Marcel Schäfer has pushed back hard on the idea that Yan Diomande's move to Real Madrid is already finished. Speaking to bundesliga.com, the RB Leipzig sporting director said: "A few days ago, one or two so-called transfer experts were saying the deal was done. But that is simply not the case. Yan is under contract with us – he's our player." Diomande has also returned to Leipzig's pre-season camp in Austria after recovering from an illness, having not travelled with his team-mates to Saalfelden because of it.

Leipzig's line on the deal

Schäfer's wording leaves little room for the takeover-style talk that has built around the winger. The move is clearly advanced, but Leipzig are still treating Diomande as their player until the paperwork and final green light are in place. That is a sensible position from a club point of view, especially when the reported package sits between €130m and €140m including bonuses.

The fee level tells you why this is being handled carefully. Diomande produced 12 goals and 8 assists in 33 Bundesliga appearances last season, and he already has 1 goal contribution in 4 appearances this term. RB Leipzig finished third in the 2025 Bundesliga, so losing a player with that output is not a minor detail, even if the sale is still being negotiated rather than closed.

What remains unresolved

The public line from Leipzig is simple: the transfer is not done yet. The reporting around Real Madrid has pointed to a verbal agreement on personal terms until June 2030, but that is not the same thing as a completed move. The sources also place the package at €130m to €140m including bonuses, not a fixed final fee.

For now, the most concrete detail is still Schäfer's own quote and Diomande's return to Austria with Leipzig. Until the club give the final clearance, he remains their player and the deal stays in progress.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 6 outlets. How we work →