She Had a Drink at a Party and Never Woke Up
Yan Diomande (19) has become one of the summer's most expensive players, but behind the €140 million transfer lies a story of a tough upbringing and a promise to his late sister.
Yan Diomande (19) has become one of the summer's most expensive players, but behind the €140 million transfer lies a story of a tough upbringing and a promise to his late sister.
The most talked-about transfer of this summer, that of 19-year-old Yan Diomande to Real Madrid for €140 million (€125 million plus €15 million in bonuses), is just the latest chapter in a story that transcends football. The Ivory Coast international, in an emotional piece for The Player's Tribune, opened up about his journey from poverty and the family tragedy that has forever marked him.
Diomande's football story begins in humble conditions in Abidjan, where, as he writes, it all started with a gift-a replica Manchester United jersey. "Do you remember when someone gave me a fake United jersey, and I wrote Ronaldo and the number seven on it with a black marker?" Diomande recalled in a letter dedicated to his sister, Roxane. In a house where 25 people lived, football was an escape. "I'd pretend to sleep, then sneak back into the room after midnight to watch football with the TV volume muted," he wrote.
He got a chance at a professional career in the U.S., but there he faced only rejection. "Even the MLS B teams didn't want me, and I didn't know why. They never gave me a reason," Diomande recalls. After his visa expired, he was sent back to Africa. "My dream was over. They sent me back to Africa, and you and I cried together," he wrote, addressing his sister.
The turning point came in the form of American businessman Jeff Luhnow, who funded the journeys of young African players to academies. In 2022, Luhnow bought Spanish second-division side Leganés, which became a stepping stone for Diomande. He made his debut for the club only at the end of the 2024/25 season, recording 10 appearances and two goals. A transfer to Leipzig for €20 million-the amount of his release clause-soon followed.
In Leipzig, he exploded. Last season, he was the second-most successful dribbler among Europe's top five leagues with 118 successful take-ons. Only Lamine Yamal, with 133, was ahead of him. It was these numbers that convinced Real Madrid to shell out a staggering sum for him.
Diomande experienced his greatest pain just after his debut for Leganés, at the age of 18. "It happened just a few weeks after I debuted for Leganés. Who else debuts at 18 and against Real? It was a dream, but it quickly turned into a nightmare," he wrote. His 15-year-old sister, Roxane, died after someone spiked her drink with drugs at a party. "You were 15, 15... I'm writing this because I can't talk about it; I'm writing this because I want your memory to live on. I'll make sure the whole world knows your name; everything I do on the pitch is dedicated to you," he said.
Since losing his sister, Diomande admits he has emotionally shut down. "Now I feel nothing, as if I'm not a human being. Since you left, everything is empty. Not a day goes by that I don't shed a tear every time I think of you," concluded the player, who now embarks on the biggest challenge of his career, carrying on his jersey not just a number, but an eternal memory of his sister.
