Real Madrid agree €125m move for Yan Diomande in club-record deal

Real Madrid and RB Leipzig have reached an agreement for the transfer of Ivory Coast forward Yan Diomande, with the player travelling to Madrid for a medical before a move to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.

All the final arrangements were completed on Thursday morning, according to Spanish newspaper Marca, and Diomande is already on his way to the Spanish capital to undergo the required medical examinations.

Real Madrid could officially announce the signing later on Thursday. If completed as expected, the transfer will become the most expensive in the club’s history, with an initial fee of €125m and a further €10m-€15m available in add-ons.

The agreement represents a major investment in Diomande, who will arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu after Real Madrid and RB Leipzig concluded their negotiations. The total value of the deal will exceed the club’s previous record outlay once the potential bonuses are included.

Real Madrid have also spent €55m on Marc Cucurella, €25m on Carlos Espai and €20m on Denzel Dumfries. Those deals, together with the €125m fee for Diomande, take the club’s spending on those transfers to a combined €225m before add-ons.

Ibrahima Konate and Bernardo Silva, meanwhile, joined the Spanish club on free transfers. Real Madrid have offset much of their expenditure through income from player sales, with the club receiving €184.5m from the departures of players from its youth academy.

The signing of Diomande is not expected to affect Real Madrid’s negotiations with Vinicius Junior over his future, Marca reported. The Brazil forward’s current contract is due to expire at the end of next season, while Arsenal are showing significant interest in signing him.

That situation means Real Madrid still face discussions over Vinicius Junior’s contract despite completing what would be the biggest transfer in their history. The club’s agreement for Diomande is regarded as a separate matter and should not prevent talks over the Brazilian’s long-term position at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The final move remains subject to Diomande completing his medical. Once those examinations have been passed, Real Madrid are expected to confirm the transfer officially, potentially as early as Thursday.