Liverpool Reportedly Trigger Ibrahima Konaté Release Clause

Centre half Ibrahima Konaté will become Liverpool’s first signing of the summer following news that the club have now triggered his release clause and that the 22-year-old French defender is expected to be officially announced shortly.

Multiple journalists with ties to the club have today announced the deal is now done, as well as reporting the release clause—believed to have been triggered, with Liverpool paying it in full to RB Leipzig rather than negotiating instalments—at £36M.

With Konaté set to represent France at the U21 Euros, Liverpool’s priority was to complete his signing before that tournament kicked off. Personal terms have been agreed for some time, and a full medical may have already been completed.

Konaté seems a perfect fit for Liverpool given his size, speed, and technical ability—all of which will naturally draw comparisons to Virgil van Dijk. His willingness to carry the ball out of defence will also likely earn comparisons to Joël Matip.

His injury record may also earn him some rather more worrying comparisons to Matip, but for the club to be going ahead with the deal there will be a high degree of confidence that he does not represent a long-term injury risk.