Yan Diomande has given his approval to join Real Madrid, with the Spanish giants edging towards a €120m deal to sign the Ivory Coast international from RB Leipzig.
Real Madrid, now managed by Jose Mourinho, have returned to the negotiating table after an initial offer was rejected, and are understood to be close to finalising the transfer, according to Foot Mercato. The proposed fee is reported to be around €120m, including bonuses.
Diomande, a 19-year-old right winger, is said to have agreed in principle to the move and is ready to leave the Bundesliga club for the 14-time European champions, who see him as a major addition to their attacking options.
Mourinho’s request drives imminent deal
The move is being driven by Mourinho, who has identified Diomande as a key target to inject additional pace into Real Madrid’s forward line. The Portuguese coach is reported to have specifically requested the signing as part of his plans to reshape the attack.
Real’s persistence followed their initial bid being turned down, but their renewed approach has brought them significantly closer to an agreement with RB Leipzig. With Diomande already giving his approval, only a final agreement between the clubs appears to be missing before the transfer can be completed.
Premier League interest fails to sway Diomande
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reports that Manchester City and Arsenal both made contact with Diomande in recent days to explore the possibility of a move to the Premier League.
However, Romano adds that the player did not give either English club a positive response, and crucially, neither Manchester City nor Arsenal have submitted a formal offer to RB Leipzig at this stage. As a result, Real Madrid remain in a strong position to secure his signature.
Long-term Leipzig deal and current valuation
Diomande is under contract with RB Leipzig until 30 June 2030, reflecting how highly the German club rate him and underlining the scale of Real Madrid’s financial commitment if the transfer goes through as reported.
The 19-year-old is currently valued at €90m by Transfermarkt, a figure below the total package Real Madrid are prepared to pay once bonuses are included. In Germany, Diomande earns an annual salary of €750,000, which equates to 487,500,000 FCFA.
The reported agreement in principle with the player, the advanced talks between the clubs and the lack of a concrete bid from Premier League sides mean Real Madrid are now firmly on course to complete one of the most expensive signings in their recent history, subject to the final details being resolved.
