Real Madrid have struck a club-record agreement with RB Leipzig for the signing of Yan Diomande, a deal reported to be worth up to €140m (£120m), as the Spanish giants continue to reshape their squad under new manager José Mourinho.
The move for the 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger was finalised on Wednesday after weeks of negotiations that saw Paris Saint-Germain withdraw from the race. According to reports, Madrid will pay an initial €125m with a further €10m in potential add-ons, a package that surpasses the fee the club paid Borussia Dortmund for Jude Bellingham in 2023, which was worth up to €134m with bonuses included.
Diomande only joined Leipzig from Spanish side Leganés last summer for around €20m (£17.4m), despite making just 10 senior appearances for the club. He impressed for Côte d'Ivoire at the World Cup and was pictured arriving at Leipzig's pre-season training base in Austria this week before the transfer was completed. Leganés are set to receive a 5% sell-on fee from the deal.
The teenager is expected to sign a long-term contract with Real Madrid running until 2031, and the transfer fee makes him the most expensive African footballer in history, eclipsing the £72m Arsenal paid Lille for Nicolas Pépé back in 2019.
While the Diomande deal dominates headlines, it is not expected to influence Real Madrid's efforts to keep hold of Vinícius Júnior, who has attracted strong interest from Arsenal. The Brazilian forward, who has less than a year remaining on his current deal, met with Madrid officials on Wednesday alongside representatives from his agency, Roc Nation, to discuss a new contract.
Arsenal are reportedly prepared to pay in excess of £100m to sign the 26-year-old should he decide against extending his stay in the Spanish capital. However, sources close to the situation described the talks between Vinícius and Madrid as positive, with the forward said to be considering an improved offer believed to be close to the €30m-a-year salary he has been seeking.
Speaking earlier this week, Vinícius revealed that Mourinho, who has taken charge at the Bernabéu, wants him focused on enjoying his football. "Mourinho wants me to be happy, cheerful and playing my football," Vinícius said after returning to pre-season training following the World Cup.
Should Vinícius commit his future to Real Madrid, Arsenal are expected to turn their attention elsewhere in attack. The north London club have already agreed a £75m deal to sign Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United, and have been exploring other forward targets.
Among the players linked with Arsenal is Atlético Madrid's Julián Álvarez, with Barcelona's sporting director, Deco, also holding talks over the Argentine forward. Arsenal had previously missed out on Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, who instead joined Chelsea for a British record fee of £117m. The Gunners have also been credited with interest in Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, who is valued at around £145m and is also a target for Liverpool.
Real Madrid's transfer business continues to generate significant attention as the club looks to strengthen its squad while managing the futures of key first-team players amid a busy summer transfer window.
Based on reporting from The Guardian and BBC Sport.