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Liverpool Loses Defender Konaté on Free Transfer
18 Jun
Summary
- Ibrahima Konaté has completed a free transfer to Real Madrid.
- His departure leaves Liverpool with limited center-back options.
- The move follows Trent Alexander-Arnold's earlier transfer to Real Madrid.

As of June 18, 2026, Ibrahima Konaté has completed a free transfer to Real Madrid. This move concludes a period where the defender was expected to sign a new deal with Liverpool. His departure is considered a significant blow, especially given his talent.
The decision comes after a season where Konaté's performance for Liverpool dipped. The 27-year-old's free transfer leaves Liverpool with a weakened defense heading into the 2026-27 season. Their current options include the 35-year-old Virgil van Dijk, an injury-prone Joe Gomez, and two young center-backs, Giovanni Leoni and Jérémy Jacquet, who are both returning from serious injuries.
This situation mirrors the earlier departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who also joined Real Madrid after his contract with Liverpool ran down. That move reportedly soured many club supporters, and Konaté's exit through a free transfer is likely to cause similar concern among the fanbase.