All details about the transfer
After a successful medical check, Timo Werner’s return to RB Leipzig is dry and officially confirmed. The 26-year-old attacker leaves Chelsea after two years and 44 goals in 89 competitive games. The native of Stuttgart will not be loaned out by the Saxons with a purchase option, as initially reported, but will be firmly committed and equipped with a contract until 2026.
The deal between the two clubs went through for around 20 million euros plus bonuses, which according to Transfermarkt information are 10 million euros. “Sky” also reported that RB Leipzig can cost the entire range, including possible additional payments, around 30 million euros. Werner, who is said to have earned between 16 and 18 million euros gross at Chelsea, accepts a larger salary cut for his move back to Leipzig. Noisy “Picture” the DFB striker will collect 10 million euros a year in the future and thus allegedly as much as top earner Christopher Nkunku. With three remaining years of contract in London, (at least) 18 million euros more would have been possible.
Werner and Nkunku at the top: RB Leipzig’s top earners
Werner wants to be the first 100-goal striker at RB Leipzig
At RB, official Florian Scholz explained: “Timo’s commitment made total sense for us – in addition to the sporting component – also due to the financial framework and the agreed contract period.” Christopher Vivell, technical director of the club, said that Werner would “also play a role as adopt leaders. We now have excellent variability and breadth in attack and an enormous power density in these positions.”
Werner himself affirmed how important the experience in London, which was crowned with the Champions League title, was for his development. At RB he now wants “of course to be the first Leipzig cop to break the 100 goal mark.”
In addition to Werner, Bundesliga club Leipzig had already announced the commitment of Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko (19) for the 2023/24 season on Tuesday. The 19-year-old comes from Salzburg and has a contract until 2028. Cost: 24 million euros transfer fee. In attack, the club is well positioned. Werner urgently needs playing time for his planned participation in the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year, which he recently didn’t get under Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel.
Tedesco welcomes Werner transfer, but refers to a large number of strikers
With regard to Werner, RB coach Domenico Tedesco said in the press conference before Leipzig’s game at VfB Stuttgart on Sunday: “If the club has the opportunity to add a German national player who also convinces us, then we will not veto, and basically think that’s a very, very good story.” At the same time, the coach said: “We have André Silva up front, who does it very well. We have Christopher Nkunku in front, we have Alexander Sörloth in front, which makes us more flexible. If Yussuf Poulsen comes back, we still have a striker. Such is our situation.”
Werner, who signed for 22.2 million euros from his training club VfB Stuttgart in 2016, scored 90 times in 156 games in his early days with the “Red Bulls”, and he also set up 40 goals. In 2020, Chelsea FC secured his services for €53m, making him the second most expensive departure from Leipzig after Naby Keïta (€60m to Liverpool in 2018/19). As a result of the return campaign, RB invested a total of at least EUR 42.2 million in transfer fees for Werner – the DFB Cup winner has not paid more money for any other player in his history. Meanwhile, VfB Stuttgart earns a further 700,000 euros from the renewed international transfer of the former homegrown player as part of the solidarity contribution (calculate here for international transfers).
Werner, Adams, Selke & Co.: The most expensive sales by RB Leipzig
In terms of expenses, Leipzig have reached EUR 58 million this summer – previously the club had settled with David Raum (for EUR 26 million from TSG Hoffenheim), Xaver Schlager (for EUR 12 million from VfL Wolfsburg) and Janis Blaswich (free transfer from Heracles Almelo) strengthened. This is offset by income of EUR 74 million from the sales of Tyler Adams (to Leeds United for EUR 17 million), Brian Brobbey (back to Ajax for EUR 16.35 million) and Co (to the overview of all and departures). The Bundesliga club thus continues to have a positive transfer balance.
ONCE LEIPZIG, ALWAYS LEIPZIG pic.twitter.com/dxem0a6WXa
— RB Leipzig (@RBLeipzig) August 9, 2022
Thank you and good luck in Germany, Timo! pic.twitter.com/lKunDCrZkM
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 9, 2022
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