Done Deal: Liverpool affirm signing RB Chelsea target

Liverpool have affirmed the signing of RB Leipzig centre back Ibrahima Konate on a long term contract.

The Premier League giants triggered the defender’s £36m release clause and he will officially become a Liverpool player when the transfer window returns on July 1.

The youngster, who is presently away with the France Under-21s team ahead of their European Championship quarter-final, is perceived to have signed a five-year deal which will keep him at Anfield until 2026.

I’m truly glad to join a particularly huge club like Liverpool. It’s a truly exciting moment for me and my family and I am truly anticipating meeting my new teammates, the staff and starting on this new chapter,” Konate told the club’s true site.

At the present time, my emphasis is on the U21 European Championships with France, however after this competition I know I will go along with probably the best team in the world and that gives me an extraordinary feelings.

I have buckled down for a long time to get to this point, however I might want to say a major thank you to everybody at RB Leipzig and everybody I worked with, the coaches, my teammates, the staff and particularly the fans.

Your help assisted me with developing my time there and become a superior player, yet a superior man and I will consistently be thankful for it.

Liverpool had made the signing of another defender their first concern for the summer window, having seen Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all endure injuries during the 2020-21 campaign.

Jurgen Klopp got Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies to help facilitate the injury crisis during the January window, but both of those – notwithstanding makeshift centre back Jordan Henderson – also completed the mission with injuries.

The 22-year-old’s arrival could lessen the probability of Liverpool making Kabak’s loan move permanent, with Van Dijk, Gomez and Matip all anticipated to be back fit for the start of next season.

Ibrahima Konate made 94 appearances for RB Leipzig across all competitions, scoring four goals in the process.