2013 photo casts doubt on Yan Diomande's official age

Real Madrid is investigating the birthdate of Ivorian winger Yan Diomande after a 2013 photo that, according to his official record, would show him at six years old, while estimates based on the Chelsea shirt place his minimum age at fourteen and could raise it to twenty‑seven today.

Sports journalist Yan Diomande appears in the image of a street football match circulating on social media. According to his official birthdate, November 14, 2006, he would be six years old in the photo. Experts' estimates indicate at least fourteen years, which would imply that today he could be up to twenty‑seven.

Real Madrid is investigating Diomande's birth documents following that photograph. The image itself shows the footballer wearing a Chelsea shirt sponsored by Three, whose design with the number “3” was not released until the 2020‑21 season, ruling out the photo being earlier than that year. The club needs to determine the exact date the photo was taken to resolve the discrepancy.

Career and signings of Diomande

The winger arrived this summer from RB Leipzig in a €125 million deal and signed until June 30, 2033. In 2024 he trained at the DME Academy in Daytona Beach, then moved to Leganés' reserve team and made his top‑flight debut in March 2025 against Real Madrid. In July 2025 Leipzig paid €20 million for him, although his stint in Europe remains brief.

The CAF has included him among the ten candidates for African Young Player of the Year, whose winner will be announced on December 7, after he scored the volley at El Sardinero in the 0‑3 against Racing. While the club reviews the documentation, the official record indicates he will turn twenty on November 14.