Ibrahima Konate is now set to join Real Madrid on a free transfer, with reports he has reached a verbal agreement just two days after confirming his Liverpool exit.
Konate’s departure from Anfield was officially announced on Sunday evening, with the Konate saying he was “deeply saddened” at not being able to say goodbye to the fans.
Two days later and the Frenchman is reportedly close to a move to Real Madrid, with a verbal agreement over a four-year contract.
Fabrizio Romano and the Telegraph‘s Mike McGrath explain that the deal is likely to go through provided Florentino Perez is re-elected as Real president on Sunday.
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate reacts to conceding the second goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Romano writes on X that Konate “put Saudi bids on hold” to negotiate terms with Real, having received two offers from sides in the Middle East.
McGrath claims that the 27-year-old “decided to walk away” from Liverpool “rather than sign a new deal,” while Ben Jacobs reports on X that Real were “well-positioned having already discussed terms last year.”
Talks were seemingly ongoing behind the scenes despite Real publicly ending their interest – which was certainly legal as of January 1, but conflicts with Konate’s assertion in April that he “always wanted” to re-sign.
If Konate does put pen to paper at Real as is now expected, he would be the second player to make the move from Anfield to the Bernabeu in as many seasons.
Trent Alexander-Arnold saw his reputation on Merseyside decline irrevocably as he allowed his contract to run down before sealing a transfer which eventually earned his boyhood club just £8.4 million.
The right-back endured a difficult first season at Real, who finished behind champions Barcelona in LaLiga and were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich.
He is now likely to begin his second campaign reunited with the centre-back he started alongside for four years at Liverpool.
MILAN, ITALY - Tuesday, September 17, 2024: Liverpool's Ibrahima Konaté (L) celebrates with team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold after scoring his side's first equalising goal with a header during the UEFA Champions League game between AC Milan and Liverpool FC at the Stadio San Siro. Liverpool won 3-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Konate and Alexander-Arnold made 93 appearances together while with the Reds, with the former often credited with covering for the latter’s defensive flaws due to his ability to dominate wide spaces.
Liverpool have already replaced Konate with countryman Jeremy Jacquet, 20, who will arrive from Rennes in a deal worth £60 million this summer.
Jacquet looks set to compete with 19-year-old Giovanni Leoni for the regular starting spot alongside Virgil van Dijk, with Joe Gomez poised to stay as experienced backup.