CAA Stellar now control a major free-agent file
CAA Stellar client Ibrahima Konate is now expected to assess his options before choosing his next club, with four possibilities understood to be open after his Liverpool exit.
Konate is set to leave Liverpool when his contract expires on 30 June 2026, ending a five-year spell at Anfield. Talks over a new deal had been ongoing for a long time, and the player even suggested in April that an agreement was close, but no final deal was reached.
That changes the whole market. Liverpool are no longer involved in the decision. Konate can now choose his next club as a free agent, with his camp free to weigh contract length, signing fee, salary, sporting role and Champions League level.
Real Madrid stepped back before Christmas
Real Madrid were keen on Konate, but left the talks before Christmas in order to respect Liverpool while the defender’s contract situation was still being handled at club level.
Now that Konate is leaving Liverpool as a free agent, Real Madrid can reassess the opportunity without negotiating around Liverpool’s position.
Madrid’s need is easy to understand. They have been refreshing their defensive line, and a free-agent centre-back with Premier League, Champions League and France experience naturally fits their recruitment logic.
Bayern and Chelsea also part of the picture
Reports in France and England have also placed Bayern Munich and Chelsea among the clubs interested in Konate.
Bayern’s angle is clear. Konate already knows German football from his RB Leipzig period, and Bayern have been assessing centre-back options as they reshape the squad. A free-agent deal for a 27-year-old France international would be attractive, especially if the financial package is manageable compared with a transfer-fee signing.
Chelsea are also watching. Xabi Alonso’s arrival has changed the sporting conversation at Stamford Bridge, and Chelsea are expected to look at experienced defensive options. The issue for Chelsea is European football: if rival clubs can offer Champions League status immediately, that may weigh heavily in Konate’s decision.
Konate’s season keeps his value high
Konate’s 2025/26 campaign was not without difficult moments, but his workload still shows why elite clubs are interested.
Opta lists him at 33 Premier League appearances and 2,844 league minutes this season. Other public stat feeds place him at around 49 to 52 appearances across all competitions, with one or two goals depending on competition counting. Sports Mole reported 49 starts and two substitute appearances in all competitions.
For a centre-back entering free agency, that is a strong availability and experience profile. Konate is 27, right-footed, physically powerful, quick across the ground and already experienced in high-line defending. Those qualities are exactly why major clubs are prepared to look beyond the breakdown of his Liverpool renewal.
The agency angle
For CAA Stellar, this is one of the biggest free-agent files of the summer. The agency already represents a deep roster of elite players, including names such as Eduardo Camavinga, Omar Marmoush, Fermin Lopez, Alex Baena, Kobbie Mainoo, Morgan Gibbs-White, Jordan Pickford and Konate himself.
David Manasseh and the wider CAA Stellar structure are used to operating in this type of market: elite player, multiple major clubs, no transfer fee, and a decision shaped by salary, project and timing.
A free-agent centre-back of Konate’s level creates a different negotiation dynamic. The buying club saves on transfer fee, but the player’s camp can command a stronger salary, signing bonus and longer contract. That is where CAA Stellar’s experience becomes important.
A decision built around role, not only money
Konate’s next move should not be read only through the biggest financial offer. His next club must give him a clear role before the next France cycle and ahead of major international tournaments.
Real Madrid offer prestige and Champions League status. Bayern offer familiarity with Germany and title expectation. Chelsea offer the Premier League stage and a new project under Alonso. Other clubs could still enter because free-agent opportunities at this level rarely stay quiet for long.
For FootballAgencies readers, this is the key point: Konate’s Liverpool chapter is closing, but his agency file is only just opening. With Liverpool no longer part of the decision, CAA Stellar now have a major free-agent centre-back to place in one of the most competitive defensive markets of the summer.
