RB Leipzig have completed a sensational transfer with the return of Christopher Nkunku. The 28-year-old forward joins on a one-year loan from AC Milan. The Bundesliga club also secured an option to buy the Frenchman, which is said to be set at 28 million euros.
Nkunku thus returns to the scene of his greatest successes. He previously played for Leipzig between 2019 and 2023, developing into one of the league's most dangerous attackers. During that spell, he scored 70 goals for Die Roten Bullen. He won the DFB-Pokal twice (2022 and 2023) and was voted German Footballer of the Year in 2022. In 2023, he even shared the Bundesliga top scorer crown with 16 goals.
Why is Nkunku returning to Leipzig?
Sporting director Marcel Schäfer emphasised how clearly Nkunku expressed his desire to return. "We were particularly pleased with how clearly Christo stated his wish to play for RB Leipzig again." Schäfer said. The player himself was thrilled: "I'm incredibly happy to be back here, I'm in top shape, I want to help the team straight away and I can hardly wait to be back on the pitch in front of our fans at the Red Bull Arena."
Nkunku feels valued and trusted by the club. He said he was given exactly that feeling in talks with the officials, which significantly influenced his decision. The attacker stressed his current fitness and readiness to contribute immediately.
What gap does Nkunku fill in the squad?
The signing is seen as a direct replacement for Yan Diomande, who moved to Real Madrid in the summer. Nkunku brings not only his goal-scoring quality but also his familiarity with the club and the league. This is a crucial advantage, as he won't require a long adaptation period.
RB Leipzig finished the previous season in fourth place in the Bundesliga. From 29 games, the team collected 56 points (17 wins, 5 draws, 7 losses) and had a positive goal difference of +20, having scored 56 and conceded 36. Current pre-season form is listed as five wins from the last five friendly matches. In the table, however, they are 20 points behind record champions Bayern Munich. You can find the complete squad and further statistics on our squad and stats pages.
What does the transfer mean for the coming season?
With Nkunku, Leipzig regains a player who works extremely hard both offensively and defensively and perfectly masters coach Marco Rose's pressing system. His versatility, being deployable as a central striker, on the wings, or in attacking midfield, gives the coach additional tactical options.
His first appearance could come as early as this weekend. Leipzig host Borussia Mönchengladbach for the season opener at the Red Bull Arena on August 29. Borussia finished the previous season in 14th place. All upcoming fixtures are listed in our fixtures calendar. The return of a fan favourite and key performer sends a strong signal to the competition and is intended to help close the gap to the league leaders.
