Premier League side Liverpool FC have officially announced the signing of defender Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig on Friday, making him the first arrival of the summer transfer window.
The official statement read: “Liverpool Football Club have reached an agreement for the transfer of Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig.
“The 22-year-old defender has agreed a long-term contract with the Reds from July 1, subject to international clearance and a successful work permit application process, after finalising terms and passing a medical.”
The Anfield outfit have been scouting the central defender for a couple of months now and a few days ago, Fabrizio Romano had claimed that the deal was in the final stages of completion.
After the announcement, Konate told Liverpoolfc.com: “I’m really happy to be joining such a massive club like Liverpool.
“It’s a really exciting moment for me and my family and I am really looking forward to meeting my new teammates, the staff and getting started on this new chapter.
“Right now, my focus is on the U21 European Championships with France, but after this competition I know I will be joining one of the best teams in the world and that gives me a great feeling.”
Who is Ibrahima Konate?
Ibrahima Konate started his youth career at FC Sochaux before joining RB Leipzig in the summer of 2017 on a free transfer.
View this post on Instagram
He has slowly moved up the ranks at the German club, and during the 2020-21 season, the central defender featured in 14 Bundesliga matches.
Liverpool have signed him after triggering a £36 million release clause in his contract but the 22-year-old is still not a finished product.
According to Whoscored, the defender is great at building play from the back and aerial duels but when it comes to one on one situations, he is pretty average. Obviously, Ibrahima Konate is going to be a long-term project for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and we are sure that in a few years time, the defender can be the ideal partner to Virgil Van Dijk.
