Real Madrid signs France defender Ibrahima Konaté to 4-year deal

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid says it has reached a deal with Ibrahima Konaté to sign the France defender to a four-year contract.

>The Spanish powerhouse announced the deal on Thursday while the central defender is with his national team at the World Cup.

>Konaté was a free agent after his deal with Liverpool expired.

>The 27-year-old Konaté joined Liverpool in 2021 from Leipzig. He helped it win the Premier League in 2025 and the FA Cup in 2022.

>His contract was a campaign promise of Florentino Pérez before he was re-elected as Madrid club president this month.

>Konaté did not leave the bench in France's 3-1 win over Senegal to open their World Cup campaign on Tuesday.