Football · Madrid and Liverpool
Real Madrid complete free transfer for France defender Ibrahima Konaté from Liverpool on four-year deal
The French centre-back moves to the Bernabéu on a contract until June 2030 after failing to agree an extension at Anfield, becoming José Mourinho’s third summer signing.
AI text based on reports by France 24, G4Media.ro, Al Jazeera Online and other publishers. Changed . How it is made
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In brief
Konaté signs until June 2030 after his Liverpool contract expired; no fee involved because the two parties could not agree new terms.
He follows Marc Cucurella (€55m from Chelsea) and Bernardo Silva (free from Manchester City) in a squad reset after two trophy-less seasons.
The defender won the 2024-25 league championship, FA Cup and two League Cups with the Reds, and played in the 2022 Champions League final against Real Madrid.
Konaté is with the national team during the tournament but did not play in the opening 3-1 victory over Senegal.
The deal
Real Madrid announced on Thursday that Ibrahima Konaté has agreed a four-year contract running to 30 June 2030. The 27-year-old arrives on a free transfer after his Liverpool deal expired, with the two sides unable to bridge a gap over the defender’s valuation and wages. Konaté is currently with the France squad at the 2026 World Cup.
Mourinho’s rebuild
The France international is the third player to join since José Mourinho returned for a second spell as head coach in early June. Real had already signed left-back Marc Cucurella from Chelsea for around 55 million euros and midfielder Bernardo Silva on a free from Manchester City. The club has also renewed Antonio Rüdiger’s contract while allowing Dani Carvajal and David Alaba to leave.
- Marc Cucurella
- 55 € million
- Bernardo Silva
- 0 € million
- Ibrahima Konaté
- 0 € million
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What Konaté brings
Konaté made 183 appearances in five seasons at Liverpool after joining from RB Leipzig in 2021 for £35m. He won the Premier League title in 2024-25, the FA Cup in 2022, and two League Cups, and was a Champions League runner-up against Real Madrid in 2022. Last season he played 36 Premier League matches and logged over 4,200 minutes across all competitions. He is expected to add physical presence and coverage to a Madrid back line that has often been short of options.
Reaction
“At that moment, I didn’t know it would be my final time wearing this shirt in front of you.”
Konaté, who did not feature in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal at the World Cup, said he was deeply saddened not to say goodbye to Liverpool supporters. Cucurella, speaking about Mourinho, told El Mundo:
“We spoke and he told me he was looking forward to working with me, that I would adapt well and that Real Madrid is a great club.”
What’s next
Real are overhauling a squad that has gone two consecutive seasons without a major trophy. With Konaté, Rüdiger, Dean Huijsen, Raúl Asencio and Éder Militão now competing at centre-back, Mourinho has depth in a position that had relied on midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni filling in. Reports also link the club with Inter Milan wing-back Denzel Dumfries.
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Sources and context
- France 24What Real Madrid's new signings add to Mourinho's project
- G4Media.roReal Madrid, transfer la zero costuri pentru fundașul lui Liverpool
- Al Jazeera OnlineReal Madrid sign France international Ibrahima Konate from Liverpool
- rts.chReal Madrid: le Français Ibrahima Konaté signe un contrat jusqu'en 2030
- Ibrahima Konaté
- French defender signing a four-year free transfer from Liverpool to Real Madrid
- José Mourinho
- Real Madrid head coach overseeing the summer rebuild
- Marc Cucurella
- Spanish left-back signed from Chelsea for €55 million
- Bernardo Silva
- Portuguese midfielder joining on a free transfer from Manchester City
- Antonio Rüdiger
- German centre-back who recently renewed his contract with Real Madrid
- Florentino Pérez
- Real Madrid president confirmed the transfer after his re-election
- Places
- Mexico, United States
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