Player Profile

In May 2021 Liverpool triggered Ibrahima Konaté’s £36 million release clause with RB Leipzig, allowing the central defender to sign for the Reds on 1 July that year. Konaté is of Malian descent and grew up in Paris, joining Paris FC’s youth set up at the age of ten. He moved to Sochaux’s boarding academy when he was fifteen, making his debut in Ligue 2 as a seventeen-year-old in February 2017. After just twelve games for Sochaux, Bundesliga runners up RB Leipzig had seen enough and made their move. Sporting Director Ralf Rangnick believed they had unearthed a brilliant raw talent and Konaté was offered a five-year deal.

Konaté made an instant impact in Germany, keeping club captain Willi Orban out of the side on occasions in his first season. He became a regular in 2018/19 and although he was troubled by ankle injuries in the following two seasons, his importance to the side when fit was clear. RB Leipzig were unbeaten in 28 successive games that Konaté started as he made tackling, intercepting, bringing the ball forward look easy.

During 2021/22 Konaté had to bide his time in the Premier League, but was Van Dijk's  central defensive partner in the victorious FA Cup final and the Champions League final where Liverpool lost 1-0 to Real Madrid in his home city of Paris. On 10 June 2022, Konaté earned his first full international cap for France. The following season a knee injury derailed his Liverpool career and he picked up muscle  injuries after returning to apparent full fitness. Konaté played regularly from the start from the beginning of March in an ultimately disappointing campaign. He was in France's World Cup squad, coming off the bench in the final against Argentina lost after a penalty shootout.. During 2023/24 the emergence of Jarrell Quansah and the stability of Joel Matip meant Konaté was no longer an automatic choice to partner Van Dijk in central defence. He made seventeen league starts but had to be content with a place on the bench on several occasions. He was included in the French squad for Euro 24 but didn't make any appearances.

Konaté's Liverpool career was resurrected under Arne Slot. Van Dijk’s calmness and positional intelligence paired with Konaté’s athleticism and pace allowed Liverpool to maintain a high defensive line and recover quickly when possession was lost in the 2024/25 season, this partnership was central to Liverpool’s success, as the pair marshalled the backline with consistency and authority, helping the team secure the Premier League title that season. Konaté demonstrated the blend of strength, speed, and composure combined with aerial dominance. Konaté often steps forward to intercept passes or carry the ball out of defence. The main criticism of his game is that he sometimes lacks focus and forgets about his positioning, leaving an opponent unmarked. Off the pitch, he is a popular figure among the Liverpool squad, and the playful “Ibou!” chant is often heard at Anfield whenever he outmuscles an opponent. His current contract with Liverpool runs through June 2026, and while he has attracted attention from top European clubs like Real Madrid, he remains a central figure in the heart of Arne Slot's defence.