Ibrahima Konaté will leave Liverpool when his contract expires on June 30th, the club confirmed on Sunday, following the announcement of Arne Slot as their new manager.
The French centre-back arrived from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2021 and went on to make 183 appearances for the Merseyside club, scoring seven goals.
During his time at Anfield, the 27-year-old added to his trophy cabinet with a Premier League title in 2025, the FA Cup in 2022, two League Cups in 2022 and 2024, and a Community Shield at the start of the 2022-2023 season. He has also earned 27 international caps for France.
Konaté posted a message on social media reflecting on his time at Liverpool, stating he departs with memories that will last a lifetime and that it was an honour to represent the club. He specifically mentioned the pain of losing teammate Diogo Jota in a tragic accident last summer.
Negotiations over a new five-year contract had reached an agreement in principle just a month ago, but talks dramatically collapsed due to internal disagreements amid a chaotic end to the season, according to reports. Konaté expressed his sadness at not being able to say goodbye to fans at the final match of the season.
Several top European clubs, including Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea, have expressed interest in signing Konaté, suggesting a competitive market for his services. His departure leaves a gap in Liverpool’s defensive options as they prepare for a new era under Slot. The move allows Konaté to seek a new challenge and potentially a more prominent role elsewhere in Europe.
