Konate to Leave Liverpool on Free Transfer
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Ibrahima Konate will leave Liverpool on a free transfer when his contract expires in June 2026 after renewal talks stalled over wage and valuation disagreements.
- Liverpool signed Giovanni Leoni (19) on a £26m plus add‑ons deal, but he was ruled out for a year after tearing his ACL in September.
- Liverpool also added Jeremy Jacquet (20) for £60m; he played 21 games for Rennes last season but missed the final four months with a shoulder injury.
- Virgil van Dijk remains one of Liverpool's only experienced central defenders after the imminent loss of Konate and previous free‑transfer exits of Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah.
- Liverpool are prioritising other areas—replacing Salah and covering Hugo Ekitike's long‑term injury—over renewing Konate's contract at a higher wage.
Why it matters: Liverpool lose a £35m‑invested centre‑back without compensation, while Konate gains freedom to negotiate a new contract; the club must rely on inexperienced or injured replacements, widening the defensive gap ahead of the 2026 season.
Ask SkimNews
