Market value €75m
Yan Diomande – Can RB Leipzig keep their rising star with Real Madrid and Chelsea interested?
©IMAGO
“I want to have a great season personally and for the team,” RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande said in anexclusive interview with Transfermarkt at the start of the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign. “Our goal is to qualify for a European competition. We have a young team with many changes this summer. However, my ultimate goal is still to reach the Champions League. I came to Leipzig to play in the Champions League. That is why I am here.” Mission accomplished. Last weekend, Leipzig beat St. Pauli 2-1 to book their ticket for Europe’s premium competition.
Leipzig third
Bundesliga standings at a glance
The result means that after missing out on European football entirely for the first time in club history last season, Leipzig can once again plan with Champions League money. But can they plan with Diomande? Signed for just €20m from Spanish club CD Leganés, Diomande has seen his market value explode to €75m this season. One of the most spectacular young players in the Bundesliga, Diomande has scored 12 goals and provided eight assists in 32 Bundesliga games this season. As a result, Europe’s elite clubs are now lining up to sign him.
Stats
Y. Diomande
Left Winger
RB Leipzig
35
13
9
In theTransfermarkt rumour mill has been linked to clubs like Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid. Bayern Munich have also shown their interest as well. “I didn’t think everything would go this fast,” Diomande said this week as part of a media roundtable. “But imagine someone tells you that you could go to Chelsea or Real Madrid to do this job. You would be happy and motivated to do more.” So, a move is in the cards this summer. “I have a contract for four more years,” Diomande said while pointing at the RB Leipzig logo on his training shirt. Then he added what every footballer would say in this position: “But everything can happen in football.”
Yan Diomande on his future: "I have a contract for four more years"
So, what would it take to sign Diomande? First, Champions League football and second, a significant amount of money. AsTransfermarkt reported in January, there is no release clause in Diomande’s contract. There is also no gentleman’s agreement, as has been the case with previous Leipzig stars such as Xavi Simons and Christopher Nkunku. Indeed, Leipzig are planning to keep the player unless, as one source put it, a crazy offer would come in to sign the player. That would mean significantly above €100m and would likely be in the region of, or more than, what Leverkusen received for Florian Wirtz last summer.
Wirtz third
Bundesliga record transfer fees at a glance
The club feels confident that they can either keep the player or earn a significant fee. After all, Diomande will also represent the Ivory Coast at the 2026 World Cup, which will only help increase his market value. How does Diomande deal with all the spotlight the rumours have created? “The only thing that I can control is to play good football,” Diomande said. “I am just trying to do my best on the pitch. I am just happy to be here and want to keep going.” That attitude has worked well for him thus far and has now led him to fulfill his dream. To play Champions League next season, either with Leipzig or with a team willing to make a significant investment in one of the brightest emerging stars in European football.
Homepage
Report
error
