Online Reporter
BRAZIL winger Vinicius Jr has agreed a new six-year contract with Real Madrid that will keep him at the Bernabeu until 2032.
The 26-year-old had entered the final 12 months of his contract and attracted interest from Arsenal in recent weeks.
However, Real Madrid announced on Thursday the two parties have agreed to extend his deal to June 30 2032.
Vinicius posted on Instagram: “Eight years at the Bernabeu are too short… Six more years, and then forever.”
“Vinicius Jr has become one of the most important players in one of the most successful periods in our history,” said the club in a statement. Talks over a deal were at an impasse until Real made a new offer on Wednesday, with Vinicius understood to be appreciative of the fresh terms.
He joined Real from Brazilian side Flamengo in 2018 and signed a contract extension three years ago.
Real and his representatives have been in talks over a fresh deal for the past 18 months but he has now extended his stay at what he has previously called the club of his “dreams”.
He returned to the club on Monday for his first pre-season training session and medical assessment following his World Cup campaign with Brazil.
Vinicius has scored 128 goals in 375 appearances for Real across all competitions, while he has 13 goals in 54 caps for Brazil.
He has helped Real win two Champions League titles, three La Ligas and one Copa del Rey during his time at the club.
It is understood Arsenal would have accelerated their interest in the Brazilian if he had rejected Real’s terms, but the English Premier League champions must now look elsewhere as they target a left-sided forward.
Vincius’ contract extension comes on the same day Real announced the signing of Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig for a fee worth up to £120m (140m euros).
Diomande is Real’s sixth summer signing under new head coach Jose Mourinho, joining Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella and Carlos Espi.
Real are also targeting Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri, but now face competition from bitter rivals Barcelona.
Diomande joins Madrid
Madrid have also signed Ivorian international Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig for a fee worth up to £120m (140m euros).
The 19-year-old winger has signed a seven-year contract and his price tag could surpass the £115m (133.9m euros) Real agreed to pay Borussia Dortmund for Jude Bellingham in June 2023.
Paris St-Germain had been frontrunners for the teenager but the Champions League winners pulled out of a potential move on Sunday after a £102.5m bid was rejected.
If Real end up paying the full £120m for Diomande he would become the fourth most expensive player in history, behind PSG’s Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, and Liverpool’s former Newcastle striker Alexander Isak.
Diomande is also the most expensive African player, surpassing the £72m Arsenal paid Lille for fellow Ivory Coast international Nicolas Pepe in 2019.
Diomande was previously a target for Liverpool, who had an initial bid of £69m rejected in June, as they search for a replacement for Mohamed Salah, who joined Turkish club Trabzonspor on Thursday.
Diomande is Real’s sixth summer signing under new head coach Jose Mourinho, joining Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella and Carlos Espi.
In a statement, the teenager thanked Leipzig fans for their “incredible support”, and said: “Who knows? Maybe we’ll meet again one day in the Champions League.”
But he said the move to Madrid “is a childhood dream come true”, adding: “I am all the more grateful to the management at RB Leipzig for making this move possible despite my current contract.”
He was named the Bundesliga’s Young Player of the Season for 2025-26, having scored 12 goals and registered eight assists in the competition.
He appeared in all four of Ivory Coast’s World Cup games as they were eliminated in the round of 32 by Norway.
Diomande moved from his native Ivory Coast to an academy in the United States before joining Spanish side Leganes in 2025 and then Leipzig later that year. Real Madrid’s move for Diomande reflects the club’s commitment to signing elite young talents before they reach their peak. At just 19 years old, the Ivorian winger has become one of the game’s most exciting prospects thanks to his explosive pace, dribbling, creativity and attacking impact.
After scoring 13 goals and providing 10 assists across all competitions in his first full season in Europe with Leipzig, Diomande attracted interest from several major clubs.
One of Diomande’s biggest strengths is his versatility. Comfortable on either wing, he can create chances, beat defenders one-on-one, is a skillful dribbler and can contribute goals. — BBC Sport.
