Bundesliga club RB Leipzig has dream player Lukeba Castle obligated. As the Saxons announced, the 20-year-old defensive player is changing from Olympic Lyon to the DFB Cup winner. After tough negotiations, RB had to dig deep into his pocket for the left foot. According to reports, more than 30 million euros plus bonuses are due. Lukeba will receive a contract in Leipzig up to and including June 30, 2028. “Despite being only 20 years old, he has come a long way in his development and is one of the top defensive talents in Europe,” said Leipzig’s sporting director, Max Eberl.
The French U-21 international was seen as the number one solution for Leipzig’s central defense after the departure of If Guardiol to Manchester City. RB still needed staff for the defensive, as well Marcel Halstenberg (Hanover 96) and Abdou Diallo (Paris Saint-Germain/Lending) left the club and newcomer El Chadaille Bitshiabu (Internal ligament tear in the knee) has to recover from a lengthy injury.
There too Luke Klosterman only returned to team training on Wednesday after a long injury break, coaches stand Marco Rose for the Supercup final this Saturday (8.45 p.m. on Sky and Sat.1) on Meister Bayern Munich only four healthy defenders available. Lukeba is not yet an option for the game in Munich. “The league starts next week, and it is all the more important that I arrive quickly so that I can help the team on the pitch,” he was quoted as saying in an RB message.
Lukeba comes to Saxony with a recommendation of 58 games in Lique 1. The young player from France had long been in agreement with RB, but Olympique pushed the transfer fee higher and higher. The commitment of the Dutch national player seems to be off the table Lotharel Geertruida. With the defender and his club Feyenoord Rotterdam RB had negotiated in parallel, but the Dutch also wanted more and more money, which is said to have finally led to the talks being broken off.
RB are still looking for a left-back player to back up for David Raum. “We’re still keeping our eyes peeled, but we don’t have to,” Rose said.
