Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate is set to leave the club at the end of next month after failing to agree to terms on a new contract, according to multiple reports.
The centre-back said in April that he was close to an agreement with the club over a new deal.
But the 27-year-old is now set to head to pastures new, leaving Liverpool with a significant headache in an area of the team where their strength in depth is lacking.
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Konate to have plenty of options after Liverpool exit
Konate told reporters after Liverpool’s Merseyside derby win at Everton: “There are many things people have said but for a long time we have spoken with the club and we are close to an agreement.
“I think everyone wished for that for as soon as possible but we are in a good way.”
“For sure, there is a big chance that I’m here next season. This is what I’ve always wanted.”
But that chance has now evaporated, with Konate ending a five-year association with the club he joined from RB Leipzig in 2021.
Konate has won four major trophies with Liverpool, including the Premier League title in 2025.
The France international has made 183 appearances for the Reds, scoring seven goals, and is likely to have plenty of suitors to sign him on a free-agent deal.
Real Madrid have been heavily linked with a move for Konate in recent times, while Paris Saint-Germain are also now reported to be in the race for his signature, along with Liverpool’s Premier League rivals Chelsea.
Set to head to the World Cup with France, Konate’s future may not be finalised until after that tournament, with Les Bleus among the favourites for the title.
Liverpool left short at centre-back
Even with Konate and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk at the heart of their backline, the Reds struggled defensively in 2025-26.
Only seven teams conceded more goals than the 53 Liverpool shipped this season, Arne Slot’s men suffering a significant decline defensively after conceding 41 in 2024-25 en route to winning the title.
Both Van Dijk and Konate were guilty of inconsistency this season, though Liverpool’s chief issues at the back concerned the full-back positions, as Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez both struggled in their debut seasons at the club.
Despite his often uneven form, the loss of Konate is a considerable setback for Liverpool.
Van Dijk will depart at the end of next season and, with Konate leaving, Liverpool’s only other experienced centre-back is Joe Gomez.
Gomez is entering the final year of his contract and has been linked with a move after playing sparingly this season.
Liverpool have two intriguing young central defenders on their books in the form of Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet, who will link up with the club this summer after signing a pre-contract deal in February.
Leoni, 19, tore his ACL on debut last September after joining from Parma. A fee that could rise to £60m reflected how highly Liverpool think of Jacquet, but the reality is that the Reds will now likely need to enter the transfer market again to sign a more experienced centre-back who can ensure they do not need to rely on Leoni and Jacquet too heavily.
Losing Konate for free is a painful blow for Liverpool, and it leaves them with more work to do as they bid to bounce back from a disappointing campaign.
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