Ivory Coast forward Yan Diomande has been shortlisted for the prestigious Golden Boy award alongside Real Madrid team-mate Endrick and Thiago Pitarch, following his recent high-profile move from RB Leipzig.
Diomande is the latest of the three players to make the list, according to journalist Arancha Rodriguez, after completing his move to Real Madrid.
The 20-year-old Ivorian has been rewarded for a breakthrough campaign that saw him make a strong impression in the Bundesliga before further enhancing his reputation at the World Cup.
His inclusion comes shortly after his big-money transfer from RB Leipzig to Real Madrid, where he is expected to develop into an important attacking option under manager Jose Mourinho.
The Golden Boy award recognises the best young player in European football and Diomande’s nomination places him among a group of the continent’s most highly regarded emerging talents.
For the Ivorian, the recognition caps a rapid rise that has taken him from a promising player at Leipzig to a new challenge with one of the biggest clubs in world football.
Diomande’s first Bundesliga campaign was central to his emergence. His performances in Germany attracted attention before he carried that form onto the international stage at the World Cup.
That combination has now earned him a place on the Golden Boy shortlist.
He is joined on the list by Endrick, another young attacking player at Real Madrid, while Thiago Pitarch completes the trio identified in the report.
Diomande’s arrival at Real Madrid has therefore come at an important point in his development. The club’s decision to invest heavily in the Ivorian reflects the potential he showed during his breakthrough season.
His Golden Boy nomination provides another indication of how highly he is regarded.
The award also gives Diomande an opportunity to measure himself against some of the most promising young players in European football.
