Real Madrid News
Real Madrid set to complete fifth summer signing in club-record €135 million deal – report
According to ESPN, Real Madrid are on the verge of confirming the high-profile acquisition of talented winger Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig in a deal that could reach €135 million, reinforcing their attack with one of football’s most promising young talents.
The 19-year-old Ivory Coast international will become the fifth signing of the summer for Real Madrid following the arrivals of Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konate, Bernardo Silva, and Denzel Dumfries.
Deal imminent
According to the report, the Spanish giants are expected to finalise the transfer in the coming hours, with an initial fee of up to €115-120 million, plus performance-related add-ons, which will take the total value of the operation to around €135 million.
If the add-ons are met, Diomande will become the most expensive signing in Real Madrid history, going past the likes of Eden Hazard and Jude Bellingham.
Los Blancos beat competition from reigning French and European champions Paris Saint-Germain, securing the forward after an impressive season in Germany where he registered 12 goals and eight assists.
Diomande has already agreed personal terms with the Spanish capital giants, and will sign a five-year contract that will run until the summer of 2031.
Rapid rise
Diomande’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric, moving from American academy football to the Bundesliga in just two years, culminating in a standout performance at the recent World Cup and a record transfer to Madrid.
Only in January 2025, the teenage winger was making his break into European football with Spanish club Leganes, before a quick move to RB Leipzig followed.
His impact in the Bundesliga was immediate, helping his side finish third. His reputation was further enhanced by his performances on the international stage, where he created 11 chances in four matches for the Ivory Coast before their World Cup exit.
Diomande’s signing signals a significant investment from Real Madrid as they aim to rise to the top again after two years without a major trophy, with the young star expected to bring pace and creativity to their frontline.
Real Madrid’s transfer business seems unlikely to be done at this point, with a move for Manchester City superstar Rodri still in the works.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid weighing up January move for €70 million-rated Arsenal midfielder – report
Real Madrid’s midfield is the one department where Jose Mourinho sees clear scope for improvement, especially given that the club did not sanction his wish for a top midfield signing in the summer.
While Bernardo Silva has chipped in as a handy option to feature in the deep midfield, the club still lacks a controlling and creative option who can glue the team together.
In that sense, there is a clear lacuna that Real Madrid need to address and Defensa Central brings to light that the club have opened up to a potential target.
Zubimendi emerges as a target
Indeed, the player in question is Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi who the club have seen as a target for a long time, and Real Madrid could even go on to sign him in January.
The Spanish international has not started off the new season well under Mikel Arteta and has primarily featured as a substitute. He does, thus, see a move to Madrid with good eyes in every sense.
Real Madrid, for their part, have not ruled out his signing as was reported in recent months and there is even a chance they seriously pursue him in the winter transfer window as a mid-season fix.
The possible fee
The Spanish outlet also add that Zubimendi’s move to Real Madrid could be completed for a fee similar to what Arsenal paid for the player for his transfer from Real Sociedad – €70 million.
Mourinho’s insistence on making a new midfield signing is no secret, and with a clear target now in mind, the board could well back him with the player he wishes.
Notably, however, even Chelsea are seriously interested in his signing.
So far, Federico Valverde has been Real Madrid’s mainstay in midfield, and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return will change the team’s dynamics in the department.
Neither player, however, offers the control and distribution skill set that the team direly lack.
A big part of whether or not the club pushes for Zubimendi, however, will depend on how the Valverde-Tchouameni combination plays out in the coming months. It is, after all, the manager’s first-choice combination for big games.
