Liverpool transfer target Yan Diomande has said he will stay at RB Leipzig next season, despite attracting interest from several clubs.
Diomande has been the name most heavily linked to Liverpool ahead of the summer transfer window, but he has now appeared to confirm he will stay in the Bundesliga.
Asked by Kicker if he will remain at RB Leipzig next season, the 19-year-old simply replied: “Yes.”
It seems unusual for a player to make such a categorical statement in the modern game, and he did then caveat his answer.
“I’m not thinking about that right now,” said Diomande, who is reportedly priced at £86.6 million.
“I’m at Leipzig and I enjoy playing here. In the end, it’s always the statistics that count. It’s been a fantastic year for me.”
Yan Diomande transfer links to Liverpool
3DDK707 Marrakesh, Marocco. 31st Dec, 2025. December 31 2025: Yan Diomande of Ivory Coast gestures during a 2025 AFCON Africa Cup of Nations game, Gabon vs Ivory Coast, at Marrakesh stadium, Marrakesh, Marocco. Ulrik Pedersen/CSM/Sipa USA (Credit Image: © Ulrik Pedersen/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa US/Alamy Live News
While Diomande has said he will stay at Leipzig, it would be wise to perhaps not take this as the be-all and end-all.
Since arriving at Leganes in January 2025 from the DME Academy in Florida, he has impressed with his dribbling and backed it up with end product, a trait often absent in young wingers.
Thirteen goals and 10 assists in 36 Leipzig games this season have seen him reportedly attract interest from several clubs, most notably Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
The Reds have “assessed” Diomande, according to the *Times*‘ Paul Joyce, while Sky Germany have claimed “concrete talks” have taken place.
Yan Diomande goal celebration (Photo by Tomasz Karczewski/Arena Akcji/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa US/Alamy Live News
The rumours began back in November when Diomande was asked for his dream club, to which he replied:
“I have one, I want to play at Anfield. I want to play for Liverpool. I’m a big fan of Liverpool…
“I’m a big fan of Liverpool because my father’s dream is to see me play at Anfield, so that’s my dream.
“You know, to fulfil my father’s dream is a dream for me too.”
Bundesliga commentator explains why Diomande “hype is fully justified”
For a youngster who has played for just 18 months in Europe, there is a lot of talk around Diomande and his talents.
To learn why, we spoke to Bundesliga commentator Dan O’Hagan, who said: “I think really from almost day one this season, Diomande was straight away Leipzig’s attacking spark.
“They themselves had a mini rebuild in the summer and Diomande has been the kind of central hub of their attacking. As I say, he’s enormously quick, scored some terrific goals and he’s really selfless.
“You see the way he sets up teammates. For a young winger, his potential is frightening and there’s no surprise for me that so many clubs want him because he’s that kind of unicorn player.
“He’s so rare and he’s a true young talent. He would cost, obviously, an enormous fee despite just one year in the Bundesliga, but I think certainly that in his case, the hype is fully justified.”
He sounds like a winger who can add energy to a Liverpool team that is sorely lacking in excitement. However, it would take big money to prise him from Leipzig after just one year at the club.