Photo Illustration by Alberto Mier

Yan Diomandé is set to have an incredibly bright future. At just 19, the attacker has signed for arguably the world’s biggest soccer team in Real Madrid and will begin his debut season for Los Blancos as they face Espanyol on Saturday.

The Spanish giant signed the Ivory Coast international on a seven-year deal this summer, for a reported fee of $144.3 million. That not only makes him the most expensive African player in history, but one of the biggest transfers in all of soccer.

But while many wax lyrical about his rags-to-riches story – one that saw him hone his skills in the United States – his is also a story of heartbreak and a reminder of the traps that lie in wait for young stars who aspire to become professionals.

Diomandé was born in the city of Abidjan in the Ivory Coast. It was a humble childhood but one grounded by the importance of family and friends. A passion for soccer was there from the start and a young Diomandé could be found running on dirt pitches in just a pair of white sandals.In a letter he recently wrote for The Player’s Tribune, Diomandé says he was nicknamed after Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos because of his ability to strike the ball so hard.He was only getting started, but people could already see the natural ability that the youngster believed would one day take him to the top.

Diomandé is defended by Ecuador's Piero Hincapié during a World Cup match in June.

He started playing more seriously for a local team where he saw his aspirations grow. It wasn’t long before he was telling friends he’d be the next Cristiano Ronaldo.

In truth, though, it was also a way of hiding him away from other agencies and teams that were sniffing around the player. The idea was that he would stay in the US until he was old enough to sign a professional contract at 18, per FIFA guidelines.

So, with just a suitcase and a dream, Diomandé left his home and family in Africa on a one-way journey to the US.

Diomandé celebrates a goal for German club RB Leipzig in November. Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Picking him up from the airport in Miami was DME Academy’s director of soccer Todd Eason, a man who would become a father figure for a boy being pulled in every which direction.

Because he only spoke French, our communication was very limited on our drive back from Miami, which was four hours away,” the now Miami FC General Manager told CNN Sports over the phone.“We just exchanged little messages on Google Translate to try to get to know each other. But I also had other French-speaking players on the team, so it was kind of let me just hurry back to campus, let me introduce him to others that speak the language and try to get him comfortable there.”At DME, a small team of players would train up to six times a week and balance that with their studies. It allowed Diomandé to learn English and get used to a very different way of life.He quickly formed bonds within the team and, despite staying relatively quiet, would come alive on the pitch. He surprised even Eason, who had only watched his video highlights until then.

Diomandé was not just faster than everyone else, he was more intelligent on the ball and was already confident leading by example.“I assumed we just had another strong player, maybe a little sharper than some of the other players that we had,” he said. “But I think once he touched the pitch and started playing, it was like, ‘Wait a minute.’“Once I saw him, it was like, ‘Man, this is a different level than what I have and this is going to be fun.’“To watch Diomandé play, it was just different in every way. I was very excited to have that opportunity and for the boys around him to be able to play with him because it was a considerable difference from the others.”

FINDING A NEW FAMILY

Under Eason’s tutelage, Diomandé continued to develop not only as a player but as a person. But being away from his family wasn’t easy, especially in an industry that sometimes treats young players as cash cows.

Instead of speaking only about the Beautiful Game, Eason would talk to Diomandé about his mother, who suffers from long-term health issues, and genuinely cared about the person behind the player.“He always wanted to get to the point where he could provide for his family and get his mom into hospitals to treat her,” Eason said.“I don’t think he’s driven by winning the Champions League; that’s a bonus, but he just wants to be playing at the highest level to be able to provide for his family and his friends.”

Diomandé attends a World Cup press conference with Ivory Coast in June. Hannah McKay/Reuters

Diomandé’s time at DME Academy ended in 2024, but he had already been invited to trials at professional clubs around the world. For several reasons, each would end up unsuccessful until a familiar agency got back involved.

Ever since Diomandé had impressed scouts in Africa, he was being closely tracked and guided by American sports organization Blue Crow, which had invested in several professional teams across Europe.One of those teams at the time was Club Deportivo Leganés, which played in Spain’s top division, La Liga, at the time.With a keen interest in the African market, the club was tipped off about Diomandé at an early age and followed his progress in the US, eventually signing him in November 2024.The move was managed by Blue Crow, which was keen to secure its financial interest in Diomandé amid all the rising interest.

The teenager’s move to Spain initially saw him play in the Leganés academy, then the reserves and then quickly rise through the ranks to the first team.

Last Updated on August 24, 2026 by Grace Simon

The US military has killed at least 223 people in strikes that have destroyed 68 vessels as part of a campaign that Washington says is aimed at curtailing the flow of drugs into the United States, according to official announcements and CNN’s analysis of search and rescue efforts.‎‎There have been at least 26 survivors of those strikes according to the US military, at least three of whom were briefly held by US forces before being returned to their home countries. Some 23 are presumed dead after searches did not locate them in the water.‎‎The most recent strike against an alleged drug-trafficking boat occurred on August 23, marking the first known strike in more than two months.‎‎‎The US Coast Guard launched searches for survivors after several of the strikes, while announcing that other countries’ naval authorities had been contacted after other attacks.‎‎The Trump administration has told Congress that the US is now in an “armed conflict” against drug cartels beginning with its first strike on September 2, 2025, labeling those killed “unlawful combatants” and claiming the ability to engage in lethal strikes without judicial review due to a classified Justice Department finding.‎‎‎Some members of Congress as well as human rights groups have questioned that finding and argued that potential drug traffickers should face prosecution, as had been the policy of interdiction carried out by the US before President Donald Trump took office.‎‎‎The Trump administration has also not provided public evidence of the presence of narcotics on the boats struck, nor their affiliation with drug cartels.‎‎Military officials have said that no US service members have been harmed in the strikes.‎‎‎This story has been updated with additional reporting.

Last Updated on August 24, 2026 by Grace Simon

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Last Updated on June 2, 2026 by Grace Simon