RB Leipzig have confirmed the signing of Nicolas Seiwald from Red Bull Salzburg. The 21-year-old will join Leipzig in the summer signing a five-year contract.
On his move to Germany, Seiwald said: “I have spent the entirety of my career so far at Salzburg, starting in their U9 team. The last 13 years in Salzburg have been fantastic. I will enjoy each and every day I have left here and give it my all until the end of the season. My aim is to leave Salzburg as an Austrian champion. After that, I’m really looking forward to a new challenge at a fantastic club. It will be an important step in my career, and I’m very much looking forward to it.”
Sporting director Max Eberl spoke on the signing of the midfielder: “We are extremely pleased to be able to welcome Nicolas Seiwald to Leipzig this summer. Nici is a tough-tackling, box-to-box player who has undergone a tremendous development in the last few years. Despite being just 21 years old, he has already been able to amass plenty of experience at the senior level and been able to prove himself at the highest level in the Champions League.”
The release clause in the 21-year-old’s contract at Salzburg was around €20m and he is being brought in to replace Konrad Laimer who is set to join Bayern Munich on a free transfer in the summer. He is a like-for-like replacement for the outgoing Laimer and will likely form the centre of Leipzig’s midfield with Xaver Schlager.
Seiwald has played 30 times for Salzburg this season scoring twice and assisting twice, the transfer will bring to an end his 13-year spell at Salzburg. This move will be the 20th transfer between Salzburg and Leipzig and the second of this coming summer for Leipzig who announced the signing of Benjamin Šeško last year. This is because both teams are owned by Red Bull, making it easier for them to move players between their partner clubs.
GGFN | Jack Meenan
