Real Madrid’s latest signing, Ivorian winger Yan Diomande, has been handed the No. 25 shirt as he prepares to begin a new chapter at the Santiago Bernabéu following his blockbuster move from RB Leipzig.
The 19-year-old has joined the Spanish giants in a deal worth up to £120 million, making him the most expensive African footballer in history and one of the most expensive players ever.
The No. 25 shirt was previously worn by Real Madrid stars Rodrygo and Vinícius Jr., adding further significance to the number as Diomande begins his career with the Spanish giants.
Real Madrid have tied the Ivory Coast international to a seven-year contract, with the transfer fee potentially surpassing the £115 million — €133.9 million — the club paid Borussia Dortmund for Jude Bellingham in June 2023.
The deal places Diomande fourth on the list of the most expensive football transfers in history, behind Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Alexander Isak.
He has also moved to the top of the list of Africa’s most expensive players, overtaking fellow Ivorian Nicolas Pepe, for whom Arsenal paid Lille £72 million in 2019.
Paris Saint-Germain had emerged as the leading contenders for Diomande’s signature and reportedly saw a £102.5 million offer rejected before the Champions League winners eventually withdrew from the race.
Liverpool had also been monitoring the teenager and submitted an initial £69 million bid in June as they searched for a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah, who joined Turkish club Trabzonspor on Thursday.
Instead, Diomande has chosen Madrid, where he becomes Real’s sixth signing of the summer under new head coach José Mourinho. He joins Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella and Carlos Espi as part of Mourinho’s first major recruitment drive at the club.
Yan Diomande leaves Leipzig after a breakthrough 2025-26 campaign in which he was named the Bundesliga’s Young Player of the Season. The winger scored 12 goals and provided eight assists in the league, establishing himself as one of Europe’s most highly rated young attackers.
He also represented Ivory Coast at the World Cup, featuring in all four of his country’s matches before their campaign ended with a round-of-32 defeat by Norway.
In his farewell message to Leipzig supporters, Diomande expressed his gratitude for the club and hinted that his relationship with the German side could continue in the future.
“Who knows? Maybe we’ll meet again one day in the Champions League,” the teenager said.
Reflecting on his move to Madrid, he described the transfer as a childhood dream.
“This is a childhood dream come true,” Diomande said, while thanking RB Leipzig’s management for helping make the move possible despite his existing contract.
Born in Ivory Coast, Diomande moved to the United States as a youngster to continue his football development before joining Spanish side Leganés in 2025. He later moved to RB Leipzig the same year, where his rapid development caught the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Now, with the No. 25 shirt on his back and a record-breaking price tag attached to his name, expectations will be enormous.
Diomande arrives in Madrid with explosive pace, close control, creativity and an attacking style that has made him one of the most exciting prospects in world football.
The challenge now is to prove that his record-breaking transfer fee was not simply a reflection of his potential — but the beginning of a career capable of matching the enormous expectations that come with wearing the famous white shirt of Real Madrid.