La Liga: Ivorian Yan Diomandé, Real Madrid's most expensive signing, scores and assists against Sevilla

Yan Diomandé delivered his first major performance in the white jersey: on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at the Santiago-Bernabéu during the 9th matchday of La Liga, the 19-year-old Ivorian winger provided an assist and scored in Real Madrid's 4-1 victory over Sevilla.

In the 30th minute, on a counter-attack launched by Jude Bellingham, he set up Arda Güler for the opening goal, reports Bénin Web TV. Kylian Mbappé doubled the lead in the 37th minute, then converted a penalty in the 63rd. Sevilla narrowed the gap through Manu Bueno in the 80th minute. Two minutes later, served by Aurélien Tchouaméni, Diomandé advanced and struck with his right foot from outside the box to set the final score at 4-1.

This was not an isolated incident. Eight days earlier, on October 10, the Ivorian had already scored the winning goal against Villarreal. Two league matchdays, two goals: the boy from Abidjan is beginning to answer, on the pitch, the question all of Spain had been asking since the summer.

The most expensive player in Real Madrid's history

For Yan Diomandé did not arrive in Castile quietly. Real Madrid made his signing official on August 6, 2026, from RB Leipzig, for seven seasons, until June 30, 2033. The club did not disclose the amount, but the Spanish press cited by RDS estimates it at approximately 140 million euros, including bonuses. Never before had the Madrid club spent so much on a player. This record now belongs to an Ivorian, who simultaneously becomes the most expensive African footballer in history, ahead of Cameroonian Bryan Mbeumo.

His trajectory has been meteoric. Born in Abidjan, he joined RB Leipzig in the summer of 2025 from CD Leganés. A single season in the Bundesliga was enough for him to establish himself: 12 goals and 8 assists, and the title of best young player in the German championship. One year later, Real made him their sixth signing of the summer and installed him on the right side of their attack.

A busy African Sunday in Europe

Diomandé was not the only one to shine this weekend. According to Africa Radio, Bryan Mbeumo scored Manchester United's goal at Leeds (1-1), Alex Iwobi secured victory for Fulham against Hull City (1-0), Ivorian Ange-Yoan Bonny scored the final goal for Inter in Bologna (3-1), Algerian Ibrahim Maza opened the scoring in the 19th minute for Bayer Leverkusen against Freiburg (2-1), and Moroccan Abde Ezzalzouli scored for Betis against Barça (2-5).

But it is indeed Diomandé's name that Spain will remember. At 19, the Ivorian winger carries the heaviest label in world football, that of a record transfer for a club that does not forgive. For now, he is carrying it by scoring.