Real Madrid close on €120m move for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande as Mourinho rebuild gathers pace

Real Madrid are closing in on a deal worth between €115m and €120m to sign RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, with the Ivorian teenager viewed inside the club as the missing piece in Jose Mourinho’s revamped attack.

The 19-year-old, who previously played for Leganes before moving to Leipzig a year ago for €20m, has been identified by Real as a key reinforcement on the flanks. Club figures believe Diomande offers a profile similar in several respects to Vinicius Junior, and see him as a decisive “trump card” who can change games in the final third.

Versatile winger seen as major tactical weapon

Diomande is regarded as a wide player capable of operating effectively on both the right and left, giving Mourinho an additional tactical option in wide areas. His ability to threaten from either flank has been highlighted as a major reason for Real Madrid’s push to complete the transfer.

Real view the Ivorian as a “two-in-one” winger, comfortable cutting inside or going on the outside depending on which side he is deployed. That flexibility is expected to offer Mourinho greater variety in his attacking schemes, with the club hierarchy convinced that Diomande’s profile fits the high-intensity, direct style the Portuguese coach wants to restore at the Bernabeu.

Mourinho at centre of overhaul after two seasons without trophies

The move for Diomande comes as part of a broader squad overhaul led by Mourinho, who was appointed this summer after Real Madrid went two consecutive seasons without winning a trophy.

In response to that drought, the club has embarked on an aggressive recruitment drive ahead of the new campaign. Mourinho’s arrival was followed by four high-profile signings: defender Marc Cucurella, full-back Denzel Dumfries, centre-back Ibrahima Konate and midfielder Bernardo Silva.

Diomande is set to become the fifth addition of the window, and potentially the most expensive, as Real Madrid invest heavily to construct a side capable of competing again for domestic and European honours.

From Leganes to Leipzig to the Bernabeu

Diomande’s rapid rise has been closely monitored in Spain since his time at Leganes, where his pace and direct dribbling quickly attracted attention from bigger clubs. Leipzig moved first, securing his signature for €20m last year and giving him a platform in one of Europe’s top leagues.

His performances in Germany, combined with his age and room for development, have persuaded Real Madrid to commit to a fee that could reach up to six times what Leipzig paid. Inside the Bernabeu, the view is that investing now in a 19-year-old with elite potential will pay off over the long term, particularly given his resemblance in style to Vinicius Junior and his comfort on both wings.

If the deal is finalised as expected, Diomande will join a significantly reshaped Real Madrid squad built to Mourinho’s specifications, with the Ivorian winger projected to play a central role in the club’s attempt to return to the summit after two seasons of frustration.