Real Madrid announce Ibrahima Konate transfer while Liverpool respond with a strong statement
Liverpool have shared a brief update confirming that Ibrahima Konate is joining Real Madrid on a free transfer. His contract with Liverpool ended on June 30, and after some talks, they couldn’t agree on a new deal.
Konate played his last match for Liverpool against Bournemouth at Anfield. Afterward, he wrote on Instagram that he was “deeply saddened” he didn’t get to say goodbye to the fans in person and sent them a heartfelt message.
Soon after, talks with Real Madrid moved quickly. It was widely reported that Konate would be joining the club, along with players like Denzel Dumfries, Bernardo Silva, and Marc Cucurella. On June 18, Real Madrid officially announced they had signed the French defender, and Liverpool followed with a straightforward statement on their website.
Liverpool’s message highlighted Konate’s time at the club, mentioning he made 183 appearances and won several trophies, including the Premier League, FA Cup, two Carabao Cups, and the Community Shield. They also shared Real Madrid’s announcement, which confirmed Konate signed a four-year deal that will run until 2030.
Konate’s new contract is part of a big rebuild at Real under coach Jose Mourinho. Before leaving Liverpool, Konate said he was “close to an agreement” to stay but eventually decided to move on.
Reports say Konate will earn around €24 million before tax per year at Real Madrid—about £400,000 per week—which is a big increase from his Liverpool salary of roughly £150,000 per week. His deal is reportedly worth £83 million overall, plus a signing bonus of £17 million.
Currently, Konate is playing for France at the World Cup and is expected to be officially introduced by Real Madrid after the tournament ends. At Real, he will compete for a spot in central defense with players like Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao. His job will be to help the team bounce back after a tough season without any trophies.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are planning to find a replacement. They’ve already made a move by signing 20-year-old Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes for £55 million, ready to join in January.