Loïs Openda: Can Leipzig's record signing replace Christopher Nkunku?

©TM/IMAGO

It took several months, but the transfer saga surrounding Loïs Openda has finally come to a conclusion. On Friday, Bundesliga side RB Leipzig have announced that Openda has signed a contract until 2028. According to a report by Bild, Leipzig have paid an initial €43 million, which could increase to €49 million once performance-based add-ons have been hit. The transfer, therefore, makes Openda the most expensive arrival in Leipzig’s history and the most expensive departure for French club RC Lens. Furthermore, Openda’s former club, Brugge, will also receive 12.5%, or €4m, of the transfer fee. 

Market Value

L. Openda Centre-Forward

€60.00m

The transfer highlights that Lens were right to be steadfast in demanding an initial €50m for the striker. Leipzig initially offered €30m, but Lens rejected that offer right away. Although Leipzig’s sporting director Max Eberl was adamant that he would not accept over-the-moon prices, there was also an understanding within the industry that Lens would get away with their demands. After all, club around Europe know that Leipzig have already earned €140 million on the transfer market this summer.

With Openda signed, Leipzig have now spent €111m. But the Bundesliga side is expected to earn at least an additional €100m. It is the most Leipzig have spent since the 2021/22 season, when the club spent €107.6 million on new players. This season only Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham, Real Madrid, Al-Hilal SCF, Liverpool, and Arsenal have spent more than €100m on new players (overview). 

RB Leipzig on Openda: “Fee did not exceed the limits”

“The transfer fee did not exceed the limits we had set for ourselves, and if there are any performance-based bonuses that enter into effect, then this just goes to show that both we and the player have been able to celebrate success on the pitch that corresponds to our wishes and ambitions,” Eberl said in a statement on the club’s homepage when asked about Openda’s transfer fee. Furthermore, the sporting director underlined that a deal has been in place since last week, a statement that directly countered reports out of France from earlier this week that suggested that a deal could be off. 

Player Comparison

Loïs Openda

Christopher Nkunku

RB Leipzig

Chelsea FC

€60.00m

Market Value

€70.00m

24

Age

26

Centre-Forward

Position

Attacking Midfield

Jun 30, 2028

Contract until

Jun 30, 2029

Full Player Comparison

But what sort of player can Leipzig fans expect and can he replace superstar Christopher Nkunku, who joined Chelsea this summer? “His playing style really fit RC Lens,” Transfermarkt Area Manager France Ronan Caroff said. “Openda is really dynamic and has good speed, which allows him sometimes to lead counterattacks. The striker isn’t a player that relies on the work done by wingers and midfielders but often leads the rush himself.” In terms of raw stats, Openda has certainly been impressive over the last two seasons. The Belgian national team player (nine games and two goals) scored 18 goals in 33 games for Vitesse in the Dutch Eredivisie in 2021/22 and then 21 goals in 38 games for Lens last season. 

Stats

L. Openda Centre-Forward

RC Lens

Career stats–
All competitions

Games

42

Goals

21

Assists

4

Leipzig fans will wonder whether those numbers can translate to the Bundesliga. “Although he doesn’t have many weaknesses, we have to point out that he struggled earlier this season,” Caroff said. “His hattrick versus Toulouse on matchday 13 hid the fact that he didn’t score for all of September. Then he also didn’t score for most of January and February. It wasn’t until the spring that he had a clear breakthrough scoring 12 of his 21 goals starting in March.” Consistency then will be the main issue for Openda as he makes the next step in Leipzig and tries to fill the void left by star Nkunku.