Real Madrid are on the verge of signing Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig for a fee in excess of £100million.
Los Blancos have already spent £85m to bring the likes of Marc Cucurella, Carlos Espi and Denzel Dumfries into the squad. Ibrahima Konate and Bernardo Silva have both also arrived as free transfers.
And the club still look set for a key few weeks in the transfer market, with Jose Mourinho planning for the new season. Rodri is rumoured as a potential midfield signing, as well as Diomande potentially adding to the attack.
Meanwhile, Vinicius Junior’s future at the club is still uncertain, despite Mourinho wanting to work with him, the Brazilian only has one year left on his deal.
If a new deal cannot be agreed, Vinicius Jr could be on his way to Arsenal this summer, making the Diomande move even more interesting.
In this article, we’ll cover
How did Diomande fare in 2025/26?
Diomande played 36 games for RB Leipzig across all competitions, scoring 12 goals and providing a further nine assists. Of those 36 appearances, Diomande played on as a left-winger 10 times, alongside 26 games on the right.
The Ivorian joined RB Leipzig last summer after just 10 appearances in La Liga for Legances in 2024/25. Last season was a truly breakout campaign for the winger.
So much so, Diomande found himself in Ivory Coast’s World Cup squad, having made his international debut at the back end of 2025.
The 19-year-old played on both flanks during the World Cup, showcasing a number of different qualities. His ability to beat his man one-on-one, winning fouls, creating chances for his teamates and working hard off the ball were all on display.
Diomande impressed so much in his first full season of senior football, that Real Madrid look set to complete his signing. And, at such a young age, the winger could still be moulded into a number of different things.
Goal threat from the left
If Real Madrid were to play Diomande on the left, they could develop and focus his traits as a goal-getter.
The Ivorian is right-footed, so would have the ability to cut inside and get shots away on his strong foot. He is also a powerful runner, using his body well to get across defenders’ bodies and halt their momentum. He uses his effectively to arrive in the box.
Due to the threat Diomande poses cutting inside on his right, defenders will often look to show him on the outside. But there he can use his carrying ability to beat defenders, and get into dangerous positions close to goal.
Diomande also has the capacity to combine in central areas and carry the ball through the middle, creating tension inside the opposition box.
This gets Diomande closer to goal in central areas, where he could easily improve his shot volume and goal threat.
Creator on the right
If Real Madrid keep Diomande on the right, they can encourage the winger to play towards his creative instincts.
When coming off the dright, Diomande often looks to find diagonal entry passes from outside on his stronger foot, penetrating the block and accessing zone 14.
His ability to find passes through passing lanes that shouldn’t exist opens up opposition defensive schemes.
Diomande can also burst down the outside, whipping crosses into the box on his strong right foot. That can come through a variety of cutbacks and looped balls towards the back post.
The teenager utilises his two-way threat more off the right. He stands defenders up, fixing them and bursting past either inside or outside.
Now just because using Diomande on different sides can urge him to play toward a certain set of instincts, that doesn’t mean he can’t do both from both sides.
How would Diomande fit at Real Madrid?
Diomande’s position and role at Real Madrid will likely come down to theri squad composition. If Vinicius Junior stays, he will start on the left with Diomande on the right, and Kylian Mbappe through the middle.
As an example of Mourinho’s plans, Real Madrid were previously linked with Michael Olise to fill the right-wing role. So you can easily see Diomande becoming the primary creator down the right, providing for Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
However, if Vinicius Junior were to leave this summer, Diomande could play roles on both sides.
The most likely scenario would be for Diomande to replace Vinicius Junior on the left, becomign more of a goal threat. This would allow Federico Valverde or Bernardo Silva to play off the right, creating more of a midfield four at times, with Diomande and Mbappe as outlets.
But there’s a third option. Diomande could remain on the right, with Mbappe getting more minutes on the left as he did in his Paris Saint-Germain days.
Mourinho would then be able to add a more typical centre-forward to his squad. It would give Real Madrid a new dynamic with a bigger box threat to tussle with central defenders.
Either way, Diomande will be a great addition to this Real Madrid squad.