RB Leipzig clarify Yan Diomande future
RB Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schäfer says Yan Diomande will remain at the club next season amid growing summer transfer speculation
When asked about his future, Diomande said he "expects" to leave Leipzig, but stressed his immediate focus was on Côte d'Ivoire's FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash with Norway, adding that his agent would handle all transfer-related matters.
However, Schäfer insisted Leipzig have no intention of selling the 19-year-old this summer. "Yan Diomande will play for RB Leipzig next season. And we're not backing down from that! We know what we have in him. Of course, if Yan keeps this up, the time will come when we'll help him take the next step – but not this year," he told Bild.
Watch: Yan Diomande's 2025/26 season in retrospect
Signed from Spanish side Leganés in the summer of 2025, Diomande enjoyed a sensational debut campaign in Germany, registering 13 goals and 10 assists in 36 appearances across all competitions.
The 19-year-old forward's displays earned him the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award, helping Leipzig finish third and secure a return to the UEFA Champions League just a year after missing out on European football altogether.
He has also impressed at the World Cup, but with four years remaining on his contract, Leipzig are in a strong negotiating position. For Schäfer, the speculation is "primarily a recognition of his performances. Nothing more, nothing less."
