Liverpool 27-year-old defender Ibrahima Konate may be headed to a prominent Reds Champions League rival on a free transfer in the wake of the sudden news of his Anfield exit
01:53, 29 May 2026Updated 01:58, 29 May 2026
Ibrahima Konate
Ibrahima Konate is likely on the way out of Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Ibrahima Konate's contract situation with Liverpool has been well documented: The 27-year-old central defender is out of contract on June 30th and free to negotiate with other teams.
Reports emerged on Thursday evening that the French international would not be resigning with the Reds. Then, a new rumor: French giant Paris Saint-Germain is the favorite for Konate's signature.
Liverpool lost to PSG in each of the last two Champions League knockout stages, with Konate a fixture in the Reds' defense for both ties. He would join a crowded center-back room in Paris, a team preparing to face Arsenal in Saturday's Champions League final.
PSG is captained by 32-year-old Marquinhos, though the Brazilian may soon be on the way out of the club after over a decade-plus tenure.
24-year-old William Pacho has started most Champions League games for PSG over the last two years, but he may miss Saturday's final with an injury.
Ibrahima Konate
Ibrahima Konate defending Ousmane Dembele in the Champions League(Image: Getty Images)
Behind him, the French outfit also has former Bournemouth defender Ilya Zabaryni and Brazilian 22-year-old Lucas Beraldo. French international Lucas Hernandez can also play center-back.
Konate joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig for £36 million ($48 million) in the summer of 2021. He made 51 appearances for the Reds in 2021 and has captured every domestic trophy during his five-year stint.
Ibrahima Konate
Ibrahima Konate was named in France's World Cup team(Image: Getty Images)
The 27-year-old has been relatively coy about his future, though Konate did open up on the subject in April.
“My future? There are many things people have said, but for a long time we have spoken with the club, and we are close to an agreement," he revealed. "I think everyone wished for that for as long as possible, but we are in a good way.
“There is a big chance I’m here next season. This is what I always wanted. I’m waiting to sort the contract, but when everything is sorted, you will have to ask Richard [Hughes, Liverpool’s sporting director] what I said to him in September, November, and he’s going to say something to make everyone quiet.”
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Liverpool is captained by center-back Virgil van Dijk, but the club isn't blessed with depth behind him, considering that longtime Reds stalwart Joe Gomez seems likely to follow Konate out the door this summer.
Giovanni Leioni made just one appearance last year before a torn ACL prematurely ended his season. Liverpool signed Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet to a pre-agreement in the winter, though the Frenchman missed most of 2026 through injury.