Paris Saint-Germain has been given the green light by Yan Diomande to proceed with a transfer, with the RB Leipzig star having his reasons for snubbing Liverpool
20:59, 28 Jun 2026Updated 21:03, 28 Jun 2026
Yan Diomande has reportedly decided to join PSG over Liverpool
Yan Diomande has reportedly decided to join PSG over Liverpool(Image: Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
RB Leipzig and Ivory Coast star Yan Diomande has prioritized a move to Paris Saint-Germain after dashing Liverpool's transfer hopes, reportedly citing four reasons for his decision to choose the French capital over Merseyside.
Liverpool had been heavily linked with Diomande heading into the summer transfer window, though other elite European clubs were also monitoring the situation. However, according to The Athletic, the 19-year-old wants to join PSG if he does depart Leipzig.
Diomande was seen as Liverpool's next star, with a $115 million package being considered by the club, and he was viewed as a direct replacement for the outgoing Mohamed Salah. Diomande has made a name for himself at the World Cup this summer, and Liverpool's pursuit appears to be over.
Liverpool's proposed package did not suit Leipzig's demands, with the German club holding out for closer to $150 million. Leipzig has also attempted to sign Diomande to a new contract, which could further increase the asking price.
Diomande only signed for Leipzig last summer from Leganes and is contracted through 2030. The Ivorian scored 12 goals and provided nine assists in 33 league matches last season, and has also caught the eye as he's effective on either wing.
The 19-year-old is currently preparing for a Round of 32 knockout World Cup clash with the Ivory Coast, with the nation set to face Norway in Arlington, Texas. Here, Liverpool.com discusses the reasons why Diomande has expressed a desire to join PSG over Liverpool.
PSG project belief
Among several reasons disclosed anonymously to The Athletic, Diomande believes in the PSG project led by chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi and football advisor Luis Campos. PSG has grown massively in recent years, despite moving on from Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe.
Instead of acquiring superstars, PSG has elevated players to the top level. Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are all players who have joined and reached the next level.
Ousmane Dembele earned the Ballon d'Or at PSG
Ousmane Dembele earned the Ballon d'Or at PSG(Image: Xavier Laine/Getty Images)
Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola are other fine examples, and of course, Ousmane Dembele got his career back on track after leaving Barcelona. Should he join, Diomande could become the next big winger in Europe.
Luis Enrique desire
Luis Enrique is one of the most respected head coaches in soccer, and should he ever leave PSG, every club would consider making a move. Enrique is also close to signing a four-year extension, locking him down through 2030.
With Enrique set to confirm his stay, joining the PSG project becomes even more desirable. Pep Guardiola has just departed Manchester City, and Liverpool is entering the unknown with former Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola.
PSG, two-time Champions League winners, is already a dominant force in France. There's no reason Enrique can't build on the recent success.
Hungry for trophies
Diomande wants to regularly compete and win trophies at his next club, and PSG can guarantee silverware. PSG has won the French division more than any other team, though the surge in success has only been recent.
PSG has won Ligue 1 on 14 occasions, surpassing Marseille, which previously held the record of 10. However, PSG won its third title only in the 2012-13 season.
Luis Enrique has made PSG one of the best in the world
Luis Enrique has made PSG one of the best in the world(Image: 2026 Xavier Laine)
A significant takeover has led to PSG winning 12 of the last 14 league titles, with Montpellier and Lille the only others to triumph in that time. PSG is also a two-time reigning Champions League winner, having won the competition for the first time in the 2024-25 season.
Ballon d’Or dreams
Diomande has ambitions of winning the Ballon d'Or, and clearly feels that playing for PSG over Liverpool increases those chances. Dembele is the current Ballon d'Or winner, starring for PSG and the French national team.
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Dembele became the second PSG player to win the Ballon d'Or after Messi, again showing PSG's recent soccer dominance. Should Diomande ever win the prestigious award, he would be the second African, after George Weah in 1995, to do so.
Liverpool has housed a Ballon d'Or winner in the past, Michael Owen in 2001. Since then, stars such as Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah have gone close but have been overlooked.