RB Leipzig announce summer arrival of Dutch midfielder Ezechiel Banzuzi from Leuven
RB Leipzig have announced the summer arrival of Ezechiel Banzuzi from Belgian Pro League side Leuven. The 20-year-old midfielder completed his medical on Monday before signing a deal until June 2030.
Banzuzi has been playing in the Belgian top flight since summer 2023, after joining from NAC Breda in his native Netherlands as a teenager. The tall and athletic midfielder has made 66 appearances in all competitions for Leuven, scoring four goals and registering six assists.
A central player, who can operate in front of the defence or further forward, made his youth international debut for the Netherlands U17s in 2021 and is now a regular in the U21s. He is looking forward to starting a new chapter in German football.
"I’m really pleased about the fact that my future lies with Leipzig," he told the club's website. "This club is known as being the perfect place for young players to develop their game at the highest level – there are countless examples of it. The club made it clear that they really wanted to sign me and also have clear plans for my future here.
"The Bundesliga is also a really strong league. I’m somebody that leaves everything out there on the pitch. I will always give 100 percent and I want to get the fans on my side as soon as possible. I will continue to focus fully on Leuven and our targets before I move here this summer. I’m really thankful to be able to take the next step in my career after two really good years.”
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“We’re delighted that Ezechiel has chosen to join RB Leipzig despite lots of interest from other Bundesliga clubs and also from abroad," added Leipzig board member Marcel Schäfer. "He’s a classic box-to-box midfielder, big, quick, physical and technically strong.
"As a central midfielder, he likes to play a big part in the game. He’s a good passer of the ball and can be dangerous in the final third too, in particular from set pieces. He’s young, hungry, has lots of potential and is therefore exactly the kind of player we wanted to sign. We’re really pleased that Ezechiel wants to take the next step in his career with us.”
Banzuzi will officially join the club when the summer transfer window opens at the end of the current Bundesliga season.
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