Real Madrid agree club-record £115m deal for Yan Diomandé and want to keep Vinícius

According to The Guardian, Real Madrid have agreed a club-record fee of €135m (£115.7m) with RB Leipzig for Yan Diomandé, making the 19-year-old forward the most expensive African player in history. The Spanish club are also confident of warding off Arsenal’s interest in Vinícius Júnior after offering the Brazil international an improved contract.

The deal for Diomandé was struck on Wednesday afternoon after several weeks of negotiations, during which Paris Saint-Germain pulled out of the race. Madrid will pay an initial €125m plus €10m in add-ons, a total that eclipses the fee the Spanish side paid Borussia Dortmund for Jude Bellingham in 2023, believed to have been worth up to €134m including add-ons.

Diomandé joined Leipzig from Leganés last summer and starred for Côte d’Ivoire at the World Cup. Related match highlights are available on this site.