RB Leipzig have announced the signing of forward Benjamin Sesko, bringing in the Slovenian teenage prodigy from Red Bull Salzburg on a five-year deal from the start of the 2023/24 season.

The 19-year-old will cross the border to Germany in 12 months’ time having moved to Austria in 2019. He first joined Salzburg’s partner club, Liefering, on loan for two seasons before helping Salzburg to the Austrian double in 2021/22 to convince Leipzig he will soon be ready to make the leap to the Bundesliga.

“I’m very happy I can take the step to RB Leipzig in 2023 and that the transfer has already been agreed,” Sesko said. “RB Leipzig are among the top clubs in Germany and are gradually establishing themselves as one of the best teams in Europe. There will be a special success story written here in a few years, and I would like to help shape that in the future.”

Following a prolific 2020/21 season with Liefering in which he scored 21 times in 29 games to help the club to second place in the Austrian second division, Sesko made 37 competitive appearances for Salzburg last season, including six in the UEFA Champions League. He scored 11 goals — with five in five Austrian Cup games to finish as the competition’s top scorer — and laid on six assists.

The 13-time Slovenia international, who made his senior debut for his country shortly after his 18th birthday in summer 2021, believes the Red Bull Arena is the ideal stage on which to progress.

“The club’s policy based on young players and attractive, attacking football suits me perfectly. The city, the stadium and RB Leipzig’s entire infrastructure has — in addition to positive talks with the club’s representatives — convinced me that the move to Leipzig is absolutely the right one to make,” said Sesko, who has already scored once and registered an assist in two 2022/23 league games for Salzburg.

“Now, my focus is on the season in Salzburg, and I’d like to develop my game further and be as successful as possible.”

“Benjamin Sesko is among the game’s top young talents and has enormous potential to become a top player. He has all the qualities to do that. He’s extremely quick, has a great jump on him and is strong in the air. Benjamin is a real goalscorer, who despite his 1.95m (6'4") is mobile and technically strong. His abilities make him a special player with a special profile,” said Leipzig’s Christopher Vivell, who — as Salzburg’s head of recruitment — convinced Sesko to move to the Austrian club.

“I’ve known Benjamin since he was 15 and was able to convince him to join Salzburg in 2019. Since, I’ve followed his development closely and seen every goal. It’s the optimal path for Benjamin to now play and mature for another year in Salzburg before coming to RB Leipzig. We’re already very much looking forward to it.”

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