Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande has admitted he would feel “happy and motivated” if he were to join Premier League side Chelsea, as speculation continues to grow around his future at RB Leipzig.
The 19-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough season in Germany following his move from CD Leganés last summer, quickly establishing himself as one of the most exciting young attacking talents in European football.
Diomande has registered 13 goals and eight assists in 35 appearances across all competitions, a return that has attracted attention from several of Europe’s top clubs.
Among those reportedly monitoring his progress are Arsenal, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, while Chelsea are also said to be considering a move as they look to strengthen their attacking options.
The London club’s interest comes amid a period of transition, with Chelsea seeking greater consistency in attack following underwhelming debut campaigns from several of their recent signings.
While the Blues are prioritising defensive reinforcements this summer, they are also expected to explore opportunities to add versatility and pace in forward positions.
However, any potential deal for Diomande is expected to be complicated.
Leipzig are understood to be unwilling to sell the winger this summer and are reportedly valuing him at more than €100m.
Despite the strong interest, Diomande has insisted his focus remains firmly on his performances on the pitch.
Speaking about the transfer speculation linking him with some of Europe’s biggest clubs, he said:
“Of course, if you imagine someone saying you have to go to Chelsea or Real Madrid to do this job, you’re going to be happy and motivated to do more,” he admitted (via BuliNews).
“But I don’t think about this kind of thing because I’m trying to be focused on the pitch. Because my job is playing football, I leave everything else outside the pitch. It gives me a lot of motivation to see clubs speak about me. I’m focused.”
The Ivorian forward also confirmed he remains under contract with Leipzig until 2030, stressing his commitment to the Bundesliga club for the foreseeable future.
“My contract runs until 2030, so I have four more years. I don’t know what’s going to happen after that. I’m a Leipzig player.”
Diomande’s rapid rise has been particularly notable given his brief spell at Leganés, where he spent just six months before completing his move to Germany.
He expressed gratitude to Leipzig for taking a significant gamble on him at an early stage of his career, describing their decision as a turning point.
“That’s a big motivation because nobody knew me before. Paying €20m for a player that nobody knows is a lot. That was a big risk for them, and I’m thankful for that,” he said.
