Real Madrid News
Confirmed: Real Madrid sign Ibrahima Konate on a four-year contract until 2030
The official announcements keep on coming at Real Madrid. After confirming the signings of Marc Cucurella and Bernardo Silva, as well as the contract renewal of Antonio Rudiger in recent days, the Spanish capital club have dropped another major announcement today.
Indeed, Los Blancos have confirmed the signing of former Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate as a free agent after his contract at Anfield expired at the end of the season.
The French international has signed a four-year contract with Real Madrid, committing to the club until 2030.
“Real Madrid CF and Ibrahima Konate have reached an agreement whereby he will be a Real Madrid player for the next four seasons, until June 30, 2030,” the statement read.
Comunicado Oficial: Konaté.
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) June 18, 2026
Konate had been on Los Blancos’ radars for a long time now and with his contract at Liverpool expiring this summer, Florentino Perez & co. pounced on the chance to sign him as a free agent.
With David Alaba having left the club, Rudiger in his thirties, and Eder Militao struggling with injuries, Real Madrid needed to bolster their centre-back department.
And, in Konate, the Merengues have signed a defender in his prime years, with years of top-level experience at clubs like RB Leipzig and Liverpool, and a title-winning pedigree.
Real Madrid will be looking to pick up their fifth win of the 2026/27 La Liga season when they take on Elche CF at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero later tonight.
With 12 points from five games, Los Blancos are currently second in the league table, three points below leaders FC Barcelona.
As such, the Spanish capital club will be eager to get the win and close the gap to the top.
Guler starts, Bellingham rested
Ahead of kickoff, Real Madrid have announced the starting lineup that will take the field against Elche, with Jose Mourinho making some important changes.
For starters, Arda Guler is back in the lineup after appearing as a substitute in the win over Rayo Vallecano.
Interestingly, however, he starts in the attacking midfield role, with Mourinho opting to rest Jude Bellingham, who has started all of Real Madrid’s games so far.
That also means that Yan Diomande retains his place in the team, starting for a second time in a row on the right wing. Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. continue in their respective positions in attack.
Another notable change sees Aurelien Tchouameni make his first start of the season after recovering from injury and making two appearances off the bench.
He replaces Bernardo Silva as Federico Valverde’s partner in the middle of the park.
Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marc Cucurella come in as full-backs, while Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen slot in at centre-back in front of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
📋✅ ¡Nuestro XI inicial!
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) September 15, 2026
🆚 @ElcheCF
👉 @UnicajaBanco pic.twitter.com/rHzZI1CQM7
