Ibrahima Konaté to leave Liverpool at the end of the season following breakdown in contract extension talks..

Liverpool announced on their official website on Sunday that France international defender Ibrahima Konaté will leave the club this summer after his contract expires.

According to Liverpool's official statement, the club is very grateful for Konaté's contributions and efforts to the team over the past five years and wishes him all the best for the future.

Furthermore, according to multiple team correspondent, Konaté was indeed close to finalizing a contract extension with Liverpool in April. The player even publicly stated his desire to renew his contract.

However, after his agent recently changed his mind and demanded that Liverpool increase the player's wages and performance-related bonuses to £35,000 per week, comparable to captain Virgil van Dijk's, the Reds' management decided to abandon the contract extension offer after considering various factors.

After news of his impending departure was confirmed, Konaté wrote on his official social media account: "Dear Liverpool, five years ago, I came here with big dreams as a young player. Today, I leave with memories I will never forget."

"It has been an honor to represent this club. We've been through countless wonderful moments together…highs and lows, trophies, challenges, lifelong friendships, and the pain that will forever be etched in our hearts, the most heartbreaking of all being the loss of our brother Diogo (Jota)."

"The passing of my father this year was one of the most difficult periods of my life, but even in adversity, my loyalty to this club never wavered. In the toughest times, I gave my all for this crest."

"To my teammates, coaches, staff, and everyone behind the scenes, thank you for helping me grow every day." 

“To the fans… thank you for your love, your passion, and your tremendous support. Anfield is a truly special place, and I will always be grateful to have played in front of you.”

“I regret not being able to say a proper goodbye in my last game. At the time, I didn’t know it would be the last time I wore this shirt in front of you.”

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything. I love you all, and wherever I go, I will always remember Liverpool.”

“This is not an easy farewell, but it’s time to embrace new challenges and begin a new chapter.”

“God bless us, and we’ll meet again soon. You'll Never Walk Alone.”

About Ibrahima Konaté

The 27-year-old Konaté was born on May 25, 1999, in Paris, France. He is 1.94 meters tall, plays as a centre-back, and holds dual French and Malian citizenship.

Konaté joined the youth academy of his hometown club Paris FC at the age of 10, and five years later transferred to Sochaux's youth academy, before completing his Sochaux first-team debut in February 2017 at the age of 17.

After his contract expired in July of the same year, Konaté joined RB Leipzig on a free transfer.

During his four years at Leipzig, Konaté helped the club reach the DFB-Pokal final twice.

In July 2021, Konaté joined Liverpool for £36 million.

During his five-year spell with the Reds, Konaté made 183 appearances in all competitions, scoring 7 goals and providing 4 assists. During which he helped the club win one Premier League title, one FA Cup, one Community Shield, and two Carabao Cups, and reached the UEFA Champions League final once.

Image source: Internet / Liverpool official website