Real Madrid signs ex-Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate to 4-year deal

French defender Ibrahima Konate spent his last five seasons at Liverpool. Photo by Adam Vaughan/EPAJune 18 (UPI) -- Real Madrid signed former Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate to a four-year contract, the Spanish La Liga soccer franchise announced Thursday.Konate, 27, spent the last five seasons with the Reds.

He totaled seven goals and four assists over 183 appearances for the English Premier League franchise. Konate won the Premier League, FA Cup, two Carabao Cups and an FA Community Shield while with the Reds.He is among a series of big signings for Madrid, who previously reached agreements with Manchester City's Bernardo Silva and Chelsea's Marc Cucurella.

Konate arrival follows the departure of veteran defenders David Alaba and Dani Carvajal, who left Madrid this off-season. Antonio Rudiger, Raul Asencio, Dean Huijsen and Eder Militao are among Madrid's other defenders.Konate, who also spent time at RB Leipzig and Sochaux, is currently part of France's World Cup squad.

He did not play in their 3-1 group stage win over Senegal on Tuesday in East Rutherford, N.J.The French will face Iraq in their second Group I match Monday in Philadelphia.