Leipzig new boy ready to break new ground

Data correct as of 2 November 2025

Yan Diomande

Age: 18 (born 14 November 2006)
Club: RB Leipzig
Position: Winger
Country: Ivory Coast (two caps, two goals)

Born in Abidjan in 2006, Diomande moved to the USA at a young age and joined the DME Academy in Florida, with his performances leading associate team AS Frenzi to an undefeated season and the local league title in 2023.

A trial with Scottish side Rangers followed in October that year, but he ultimately returned to DME until November 2024, when he signed his first professional contract with Spanish LaLiga side Leganés. Diomande had to bide his time before making his debut, yet eventually did so against giants Real Madrid in March 2025 as a late substitute.

He was first named in the starting XI two weeks later against another illustrious opponent, Barcelona, and subsequently started each of the next seven league matches. That whole run was one of Leganés' best of the season as they lost just two of those matches, winning three of the last four.

That was not enough to keep them in the division, but they went down fighting as Diomande scored one and assisted another in a final-day 3-0 victory over Real Valladolid. That was one of two goals he netted throughout the campaign in 10 outings.

After making the switch to the Red Bull Arena, Diomande was handed his first Bundesliga start against Bayern Munich on the opening day of the term. A 6-0 defeat was not the debut he would have wished for, things have only improved since then. On Matchday 8, he scored his first league goal for the club against Augsburg, and he followed that up with a strike against Stuttgart the following week.

Internationally, Diomande represents the country of his birth. Having made a U17 and U23 apppearance apiece, he was called up to the senior side for the first time in October 2025. He hit the ground running, too, netting on his debut versus Seychelles before repeating the trick versus Kenya four days later.

Plays a bit like: Karim Adeyemi

Diomande has quick feet and pace to burn, much like Borussia Dortmund’s Adeyemi. The Germany international can also play on both wings and has been causing opposing defenders all sorts of problems since bursting onto the scene at Red Bull Salzburg before joining BVB.

Now 23, Adeyemi is an established Bundesliga star and is someone Diomande can look up, even if the two will be playing on opposing teams in 2025/26.

Did you know?

Diomande is the first-ever Ivorian to feature for the club. In fact, he is just the sixth African to feature for the side, following the likes of Naby Keïta and Ademola Lookman. And all this barely two years after he was playing high school soccer in the US.

Watch: The best of Karim Adeyemi in 2024/25

What they’re saying

"He's a left winger with outstanding speed, can dribble, is very athletic and can finish. He also never gives up the ball and works for the team. Despite all the excitement, we should give Yan enough time to settle into life in Leipzig and the Bundesliga." - Leipzig managing director Marcel Schäfer

“Dio’s journey at DME Academy has been nothing short of exceptional. His dedication to improving his game day in and day out is truly inspiring. He is not just a gifted athlete but also a team player who understands the importance of collaboration and unity on and off the field. We are incredibly proud of his achievements, and we believe this is just the beginning of an extraordinary career.” - Thales Peterson, former Director of Soccer at DME Academy

"He often gets past his opponents without any tricks, simply because he's so dynamic. But what's even more important to me is that he works for the team and is very good at counter-pressing. It's a matter of attitude, and he demonstrates that."– Leipzig head coach Ole Werner