SOCCER: Konate to leave Liverpool after contract not renewed

France defender Ibrahima Konate will leave Liverpool when his contract expires next month, ending a five-year spell with the club, Liverpool confirmed on Sunday.

The 27-year-old joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021 for a reported fee of £36 million ($48 million) and had previously indicated in April that he was close to signing a contract extension. However, negotiations ultimately broke down over wage terms, according to British media reports.

Konate is set to become the third high-profile player, after Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, to leave Liverpool as a free agent during the current season.

In a social media post, Konate expressed disappointment that he was unable to say goodbye to supporters following Liverpool’s final home match against Brentford at Anfield.

“Anfield is truly a special place, and playing in front of you was something I never took for granted,” Konate said. “At that moment, I didn’t know it would be my final time wearing this shirt in front of you.”

During his time at Liverpool, Konate played a key role in the club’s 2024–25 Premier League title-winning campaign, forming a strong defensive partnership with captain Virgil van Dijk. He also won two League Cups and the FA Cup, and was part of the squad that finished runner-up in the UEFA Champions League in 2022.

Konate’s departure marks the end of a significant chapter in Liverpool’s recent defensive rebuild as the club prepares for further changes ahead of the new season. -Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters