Ibrahima Konate

Ibrahima Konaté began his career in the youth‑setup at Paris FC, where he grew up. He spent five years there from the age of ten before moving to the academy at Sochaux, where he originally played as a striker but was later converted back to defence. He made his first‑team debut in Ligue 2 at just 17.

Konaté impressed so much in his debut campaign that he earned a move to RB Leipzig—having only played 12 first‑team games for Sochaux—on a free transfer once his contract expired. He went on to make 95 appearances for Die Roten Bullen, including a breakout season in 2018–19, which accounted for nearly half of his total Leipzig appearances.

In May 2021, Liverpool triggered the £36 million release clause in his contract, and Konaté moved to Merseyside. He has since established himself as the regular partner to Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence following Joel Matip’s departure. He has occasionally struggled with injuries at Liverpool; however, his fitness has markedly improved over time.

Known for his physically imposing stature and ability to win defensive duels—often prompting chants of “IBOU” from the Anfield crowd—Konaté is also a popular figure in the dressing room thanks to his humour and love of manga and anime. His contract runs until the end of the 2025–26 season, and the club is hopeful of fending off interest from Paris Saint‑Germain (PSG) and Real Madrid to keep one of their star players.