Yan Diomande is set to become a Real Madrid player after Paris Saint-Germain formally withdrew from the bidding war – then launched a blistering attack on the Spanish club over the ‘crazy money’ being offered for the 19-year-old winger.
The Ivory Coast international, who was the Bundesliga’s young player of the season for 2025-26 after scoring 12 goals and registering eight assists for RB Leipzig, has already agreed personal terms with Real. The deal is expected to exceed £100m, making Diomande one of the most expensive teenagers in history.
“Real Madrid close to signing Yan Diomande after PSG pull out and attack 'crazy money' deal.”
PSG had been frontrunners for the forward until Real registered their interest. The French club confirmed their withdrawal on Sunday, revealing they had a final £102.5m bid rejected. On Monday, PSG went further, telling French newspaper L’Equipe that the sums involved were ‘crazy money for a player who has potential but was playing in the Spanish second division one year ago’. They added: ‘This shows where Real Madrid are right now.’
The breakdown in negotiations came after PSG issued a statement insisting they would not break their ‘principles of rational financial management and squad balance’. In a pointed remark, the Ligue 1 side said they would not engage in ‘the inflationary and manipulative games of certain player agents’.
Real’s pursuit has been driven by key negotiators Jose Angel and Juni Calafat, who have scouted Diomande for about five years. Sources close to Real say their interest was not reactive to the teenager’s World Cup performances – he played in all four of Ivory Coast’s matches this summer.
Leipzig, who signed Diomande from Spanish second-tier side Leganes last summer on a five-year deal, have tried to keep him but regard the interest as extraordinary. The potential record sale price has made rejection difficult.
Liverpool, who had an initial £69m bid rejected in June, have since moved on to other targets, including PSG’s Bradley Barcola. Real’s impending arrival of Diomande could have knock-on effects: Arsenal are keen on Real’s Vinicius Junior, who has entered the final year of his £400,000-a-week contract and did not return to training on Monday as planned. New Real manager Jose Mourinho, however, does not want to lose the Brazilian.
Diomande is now expected to fly to the Spanish capital for a medical, as Real finally land the player they have tracked for half a decade.