RB Leipzig have confirmed the loan departure of Conrad Harder to RC Strasbourg. The 21-year-old Danish forward will spend the remainder of the 2026/27 season with the French club, as announced by the Bundesliga side on Tuesday.
Harder only joined RB Leipzig from Sporting CP last summer. In his debut season, the attacker made 34 appearances and scored four goals. The move to Strasbourg is designed to provide him with more playing time. Sporting managing director Marcel Schäfer stated, "For Conrad, this stage of his development is primarily about playing regularly and getting as many minutes as possible at a high level." This decision comes as RB Leipzig enjoys a perfect start to the Bundesliga campaign. After one match, the club sits fourth in the standings with three points, having scored three goals and conceded none.
Why is Harder leaving RB Leipzig?
The transfer is primarily a sporting decision aimed at build the young player's growth. Marcel Schäfer emphasized the importance of match action for Harder's progress. "We are convinced that this is the right step for Conrad to continue his development, and we wish him every success for the season," the sporting director added. The loan deal with RC Strasbourg runs until the end of the current 2026/27 season. Harder is expected to gain the necessary experience in France to fully realize his potential.
What is RB Leipzig's current squad situation?
Harder's departure occurs in a season where RB Leipzig is already dealing with several absences. Christoph Baumgartner, Rocco Reitz, and Brajan Gruda are currently sidelined due to injury. An overview of the squad list is available on our team page. Despite these setbacks, the team began the season with a commanding 3-0 home victory. The attack proved effective even without some key figures. The next challenge comes on Friday, September 5th, with an away fixture against 15th-placed Werder Bremen. All upcoming matches are listed in the fixtures schedule.
What does the move mean for the season planning?
The loan is a strategic move to develop a talented player who likely would not have received sufficient minutes in RB Leipzig's current setup. Harder remains under contract with the Bundesliga club and is set to return to Leipzig after the season. The clubs have not agreed on an option to buy. For RB Leipzig, the focus now shifts entirely to the next competitive match in Bremen. A win there could temporarily propel the Red Bulls to the top of the table. Detailed team statistics for the season start can be found under stats.
The fixture away to Bremen on Friday is the immediate target for Marco Rose's side.
