Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté is leaving the club on a free transfer after five years on Merseyside, the club confirmed on Sunday. The announcement came after the France international had told reporters in April there was a “big chance” he would remain at Anfield. Konaté becomes the latest established player to depart without a fee.
Under owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG), Liverpool have shown a readiness to let some high-profile players run down contracts rather than meet wage demands the club considers excessive. Konaté and Andy Robertson are leaving at the end of their deals, while Mohamed Salah agreed to terminate his contract a year early. Trent Alexander-Arnold joined Real Madrid for a reported €10 million ($12 million) shortly before his Liverpool deal expired, and Roberto Firmino, Georginio Wijnaldum and Emre Can previously left without fees.
The report noted a period of behind-the-scenes churn after long-term stability under manager Jürgen Klopp and sporting director Michael Edwards ended when Edwards departed in 2022. Julian Ward succeeded Edwards but left after a year; Jörg Schmadtke served in an interim role that ended when Klopp left in 2024. Edwards and Ward have since returned and Richard Hughes was appointed sporting director. Arne Slot was sacked as head coach on Saturday; Edwards and Hughes each have one year remaining on their contracts.
Liverpool have sometimes preferred to keep players until the end of their deals rather than sell a year early for a small fee and forgo another season of performances. Club executives have pointed to examples such as Firmino and Wijnaldum, who did not sustain the same level after leaving, while the report said Emre Can was an exception who improved after his exit.
Despite recent free departures and the loss of Alexander-Arnold for a nominal fee, Liverpool still posted a net spend of more than £200 million on players including Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike. Success in the Premier League and consistent Champions League qualification contributed to Liverpool finishing fourth on Forbes’ rich list, behind Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United.
