Yan Diomande plays as a winger for Leipzig and the Ivory Coast national team, and this season, he has established himself as a great sensation in the Bundesliga. Proof of this is the nine goals and five assists achieved in 24 matches with the German team and his great performances in the Africa Cup of Nations. At 19, he is being linked with strengthening the squads of some of the best clubs in Europe in the next summer transfer window.

And not for a small amount of money, either, as Leipzig has valued him at the surprising figure of €100 million. But Diomande already had the opportunity to play for a major European club and turned it down. He explained this in statements to the German media outlet Bild, in which he revealed the difficult choice he had to make at the start of his football career.

"A lot of people told me that I had to play for Chelsea, so I stopped and decided for myself. I had to choose between Chelsea and Leganes; it was risky, but I made the right decision."

The decision the Leipzig winger is talking about is signing for Leganes, thus rejecting Chelsea's proposal. "I think patience is very important in football. It's not always about money. If you play well, opportunities come," Diomande said. He played for the Leganes side in the 2024-25 season. He played 10 matches, in which he scored two goals and provided one assist.

His numbers were by no means spectacular, but he already showed a part of his quality with countless flashes of brilliance. That being the case, it is no coincidence that he is standing out in Germany. For the 2025/26 season, Diomande has accumulated a total of seven goals and four assists in the Bundesliga after playing 20 matches, of which he started 15.

Roundtablesports is Free to join! You can post your own thoughts, comment on articles, and start conversations with our Roundtable Writers. 

Download the FREE Roundtable APP, and get even easier access to your favorite teams and news!