2025-26 [1, 3, 5, 7].
Before moving to Leipzig in 2025, Diomande played for Spanish side Leganes. He represented Ivory Coast at the 2026 World Cup, featuring in all their matches until the quarter-finals [2, 3, 5, 7].
The transfer fee reportedly includes a base amount around €125 million with additional payments of €10-15 million in potential add-ons. This surpasses Real Madrid’s previous record transfer for Jude Bellingham in 2023 [2, 3, 4, 7]. The deal could also make Diomande the most expensive African player ever and the fourth-most expensive footballer of all time [4, 7].
Paris Saint-Germain withdrew from the race over concerns about the fee, and Liverpool had an earlier bid rejected [1, 3, 5]. Diomande becomes Real Madrid’s sixth signing in the 2026 summer transfer window under new head coach Jose Mourinho [3, 5, 7]. Meanwhile, Real Madrid are working to keep Vinícius Júnior amid interest from Arsenal, with Vinícius saying Mourinho wants him to be "happy, cheerful and playing my football" [4].
