Ibrahima Konaté (27) has officially completed a move to Real Madrid on a free transfer, the Spanish club announced on Thursday. The French defender’s switch to the Santiago Bernabéu comes after the expiration of his contract with Liverpool.

Konaté had been a key figure in Liverpool’s backline, forming a solid partnership with Virgil van Dijk. However, uncertainty had surrounded his future for months as talks over a new contract failed to progress. Despite the France international expressing optimism about a possible extension toward the end of the campaign, no agreement was ultimately reached.

With his deal at Anfield expiring, Konaté was free to negotiate and complete a transfer to Real Madrid. The La Liga champions have confirmed that the centre-back has signed a four-year contract with the club.

Konaté first joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021 for a reported fee of €40 million. Over his time with the Merseyside side, he made 183 appearances and played a crucial role in their Premier League title triumph in 2025. During the most recent season, he featured 51 times across all competitions. The defender is currently in the United States, representing France at the ongoing FIFA World Cup.