RB Leipzig signs Wolfsburg defender Bert Baku for €4.5m over two years

RB Leipzig announced on Friday that it had signed Wolfsburg defender Bert Baku, whose contract expired this summer. The two sides signed a two-and-a-half-year contract until June 30, 2027.

It is also reported that Baku's transfer fee is 4.5 million euros. He will wear the No. 17 jersey in RB Leipzig.

The 26-year-old Baku came from the Mainz 05 youth training and made his professional debut in the FA Cup 1/16 final on December 19, 2017. He joined Wolfsburg from Mainz in August 2020 for a transfer fee of 10 million euros.

So far, Baku has made 166 appearances for Wolfsburg, scoring 20 goals and providing 19 assists. He has also made 54 appearances for Mainz, scoring 3 goals and providing 5 assists.

For RB Leipzig, Baku's arrival is expected to fill the vacancy left by Benjamin Henrichs after he ruptured his right Achilles tendon. He will play as a right back in a four-back formation or as a right midfielder in a 3421 formation.

After completing the signing, RB Leipzig sports director Marcel Schäfer said: "We are very happy to complete this transfer. Baku's joining will provide us with more options. He can play anywhere on the right, is keen to get forward, is an excellent finisher and interceptor, and is also very comfortable with the ball. Baku is extremely fast. He is the player with the most sprints in the Bundesliga this season."

"His qualities fit perfectly with RB Leipzig's playing style," Schäfer added. "With almost 200 Bundesliga games under his belt, it won't take long for Baku to adapt and contribute to the team straight away."

Baku said: "RB Leipzig is a club with great potential and ambitious goals. They participate in the Champions League all year round, and the rhythm of the game is very consistent with my style and speed."

"Leipzig offers everything needed to succeed and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to join. I'm very much looking forward to meeting my new teammates, including Xaver Schlager, with whom I worked at Wolfsburg, and starting training with them."