From Florida’s AS Frenzi in the UPSL to RB Leipzig in the span of two years. For a €20 million ($23 million) transfer fee.

That is the improbable story of 18-year-old Ivorian Yan Diomande.

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Paul Kennedy edited Soccer America for 41 years (1985-2026). He began writing for SA in 1974. He started writing for France Football in 1978 and has served on in Ballon d'Or jury since 2007.