LEIPZIG, Germany (AP) — Leipzig has signed Ivory Coast youth international Yan Diomande from Spanish second-division team Leganés.
The club is also reportedly close to finalizing deals for Serbia midfielder Andrija Maksimović and Belgium winger Johan Bakayoko.
The 18-year-old Diomande signed a contract through June 2030, the Bundesliga club said on Wednesday.
Diomande spent just one season at Leganés after moving from Florida-based club AS Frenzi. He made his league debut against Real Madrid and scored two goals in 10 La Liga appearances for Leganés but couldn’t prevent its relegation at the end of the season.
“He’s a left winger with outstanding pace, strong dribbling, athleticism and a real eye for goal. On top of that, he never gives up on a ball and plays with great team spirit. With these qualities, he fits perfectly into the type of football we want to play this season,” Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schäfer said.
Leipzig, which missed out on European qualification last season, was also expected to complete the signings of Maksimović and Bakayoko from Red Star Belgrade and PSV Eindhoven, respectively.
Yussuf Poulsen, who joined Leipzig when it was still in Germany’s third division in 2013, has left for promoted Hamburger SV. Other players, including Benjamin Šeško and Loïs Openda, are also candidates to leave.
Leipzig was founded in 2009 when energy drinks manufacturer Red Bull bought and rebranded fifth-tier club SSV Markranstädt and financed its rise through the lower divisions.
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