RB Leipzig have announced the signing of forward Loïs Openda (23) from RC Lens in a club-record transfer. It has been reported that Openda’s total transfer package including bonuses has reached the €50m mark. Leipzig and Lens have also agreed on a future friendly match between the two clubs as well as a percentage of the player’s future transfer fee. Considering Leipzig’s first bid was valued at €25m, Lens have been rewarded in playing hardball with their German counterparts. The Belgium international has moved on for close to five times the €11m fee he was brought in for last summer from Club Brugge.
Top-Transfer perfekt 🤝
Loïs Openda stürmt ab sofort für RB Leipzig!Der 23-Jährige wechselt vom französischen Erstligisten @RCLens zu RB Leipzig und erhält einen Fünfjahresvertrag bis Juni 2028.
Das belgische Sturmjuwel wird künftig mit der Rückennummer 17 für uns auflaufen. pic.twitter.com/JGTXr6rOAw
— RB Leipzig (@RBLeipzig) July 14, 2023
For his debut season, Openda took Ligue 1 by storm, logging 21 goals this past campaign – only one of them a penalty – as he spearheaded the Artois side’s extraordinary second-place finish. Lens finished just one point behind eventual Ligue 1 champions. Leipzig had identified Openda as the ideal replacement for Christopher Nkunku, who joined Chelsea FC last month. Openda has signed a five-year deal with Leipzig. He will wear the #17 jersey, which was vacant since the €70m move of Dominik Szoboszlai to Liverpool.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval