JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Professional League club Al-Ittihad are planning a move to sign French defender Ibrahima Konaté, according to a report published by Foot Mercato.
The 27-year-old centre-back is set to become a free agent at the end of the current season following the official confirmation of his departure from English Premier League club Liverpool FC. Konaté’s exit will conclude a five-year tenure at Anfield, having initially joined the Merseyside club from German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
As a pending free agent, Konaté has attracted interest from several top-tier European football clubs. Chelsea FC, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich are all reportedly monitoring the defender’s situation ahead of the upcoming transfer window. However, Foot Mercato indicates that Al-Ittihad aims to compete against these European sides to secure Konaté’s signature.
The potential transfer comes during a period of internal change for the Jeddah-based club. Al-Ittihad recently experienced a managerial vacancy following the departure of manager Sérgio Conceição, which could affect the club’s ongoing recruitment strategy.