Liverpool have completed the signing of Ibrahima Konate from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
The 22-year-old becomes the Reds first signing for the coming season after they triggered his £36m release clause.
Konate spent four years at the German side, making a total of 95 appearances at the club and scoring four goals. He made 21 appearances for Leipzig last season, with eight coming in the Bundesliga starts as the club finished second place.
“I’m really happy to be joining such a massive club like Liverpool,” Konate said.
“It’s a really exciting moment for me and my family, and I am really looking forward to meeting my new teammates, the staff and getting started on this new chapter.”
Liverpool were plagued with injuries last season, with all three of their centre back options missing the majority of the season with long-term injuries. The Reds were said to be looking at several defenders but were ultimately convinced Konate offered the qualities needed to play in the Liverpool defence.
Speaking on the Konate, Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp admitted that he had been following the progress of Konate for a long time.
“I’m really pleased we’ve been able to add a player of Ibrahima’s quality to our squad and he is someone I’ve admired for a long time, ever since I first became aware of his potential when he was at Sochaux,” Klopp told Liverpool’s official website.
After the problems we had with injuries in the centre-half position last season, there’s no doubt it was clear it was an area of the team we needed to strengthen – but I first have to say that the job Nat [Phillips], Rhys [Williams] and Ozan [Kabak] did was incredible. Unbelievable, really.
In Ibrahima we are signing a player who will add to the quality we already have here.
His physical attributes are very impressive; he is quick, he is very strong, and he is dominant in the air.
He comes to us after playing more than 90 times for Leipzig in the Bundesliga and European football. I’m sure that number would have been more but for some injury, but even so that means he already has experience of what it takes to compete in two outstandingly difficult competitions.
He also played for a team in the Champions League in high-pressure matches, who have a similar football vision to ourselves.’
The German sees the Frenchman as a long-term first-team player who can also cement his place alongside Van Dijk at the heart of the Reds defence in the coming season.
I am confident we are signing a player who can play for us right away, but he is a boy of 22 years of age who has room to improve because of his massive potential.’ Klopp said.
I know that’s something he is eager to work on with us to become an even better player.
For me, that’s really exciting because I have seen how good he is already and I’m looking forward to working with him when he joins up with us in pre-season.
Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool Manager on Ibrahima Konate
