Ibrahima Konate will join Real Madrid in 2026 on a four-year contract after leaving Liverpool.
Ibrahima Konaté has agreed to join Real Madrid on a four-year deal starting in 2026, signing a contract that will keep him at the club until June 2030.
The French defender will leave Liverpool as a free agent when his current contract expires at the end of June.
Konaté is also part of France’s squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
His departure from Liverpool follows failed contract negotiations, with the club unable to meet his wage and valuation demands.
Konaté joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021 for £35 million on a five-year deal.
Over his five years at Anfield, he made 183 appearances across all competitions, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and two League Cups.
The defender expressed regret over not being able to say goodbye to Liverpool fans during the final Premier League game against Brentford on May 24, as he was unsure at the time that it would be his last match for the club.
The breakdown in contract talks with Liverpool left Konaté’s future uncertain, prompting his eventual move to Real Madrid.
He admitted feeling deeply saddened after the Brentford match, realizing it would be his final appearance in a Liverpool shirt.
Real Madrid has strengthened its squad with the appointment of José Mourinho for a second managerial spell.
Bernardo Silva, a 31-year-old Portuguese midfielder, will join as a free agent after leaving Manchester City.
Additionally, the club secured Spain defender Marc Cucurella from Chelsea for £51.8 million, reinforcing their defensive options.
Last season saw Real Madrid fail to win any trophies under their previous management.
The club’s summer signings—Cucurella, Silva, and now Konaté—aim to bolster the squad for the new campaign.
With these additions, Real Madrid enters the next season with higher expectations, seeking to regain their competitive edge.