Former Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Bony has described Yan Diomandé and the move to Real Madrid as the “absolute pinnacle” of football, after the teenager completed a record-breaking transfer to the Spanish giants.
Real Madrid confirmed the signing of the 19-year-old winger from RB Leipzig on a seven-year contract that will keep him at the Santiago Bernabéu until 2033.
The deal, reportedly worth €125 million excluding bonuses, represents a historic moment for Ivorian football and makes Diomandé the most expensive African player in history.
Bony, who enjoyed a successful international career with the Ivory Coast national team, believes the length of Diomandé’s contract shows the level of faith Real Madrid have placed in the young attacker.
“When a club like Real Madrid puts a record check on the table and offers you a seven-year contract, it’s not just about making money.
“It’s proof that they’ve recognized Yan Diomandé’s extraordinary potential and that they want to build the future around him. At 19, being entrusted with the keys to a long-term project at the Santiago Bernabéu is the absolute pinnacle for a footballer,” Bony said.
Diomandé’s transfer marks another significant milestone for Ivory Coast, which has produced several top-level footballers but has never had a player command a fee of this size.
Bony believes the move can serve as motivation for young footballers across the country, particularly those hoping to follow Diomandé’s path from local football to the biggest stages in Europe.
“Seeing a kid from Abidjan sign with Real Madrid for seven seasons is a source of immense pride for the entire country and for our football. It shows our young people that hard work and discipline pay off. We’ll all be behind him, pushing him to reach the top,” he added.
Diomandé joins Real Madrid after a breakthrough season with RB Leipzig, where his performances attracted attention from several major European clubs.
The Ivory Coast international scored 13 goals and provided 10 assists in 36 appearances across all competitions, convincing Real Madrid to move ahead of rivals interested in securing his services.
The teenager had also been monitored by Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool before choosing the Spanish club. Liverpool reportedly saw an earlier offer rejected as they looked for attacking reinforcements.
The transfer places Diomandé among the most expensive footballers in history. If all bonuses are activated, his fee could rise to €140 million, surpassing Real Madrid’s previous record investment in Jude Bellingham, who joined from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth €134 million.
The Ivorian winger also moves ahead of Nicolas Pépé as Africa’s most expensive footballer. Arsenal paid Lille €72 million for Pépé in 2019.
