Real Madrid sign Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig in club-record €135m deal

Real Madrid have completed the signing of Ivorian winger Yan Diomande from German club RB Leipzig for an initial fee of about €135m, with the transfer potentially rising to €140m through performance-related incentives.

The 19-year-old has signed a contract with Real Madrid that will run for five years until June 2033, the Spanish club confirmed during the current summer transfer window.

Diomande’s arrival makes him the most expensive signing in Real Madrid’s history. The final cost could exceed the €127m the club paid for Jude Bellingham, including add-ons, when the England midfielder joined.

The transfer follows a standout season for Diomande in the Bundesliga, where his performances attracted significant attention and prompted Real Madrid to make a major investment in the young forward.

RB Leipzig will receive the bulk of the fee, although Leganes are also due to benefit from the deal. The Spanish club are expected to receive about 5% of the transfer value under a sell-on clause agreed when Diomande previously moved to Leipzig.

Real Madrid have not yet announced details of the player’s salary or confirmed when his official presentation will take place.

The signing also raises questions about the future of Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian’s contract renewal has not yet been finalised, while Diomande’s arrival increases competition for places in Real Madrid’s attack.

Diomande’s transfer is also a club record for Leipzig. It surpasses the €90m deal that took Josko Gvardiol to Manchester City during the 2023-24 season, previously the German club’s highest-value sale.

Real Madrid’s announcement brings an end to the immediate uncertainty surrounding Diomande’s next move after his impressive Bundesliga campaign. The size of the fee underlines the club’s belief in the Ivorian winger, while the potential bonuses could make the deal even more valuable over time.

The agreement was announced on Thursday, 6 August 2026, during the summer transfer window. No further financial details were disclosed by Real Madrid beyond the initial €135m fee and the possible increase to €140m.

Diomande therefore arrives at the Spanish club as both a highly rated young attacker and the most expensive player signed in Real Madrid’s history. His contract length has been confirmed, but the club has yet to provide information about his wages or the date on which he will be formally presented to supporters and the media.