Liverpool defender Konaté to leave on free transfer

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of June, concluding a five-year spell at Anfield after negotiations over a new deal collapsed. The 27-year-old France international, who joined from RB Leipzig in 2021, will depart as a free agent.

The decision marks a significant reversal from just last month, when Konaté expressed confidence a new agreement was close. Following a Premier League match in April, he stated there was a "big chance" he would stay, indicating advanced talks with the club. However, negotiations, which began in late 2023, ultimately stalled. Sources indicate the breakdown centered on the financial structure of the proposed contract, specifically disagreements over performance-related bonuses and other ancillary payments.

With Konaté's departure, Liverpool's defensive options are reduced. Captain Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez remain as the squad's most experienced central defenders. The club had already arranged for the summer arrival of 20-year-old French defender Jérémy Jacquet from Rennes in a significant transfer, and 19-year-old Giovanni Leoni is recovering from a long-term injury. Despite these younger...