Real Madrid continues to strengthen its squad ahead of a new stage and announced this Thursday the incorporation of French defender Ibrahima Konaté, who arrives free after ending his contract with Liverpool and signed with the white team until June 2030.
At 27 years old, Konaté becomes the third official signing of the Madrid club for next season, after the arrivals of the Portuguese Bernardo Silva and the Spanish full-back Marc Cucurella. Furthermore, the sporting project is led by José Mourinho, recently hired as the new coach with the aim of returning the team to the path of titles after two seasons without lifting trophies.
The French central defender lands at the Santiago Bernabéu after five seasons at Liverpool, where he played 183 games and established himself as one of the most important defensive pieces of the English team. During his time at Anfield he won the League Cup and the FA Cup under the direction of Jürgen Klopp, in addition to winning the Premier League in 2025 with Arne Slot on the bench.
Before his experience in England, Konaté developed his career at Sochaux and later at German side RB Leipzig, standing out for his physical power, speed and ability to play from the back.
His arrival responds to Real Madrid’s need to reinforce a defensive line that has suffered ups and downs in recent seasons. The Frenchman’s international experience also represents added value for a squad that aspires to compete again for all the titles.
Konaté has accumulated 28 caps with the French national team and is part of Didier Deschamps’ squad for the 2026 World Cup being held in North America. Although he did not have minutes in the Blues’ 3-1 victory against Senegal in the World Cup debut, he continues to be one of the important options for the French defense during the tournament.
With this addition, Real Madrid adds hierarchy, experience and solidity to its reconstruction project, trusting that the French center back will be one of the key pieces of its defense for the coming years.
