Yan Diomande won’t be signing for Manchester United. But he appears unlikely to be signing for a Premier League rival either.
One of the most exciting young players to emerge in world football over the past 12 months has been Yan Diomande.
Diomande has gone from playing regional US soccer in 2023 to making his La Liga debut with Leganes in Spain in early 2025.
RB Leipzig signed him a year ago and he has been lighting up the Bundesliga, where inevitable links to top clubs have followed.
Manchester United were linked with Diomande in November, and earlier in 2026, Sky Sports reported that he was a top name on the club’s radar.
However, with Leipzig looking for £100 million for the rising star, United have dialled back interest. The club’s priorities are in midfield, not spending this type of money on a winger.
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Yan Diomande set to sign for PSG
Manchester United’s decision not to sign Yan Diomande could have backfired, with Liverpool recently reported to be frontrunners for his signature.
Liverpool finished below United last season and nobody wants to see them getting stronger, especially by signing one of the world’s most exciting talents.
However, Yan Diomande has now made clear that he wants to sign with Paris Saint-Germain, reports The Athletic.
Reports in Germany also claim that Diomande has made PSG his priority and talks are underway to get a move over the line.
It is a very public snub for Liverpool, who had believed they were the favourites to sign him. Manchester United did not make an approach.
United stepped back from the chase due to Diomande’s valuation. The impact of this decision is now lessened, thanks to his decision not to sign with a Premier League rival.
Yes, United could face Diomande in the Champions League, but we can worry about that if and when it happens. PSG are so dangerous already, that one more dazzling winger is neither here nor there.
World Cup star
Diomande has been making a name for himself at the World Cup with the Ivory Coast, where he has shown the positives and negatives in his game.
His ability to run with the ball is clearly eye-catching, he has been giving defenders problems all tournament. But like a young Cristiano Ronaldo, Diomande is having trouble converting his possession into goals.
Raw but talented players have been crushed by the expectation levels at Manchester United in the past. £100 million would have been a lot to invest in a young prospect with just one full season playing in Europe under his belt.
Perhaps Liverpool could have signed him and he would have turned into their latest big-money flop too.
But United fans don’t have to root for this, nor worry about his upside now that he appears to be heading to PSG instead.
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