Real Madrid have signed Ivory Coast international Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig for a fee worth up to £120m (140m euros).

The 19-year-old winger has signed a seven-year contract and his price tag could surpass the £115m (133.9m euros) Real agreed to pay Borussia Dortmund for Jude Bellingham in June 2023.

Paris St-Germain had been frontrunners for the teenager but the Champions League winners pulled out of a potential move on Sunday after a £102.5m bid was rejected.

If Real end up paying the full £120m for Diomande he would become the fourth most expensive player in history, behind PSG’s Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, and Liverpool’s former Newcastle striker Alexander Isak.

Diomande is also the most expensive African player, surpassing the £72m Arsenal paid Lille for fellow Ivory Coast international Nicolas Pepe in 2019.

Diomande was previously a target for Liverpool, who had an initial bid of £69m rejected in June, as they search for a replacement for Mohamed Salah, who joined Turkish club Trabzonspor on Thursday.

Diomande’s rapid and remarkable rise to Real Madrid

Diomande is Real’s sixth summer signing under new head coach Jose Mourinho, joining Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella and Carlos Espi.

In a statement, the teenager thanked Leipzig fans for their “incredible support”, and said: “Who knows? Maybe we’ll meet again one day in the Champions League.”

But he said the move to Madrid “is a childhood dream come true”, adding: “I am all the more grateful to the management at RB Leipzig for making this move possible despite my current contract.”

He was named the Bundesliga’s Young Player of the Season for 2025-26, having scored 12 goals and registered eight assists in the competition.

He appeared in all four of Ivory Coast’s World Cup games as they were eliminated in the round of 32 by Norway.

Diomande moved from his native Ivory Coast to an academy in the United States before joining Spanish side Leganes in 2025 and then Leipzig later that year.

Why have Real Madrid signed the teenager?

Real Madrid’s move for Diomande reflects the club’s commitment to signing elite young talents before they reach their peak.

At just 19 years old, the Ivorian winger has become one of the game’s most exciting prospects thanks to his explosive pace, dribbling, creativity and attacking impact.

After scoring 13 goals and providing 10 assists across all competitions in his first full season in Europe with Leipzig, Diomande attracted interest from several major clubs.

One of Diomande’s biggest strengths is his versatility. Comfortable on either wing, he can create chances, beat defenders one-on-one, is a skillful dribbler and can contribute goals.

From the left, he can cut inside on to his right foot and threaten goal, while from the right he can use his pace and crossing ability to create opportunities for team-mates.

This flexibility makes him a strong fit for Real Madrid, who have been searching for greater consistency in the right-wing position.

The 120m euros fee shows how highly Real Madrid rate Diomande’s potential, and they believe he has the ability to become a key player for the future.

Diomande formed a strong partnership with right-back Ridle Baku at Leipzig, and his attacking threat could be enhanced further by linking up with creative and experienced full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cucurella at Real. (BBC)

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