Liverpool officially signed defender Ibrahima Konate from RP Leipzig by redeeming the release clause of £36 million.
The Daily Mail reports that the 22-year-old French defender has agreed a long-term contract with Liverpool starting July 1, 2021, after having passed a medical.
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp is trying to strengthen their defense after last season lost a number of pillar players such as Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.
The signing of Konate is Liverpool’s first investment after the 2020/2021 Premier League competition ends. He was redeemed for £36m.
“I am very happy to be joining a big club like Liverpool,” Konate told the club’s official website.
“This is a very exciting moment for me and my family. I’m also really looking forward to meeting my teammates, staff and starting this new chapter,” he added.
“At the moment, my focus is on Euro U21 with France, but after this competition I know I will be joining one of the best teams in the world and that gives me a great feeling,” he added.
Currently Konate is focusing on defending the French national team in the U-21 European Cup. After the tournament is over, Konate will soon join the Reds.
“I’ve worked really hard over the years to get to this point, but I say a big thank you to everyone at RB Leipzig and everyone who has worked with me there, the coaches, my team-mates, the staff and especially the supporters, “he said.
Jurgen Klopp also admitted that he was pleased to be able to bring players of extraordinary quality and potential to Anfield to strengthen their defensive line next season.
“I am very happy we can add a player of the same quality as Ibrahima to our squad and he is someone I have admired for a long time, since first realizing his potential when he was at Sochaux.”
Next season, the Merseyside team has the right to appear in the Champions League after successfully breaking into the top four positions in the Premier League final standings.
Konate moved to Anfield after four seasons in the Bundesliga with Leipzig, where he made 95 appearances and scored four goals. He also made eight appearances in the Champions League with the German club.
