Real Madrid's $161.6 million Yan Diomande transfer deal showed Liverpool exactly how expensive their missed Mohamed Salah successor target became as the Reds turn to alternative winger options
Yan Diomande carries a ball before facing Norway in the World Cup
Liverpool learned Yan Diomande's transfer market value after an agreed move to Real Madrid
Liverpool spent the summer and World Cup break targeting RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande as a possible successor to Mohamed Salah. In the end, the club only learned the price it would have had to pay to sign him after Diomande chose a different destination.
Real Madrid stepped up to pay the final bill necessary to land Diomande, and its price ended up being far more than Anfield ever wanted to dish out.
The La Liga club agreed to a deal worth up to $161.6 million (an approximate value based on currency conversion) for the 19-year-old Ivory Coast international.
Meanwhile, Liverpool continues to eye Bradley Barcola as a Diomande alternative.
Diomande's contract includes a guaranteed base salary of $144.3 million, along with $17.3 million in performance bonuses. This transfer is now the most expensive ever for an African player, surpassing Nicolas Pepe's move from Lille to Arsenal in 2019.
This deal will make Diomande the most expensive signing in Real Madrid history, surpassing the transfer of England's World Cup star Jude Bellingham. It also shows Liverpool what it would have taken financially to sign him.
Liverpool made offers to Leipzig earlier in the transfer window, but both were rejected. One offer was about $133.9 million, and another in June was around $115.4 million.
Yan Diomande dribbles past Maximilian Eggestein
Diomande broke an African player transfer record
Leipzig clearly wanted more, and Paris Saint-Germain agreed on personal terms with Diomande after the World Cup. PSG dropped out when Leipzig rejected their final offer of about $138.5 million. Real Madrid led the charge with new manager Jose Mourinho and agreed personal terms with Diomande through 2031.
After finishing second to Barcelona in La Liga last season, Real Madrid has refreshed their squad by signing Diomande, Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, and Denzel Dumfries.
There is a minor delay because of a FIFA dispute between Diomande's former agency, Maxidel, and his current agency, Roc Nation. Both clubs still expect the deal to be confirmed this week.
Yan Diomande wins a duel against Torbjorn Heggem
Liverpool made multiple reported bids for Diomande
Salah earned an estimated $34.6 million per year last season as Liverpool's top earner, according to Capology. Virgil van Dijk made $27.7 million, and Alexander Isak earned $20.8 million.
Diomande's future salary has not been announced, but Capology records show he earned about $20,557 per week last season in the Bundesliga. His contract was signed in July 2025 and was set to run until 2030.
Current Liverpool wage projections list Van Dijk as the highest next season, followed by Ryan Gravenberch at $24.2 million and Isak at $20.8 million. Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo also make $20.8 million, while Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike earn $17.3 million.