Top 11 most expensive departures in RB Leipzig's history

Josko Gvardiol becomes the latest player to leave the Bundesliga side

RB Leipzig, a club renowned for its meteoric rise in German football, has not only made waves with its signings but has also seen significant financial gains from the departure of some players. There are high-profile transfers that not only reflect the club's ability to nurture and develop top talent but also demonstrate its growing reputation as a destination for world-class players.

From the eye-watering fees paid for coveted stars to the profound impact their departures had on the team's dynamics, each transfer tells a unique story of ambition, talent, and the ever-evolving nature of football's financial landscape.

Join us as we unveil RB Leipzig's record-breaking departures, where the fortunes of the club and the aspirations of its departing stars collided, shaping the course of the team's future and leaving a lasting legacy in the club's history books.

11. Hwang Hee-chan - €16.7m

Wolves turned Hwang Hee-chan's loan move from RB Leipzig into a permanent deal worth €16.7 million. He scored four goals in his first five Premier League appearances for Wolves after his arrival from Leipzig.

He scored one goal for his country, South Korea, in the FIFA World Cup, which was held in Qatar last year, and in the 27 matches that he played for Wolves this season, he has scored three goals and provided one assist. South Koreans have made it a habit of putting their names on the list of Asian players to play in the Premier League.

10. Tyler Adams - €17m

Tyler Adams joined the American culture that was already there at Leeds United, with their manager being American and a couple of players who represent the United States.

The young midfielder was signed for €17 million from Leipzig, and even though he did not score or assist for Leeds in the Premier League this season, he left an impact in the EPL this season. He will look to bring them back to the EPL after being relegated this season.

9. Matheus Cunha - €18m

Matheus Cunha joined Hertha Berlin from Leipzig for a fee of €18 million.The Brazilian attacking midfielder was signed in January 2020 and was the fourth major signing for Hertha in the winter transfer window.

Since then, he has scored plenty of goals and assisted a lot of them in Germany, and soon he moved to Atletico Madrid, where he has been a super sub and comes off the bench for Diego Simeone.

8. Kevin Augustin - €21m

Kevin Augustin switched from Leipzig to Leeds in the year 2020; €21 million was his move from the German club to the English club. He did not enjoy his time at Leeds; he only played 48 minutes for the club, and Leeds had breached his contract.

Ever since then, he has switched clubs, played for Nantes in Ligue 1, and finally settled in Switzerland to play for FC Basel. He had four goal contributions for the Swiss club in the 2022–23 season.

7. Ibrahima Konate - €40m

Ibrahima Konaté is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Liverpool and the France national team. After spending four years with the German club, Rb Leipzig, Liverpool signed him in 2021 for a fee of €40 million.

He was signed by Liverpool to form a partnership with Virgil van Dijk, and since then he has been a starter and regularly stays on the bench for the Liverpool team.

6. Dayot Upamecano - €42.5m

Upamecano formed a defensive partnership with Konate when the duo played for RB Leipzig. He also left the club in 2021, just like Konate did, and he was signed by Bayern Munich for a fee of €42.5 million.

The centre-back was a part of the Bundesliga-winning side Bayern this season; he played 29 matches for them in the Bundesliga campaign and was able to provide one assist in the competition this season.

5. Timo Werner - €53m

Timo Werner was signed by Chelsea to fill the position of striker that was missing; he departed for the English club after becoming Leipzig's all-time goal scorer. The striker made a €53 million switch to the Premier League.

He won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea in his first season at the club, and later in 2022, he returned to Leipzig. He made 27 appearances in the Bundesliga, scoring nine and assisting three goals in this campaign.

4. Naby Keita - €60m

Keita moved to Red Bull Salzburg, where he won the Austrian Football Bundesliga and Austrian Cup double in both of his seasons. He then moved to RB Leipzig in 2016, making the Bundesliga team of the season in his first year.

He then agreed to join Liverpool in 2017 for a club-record transfer fee of €60 million and completed the move a year later, winning the UEFA Champions League in his first season at the club and the FIFA Club World Cup and Premier League the following season.

3. Christopher Nkunku - €60m

The 25-year-old, who has been capped 10 times by France, has agreed a six-year contract with Chelsea, making him the most expensive departure ever in Leipzig's history. His deal of €65 million will begin on July 1.

He scored 16 goals in the 2022–23 Bundesliga season; the previous season, he was awarded the Bundesliga Player of the Season. Chelsea can hope that he is able to fill the striker position that has been missing for years now.

2. Dominik Szoboszlai - €70m

Dominik Szoboszlai came in as the second most expensive signing at RB Leipzig and left as the second most expensive departure. Having joined the club in 2021, the Hungarian midfielder won two back-to-back DFB-Pokal titles. The 22-year-old has joined Liverpool and will look to establish himself in English football.

1. Josko Gvardiol - €90m

Josko Gvardiol became the most expensive departure in RB Leipzig's history. He also became the most expensive defender of all time. The defender joined the German club in 2021 and will now play for the treble winners.

Last updated on 7 August 2023