The return of national soccer player Timo Werner to Bundesliga club RB Leipzig is perfect. On Tuesday, the DFB Cup winner announced Werner’s transfer from FC Chelsea, he will receive a long-term four-year contract with the Saxons until 2026.
According to media reports, Leipzig has to pay around 20 million euros plus bonuses for the return campaign. The 26-year-old switched to the English Premier League in 2020 for around 55 million euros, but was not happy there. Under the current coach Thomas Tuchel, the native of Stuttgart was often only used as a reserve player.
“I had two great years at Chelsea for which I am very grateful and which ended with the Champions League title. The experience of playing in another country and another league helped me a lot on my way,” Werner said in a statement from RB Leipzig.
On Monday evening, Werner landed at Leipzig/Halle Airport in a private plane belonging to the RB consortium. He was picked up directly on the tarmac and taken to a hotel in downtown Leipzig, where the first fans had already been waiting for him for photos and autographs. On Tuesday, the obligatory medical check was carried out before Werner can start team training.
After VfB Stuttgart were relegated to the Bundesliga and Leipzig were promoted in the summer of 2016, Werner switched to the Saxons and became the top scorer there. The fast striker scored a total of 95 goals in 159 appearances in the RB jersey.
In his first season he contributed 21 goals in 31 matches, before his departure it was even 28 Bundesliga goals in 34 games. In addition, the Swabian rose to become a national player. Under national coach Joachim Löw, he was the first Leipzig RB professional to wear a DFB jersey.
“But that’s also a bit of the past and now I’m looking ahead, because RB Leipzig has developed over the past two years, just like I have,” said Werner, according to the announcement.
Due to the limited playing time at FC Chelsea, Werner saw his nomination for the World Cup in Qatar in December in serious jeopardy and forced a move to be able to play more again. Leipzig seemed a logical choice. Werner scored 23 goals in a total of 89 appearances for the Londoners.
RB boss Oliver Mintzlaff called Werner’s change request. The chairman of the club, who is also considered a clever negotiator in the case of special transfers due to the lack of a renowned sports director, first sounded out possible return plans with Werner regarding the conditions such as a salary waiver, and then discussed the financial issues with Chelsea.
It is quite surprising that Werner is not only loaned out, but that Leipzig has secured the services of the offensive player and bought him back. The parties agreed not to disclose the exact figures.
