RB Leipzig Signs Striker Likened To Erling Haaland As Timo Werner Replacement

Bundesliga side RB Leipzig has signed Trabzonspor star Alexander Sorloth, who was previously linked to Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Following a successful two-year loan spell at Turkish side Trabzonspor, Crystal Palace striker Sorloth, dubbed by some as the “new Erling Haaland,” is now headed to Germany after signing a five-year contract with Leipzig, the Bundesliga club confirmed Tuesday, Sept. 22. The Norwegian player, who is viewed as a credible replacement for Timo Werner, has been handed the no. 19 shirt.

Trabzonspor president Ahmet Agaoglu told Turkish outlet Fanatik last week that Sorloth was ready to move on and that they were negotiating with Leipzig and Spurs for his transfer.

“We are meeting with Leipzig and Tottenham, ourselves and Crystal Palace. We are both entitled to this transfer, we will act in Trabzonspor's best interests,” he said.

Hours before Leipzig made the official announcement, however, Sorloth confirmed his transfer in a video released by Trabzonspor on Twitter. In his farewell message, the 24-year-old expressed his gratitude to the club that treated him “like a son” and Agaoglu for being a “father figure” to him.

“My last year at Trabzonspor was very emotional for me,” the striker said. “I would like to say a big thanks to the president Ahmet for taking me in and being a father figure for me. He was very special for my stay and again a huge thanks to him.”

The Norwegian striker also addressed his fans in Turkey and said he hopes they understand his reasons for choosing to take his talents to Bundesliga.

“Even though Trabzonspor took me in like a son, I have dreams and goals in my career, and one of them was to play in the German Bundesliga because it's a great league, one of the best in the world,” he added. “So it's with a heavy heart I chose this. But I have to think about my career and I'm not choosing away from Trabzon, I'm choosing to take the next step in my career and I hope everyone understands that.”

Despite entering a new chapter in his young career, Sorloth said that he will keep in touch with all the people who made his time with Trabzonspor “unforgettable.”

“I will always have friends in Trabzon, my teammates, the trainers, the medical staff, the people: everybody made my year unforgettable,” he said. “I will always be in debt to you and I hope we can see each other again in the future.”

Sorloth’s main attribute is to score goals. In the last Super Lig season, the sensational striker tallied a total of 33 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions for Trabzonspor.