Rômulo: Who is the target man set to lead RB Leipzig’s frontline?
Rômulo Cardoso is the latest promising talent to join Ole Werner's new RB Leipzig project. bundesliga.com has the lowdown on the Brazilian striker whose profile is strikingly similar to that of former frontman Benjamin Šeško...
Data correct as of 15 August 2025
Rômulo
Age: 23
Club: RB Leipzig
Position: Striker
Country: Brazil
Key stats
Born in Marialva, Brazil, Rômulo began his football journey at Maringá’s academy after having caught the Brazilian outfit’s eye by becoming the third-highest scorer in Paraná’s 2018 U17 State Championship.
Not long after, he was loaned out to Brazilian top-flight side Paranaense’s youth academy, before he was bought outright by the club in July 2019. The youngster flourished there and was making a serious impression on the goal charts at the end of the 2019 U17 National Championship season.
He made his Série A debut in November 2021, while his first senior goal arrived the following January. In all, Rômulo scored 10 goals in 81 appearances for Paranaense, but it was at next club Göztepe that he would roar to the forefront.
Initially joining the Turkish outfit on loan with an option to buy, after helping his new team to achieve promotion to the Turkish top flight thanks to his five goals and three assists, Rômulo's move was made permanent.
In 29 Süper Lig matches in 2024/25, the Brazilian amassed a highly impressive 22 goal involvements.
Watch: Rômulo's arrival and first day inLeipzig
Plays a bit like: Benjamin Šeško
Did you know?
In 2023, Rômulo was ranked as the most versatile U21 centre forward in the world by the The International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) in Switzerland.
What they're saying
"Rômulo offers a strong physique, clean technique and an eye for goal. He's flexible up front, including as a classic number nine. What's particularly impressed us is how quickly he's adapted to different leagues and styles of play in Brazil and Turkey. He firmly believe he can give our game new impetus." - Marcel Schäfer, Leipzig managing director
"The move to Leipzig is a big step in my career. The Bundesliga is one of the best and most exciting leagues in the world. I want to prove myself at the highest level." - Rômulo on his move to Leipzig
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