1 week Ago By [email protected] (Jordan Blackwell)
Leicester City won’t be signing midfielder Ezechiel Banzuzi from sister club OH Leuven after he completed an “exceptionally beautiful” transfer to RB Leipzig. City had been linked with the Dutch youth international ahead of the winter window, and Leuven, after resisting interest, had announced earlier this year he would be leaving in the summer. With a couple of months to go until the transfer window, that summer move is now sealed, with Banzuzi confirmed to join Leipzig in the Bundesliga on a five-year deal for a reported €16m (£13.
7m). The 20-year-old box-to-box midfielder has attracted widespread interest in the two years he’s been a Leuven player, and there were even reports of agreed deals with West Ham and Monaco in January. But he’s heading to Germany, where he could be playing Champions League football next season, with Leipzig currently one place outside the qualification places.
Leuven sound very happy with the deal, and especially with the boost to their reputation. Chief executive Frederic Van den Steen said: “Ezechiel has shown that he is ready for the next step. We are very happy for him and for the club with this exceptionally beautiful transfer.
“With this, we put ourselves even more on the map as a club where young talents are in good hands and can develop further as a footballer and as a person. “We wish Eze much success in the rest of his career and will certainly continue to follow him.” Marcel Schafer, the managing director at Leipzig, added: “We are delighted that Ezechiel has chosen RB Leipzig despite strong interest from the Bundesliga and abroad.
He is a classic box-to-box player, tall, fast, physically strong, and technically strong. “As a central midfielder, he likes to drive the game dynamically, also possesses good passing skills, and also has qualities in front of the opponent's goal, especially on set-pieces. “He is young, hungry, and has potential for development, making him a perfect fit for our requirements.
We are very happy that Ezechiel wants to take the next steps with us.” For now, Banzuzi will continue with Leuven as they look to earn a chance to qualify for the Uefa Conference League. Finishing 11th in the regular season, Leuven are now in a six-way mini-league, with the side who finishes top heading through to a play-off with the fourth-placed team from the champions group.
The winner will qualify for the Conference League. After draws in each of their first two games, Chris Coleman’s Leuven currently sit fourth in the six-team mini-league..
