Manchester United and RB Leipzig have reached an agreement on the transfer of striker Benjamin Sesko.
Manchester United have bolstered their squad with the signing of Slovenian international Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig in a deal worth up to €85 million (approximately £74 million). The young striker has put pen to paper on a five-year contract, keeping him at Old Trafford until 2030.
The transfer fee includes an initial payment of €76.5 million (£66.3 million) with additional performance-related bonuses of around €8.5 million (£7.37 million), bringing the total potential fee in line with the reported €85 million. Manchester United structured the payment to pay less upfront than competing bids, particularly from Newcastle United, securing the transfer due to Sesko's strong preference for the Red Devils despite their lack of Champions League football.
For RB Leipzig, selling Sesko is a significant transfer, as he was their leading young goal scorer, having netted 21 goals with 6 assists last season. The German club gains a large transfer fee that could be reinvested into strengthening their squad, but they lose a key striker who has been one of the most prolific players under 23 in Europe’s top leagues.
Manchester United's acquisition of Sesko seems part of a broader rebuilding and youth-focused project under coach Ruben Amorim. The club has also signed attackers like Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Diego León this summer. Manchester United may still pursue additional reinforcements, but more signings would likely require sales of peripheral players due to budget constraints. The club aims to develop a team capable of competing for big trophies again, gradually building around young talents like Sesko.
Meanwhile, RB Leipzig is reportedly in advanced negotiations with Harvey Elliott from Liverpool FC. However, the transfer fee for Elliott may depend on further departures from the club, specifically Xavi Simons, and the negotiations are happening in the background while RB remains quiet about the Sesko situation. Elliott's preference for the club is not mentioned in the current reports.
Sesko, on the other hand, had apparently always preferred a move to Manchester United. United's director of professional football, Christopher Vivell, was instrumental in bringing Sesko to RB Salzburg and later to Leipzig. The transfer agreement between RB Leipzig and Manchester United was reported by transfer experts Florian Plettenberg and Fabrizio Romano.
Sesko was not included in the RB squad for the friendly match against Atalanta Bergamo last Saturday, indicating that the transfer was imminent. As Sesko joins Manchester United, the Red Devils continue their commitment to investing heavily in youth talent while navigating financial and competitive challenges in rebuilding the squad.
[1] BBC Sport. (2025, August 3). Benjamin Sesko: RB Leipzig striker joins Manchester United. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61418722
[2] The Guardian. (2025, August 3). Benjamin Sesko: Manchester United complete £66.3m transfer of RB Leipzig striker. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/03/benjamin-sesko-manchester-united-complete-66-3m-transfer-of-rb-leipzig-striker
[3] Sky Sports. (2025, August 3). Benjamin Sesko: Manchester United complete £66.3m transfer of RB Leipzig striker. [online] Available at: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11686/12384577/benjamin-sesko-manchester-united-complete-66-3m-transfer-of-rb-leipzig-striker
[4] ESPN. (2025, August 3). Manchester United complete signing of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. [online] Available at: https://www.espn.com/football/manchester-united-fc/story/4649160/manchester-united-complete-signing-of-benjamin-sesko-from-rb-leipzig
[5] Goal.com. (2025, August 3). Manchester United complete signing of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig for £66.3m. [online] Available at: https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/manchester-united-complete-signing-of-benjamin-sesko-from-rb-leipzig-for/blt3c7c5c636456366c
- Manchester United's latest acquisition, Benjamin Sesko, has made a move from European-leagues, specifically RB Leipzig, and will now play football in the Premier League.
- The young striker, Sesko, is one of the most prolific players under 23 in Europe’s top leagues, and his signing by Manchester United is part of the club's broader rebuilding and youth-focused project.
