Ibrahima Konate has reached an agreement with his new club after leaving Liverpool.
Ibrahima Konate has reportedly agreed to join a big European club just days after it was confirmed he’s leaving Liverpool.
After five years with the Reds, the French defender officially left when his contract ended. Konate joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig for £36 million in 2021 and played 183 games for the club. He was an important part of Liverpool’s 20th Premier League win in the 2024/25 season.
During the 2025/26 season, there were talks about a new contract to keep him at Liverpool, but those talks broke down.
“I am really sad I didn’t get to say goodbye to all of you at the last game. I didn’t know it would be the last time wearing this shirt in front of you,” Konate wrote on Instagram after the news came out.
Since then, many have wondered where he might go next. Several top clubs are interested, especially after the World Cup this summer.
Now, reports say the 27-year-old may have already signed with Real Madrid. Spanish outlet Radioestadio Noche says Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, has made a deal with Konate. Perez is currently running for re-election as club president and is using this signing as part of his campaign.
Real Madrid wants to strengthen their defense this summer, and signing Konate for free is a great chance for them, similar to their interest in Trent Alexander-Arnold last summer. The club has been watching Konate closely and had considered signing him earlier this season but decided not to after a slow start.
With Konate leaving, Liverpool fans will wonder who can fill his spot next season. After Liverpool suddenly fired manager Arne Slot, the club’s transfer plans are unclear. One name linked with a return is Jarell Quansah, an academy graduate who left last summer to join Bayer Leverkusen.
Quansah didn’t get much playing time under Slot and left for £35 million. Reports say Liverpool have a buy-back clause of around £70 million this summer, dropping to about £50 million in 2027.
Liverpool is also expected to give young defenders Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni bigger roles next season.