Diomandé, record Real Madrid signing for an untested winger, masterstroke or fresh folly?

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·7 August 2026

Real Madrid have signed Ivorian winger Yan Diomandé from Leipzig for €140 million, the costliest transfer in the club’s history.

The club confirmed the move on Thursday afternoon, with Diomandé agreeing a seven-year contract.

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The fee comprises €125 million plus €15 million in bonuses.

It is also a record outlay for an African player, and the deal represents the longest contract the club have ever offered.

The scale of the investment prompts the question of why Madrid have broken the bank for a 19-year-old who has yet to prove much at the highest level.

Source: L'Équipe

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