Diomande switches agency ahead of a big summer
RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande has signed today with Roc Nation Sports International as his new agency, a notable move with the summer transfer window approaching and several top clubs said to be watching his situation.
The switch ends his previous representation relationship with Maxidel Management, who had been linked with the player until now.
Who is Yan Diomande?
Diomande is an Ivorian winger born 14.11.2006. He joined RB Leipzig in 2025 and is contracted long-term, typically operating on the left flank where he can isolate full-backs, attack space aggressively and drive at defenders in transition.
He is viewed as one of Leipzig’s high-upside attacking projects: pace, 1v1 threat and the kind of profile elite clubs track early as soon as production starts to match potential.
Why this decision matters now
Agency moves at this stage of the season are rarely random. A switch to a global platform ahead of summer can signal preparation for a major contract moment (extension or improved terms), or a controlled summer-market process if interest turns into formal talks.
Either way, it puts Diomande’s next steps firmly under the spotlight.
Agency angle: Roc Nation Sports International vs. Maxidel Management
Roc Nation Sports International was founded by Jay-Z and operates as a full-scope player-management platform, combining representation with commercial and brand strategy, and it has been increasing its football footprint in Europe.
Diomande’s previous agency, Maxidel Management, founder by a former player Max Gradel, has built a reputation around talent pathways – particularly for West African profiles – into top European environments, with a model that blends scouting, development support and hands-on career management.
In our deep-dive on Roc Nation Sports International president Michael Yormark, we break down how the agency is shifting football representation from simple contract brokerage to full-service athlete “company-building” – focusing on brand storytelling, IP, equity-minded partnerships, and long-term career architecture.
The piece also explores why Roc Nation is investing heavily in Brazil and Africa as foundational talent markets, and how Yormark thinks about the constraints of Europe’s calendar and the untapped upside of U.S. football storytelling heading into 2026.
For now, the headline is clear: Diomande has changed agency at a time when the summer window is approaching and attention is growing. The next signals to watch will be whether Leipzig move toward a fresh contract conversation – or whether this becomes a summer where his situation accelerates quickly.
Maxidel Management posted in Instagram:
OFFICIAL STATEMENT – MAXIDEL MANAGEMENT
Maxidel Management informs the public, the media, and all stakeholders in football that the player Yan Diomandé, who until now has been monitored and supported in his career by our organization, has reportedly recently committed to working with another management agency, according to information relayed by several media outlets and sports journalists.
Maxidel Management acknowledges these statements, while specifying that this situation arises within a particular contractual and legal context that is currently the subject of serious disputes.
We were indeed surprised to learn that the player Yan Diomandé, contractually bound to our agency, had allegedly signed with another organization without any information, consultation, or prior notification, contrary to the obligations set out in the framework of our contractual relationship.
Maxidel Management also recalls having supported the player throughout his development and having notably contributed actively to finalizing his signing with RB Leipzig. During AFCON 2025 in Morocco, the player had also reaffirmed his trust in our organization before publicly denying it in a video for reasons that we only became aware of later. Events followed that later reconciled matters and appeared to seal this commitment on a lasting basis. Maxidel Management did not speak publicly at the time in order to respect professional ethics and professionalism linked to our engagement, the guiding principle being not to expose our player.
It is therefore with great surprise that we discover today that a commitment may have been made in parallel with another agency, outside any proper procedure and without respect for our contractual rights.
In light of this situation, Maxidel Management will take all necessary measures to preserve its rights and defend its interests through the appropriate legal channels.
To this end, Maxidel Management confirms that an official procedure will be initiated and that the matter will be brought before the competent FIFA bodies, so that the rights of our organization are fully respected and full clarity is brought to the circumstances surrounding this commitment.
Maxidel Management reaffirms its commitment to the principles of transparency and contractual loyalty, as well as strict compliance with international regulations governing player representation.
No further statement will be made at this stage, in order to preserve the confidentiality of the ongoing procedure.
MAXIDEL MANAGEMENT
Communications Department
