La Liga: France’s Konate to join Real Madrid until 2030

Real Madrid is set to announce the signing of Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté on a four-year deal, according to a source close to the negotiations. The French international's arrival is expected to be officially confirmed on Tuesday. This move fulfills a promise made by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who had identified Konaté as his first recruit upon his re-election and also committed to bringing Jose Mourinho in as the club's coach.

The 27-year-old Konaté will join a number of his French national team colleagues at the Spanish club, including Kylian Mbappe, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Eduardo Camavinga. This transfer marks Konaté's fourth club engagement, following his earlier spells at Sochaux, Leipzig, and Liverpool, where he spent five seasons.

During his time at Liverpool, Konaté played 183 matches, contributing to FA Cup and League Cup victories in his debut season under Jurgen Klopp. However, the team also experienced a Champions League final loss to Real Madrid. Following Arne Slot's appointment as manager in 2024, Liverpool secured the Premier League title last season, though the current season proved more challenging, with Champions League qualification only confirmed on the final day.

Konaté, who has earned 28 caps for France, has been selected for the upcoming World Cup in North America by manager Didier Deschamps. He is competing for a starting position in central defense as France prepares for their final pre-World Cup friendly against Northern Ireland.