According to Liverpool.com, the 27-year-old centre-back has signed a four-year contract with Real Madrid, keeping him at the club until June 30, 2030.
Madrid secure defensive reinforcement
Konaté arrives after five seasons at Liverpool, where he became an important figure in defence but left after the club failed to agree terms on a new contract.
His move had been widely expected, particularly after Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez made the defender’s potential arrival part of his re-election campaign earlier this month.
For Madrid, the deal represents a significant piece of business. Konaté joins without a transfer fee and brings physical strength, top-level experience and Champions League pedigree to a defence Mourinho is expected to reshape.
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Familiar faces in Spain
The Frenchman will find several familiar figures waiting for him in Madrid. He joins fellow summer arrivals Marc Cucurella and Denzel Dumfries, while also linking up again with former Liverpool teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold, who moved to Real Madrid a year earlier.
Konaté and Alexander-Arnold played together 93 times at Liverpool, recording 59 wins, 20 draws and 14 defeats. Their understanding could prove valuable as Mourinho looks to build a settled back line.
Konaté will also share a dressing room with France teammate Kylian Mbappé, who has previously spoken warmly about his qualities.
“Konaté is a very aggressive defender, in the best sense,” Mbappé said at a France press conference. “He never makes a dirty move, but he is tough in the challenge and wants his opponent to feel they are in for a difficult night. I love having defenders like him on my team.”
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World Cup comes first
Before beginning his Real Madrid career in full, Konaté remains on international duty with France at the World Cup.
He was an unused substitute in France’s opening group-stage win over Senegal, with Didier Deschamps’ side now preparing for matches against Iraq and Norway.
Konaté will hope to play a bigger role as the tournament progresses before turning his attention to Madrid, where he arrives as one of the key defensive signings of Mourinho’s new project.
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