Leipzig confirm Geertruida signing: "Finally at RB!"

One half of RB Leipzig's expensive re-ordering of their defensive corps has been made official. The German Red Bulls have acquired the Feyenoord Rotterdam central defender for a reported €20-25 million transfer fee. The 24-year-old has also signed a long-term contract in the Saxon capital, putting pen to paper on working papers that should keep him with RB through 2029.

“Following the signings of Xavi, Assan Ouedraogo, Antonio Nusa and Arthur Vermeeren, we are delighted to have gained another top-class new signing for us this summer in Lutsharel Geetruida," RB personnel chief Marcel Schäfer noted in a club statement, "Lutsharel was a regular at Rotterdam for five years, won several titles there as a leading player and matured into a captain and Dutch international."

“I begin by saying - finally at RB Leipzig!," the player himself added, "It's no secret that we've been in talks for some time and it was my great desire to move to the Red Bulls. So I'm all the happier to be playing here from now on. Xavi [Simons] has always raved to me about Leipzig and told me about the club's outstanding conditions and ambitions."

"Now I can be part of that and be on the pitch with him and the other lads," Geetruida's lengthy statement continued,  "I'm joining a team that has a lot of potential and plays really good football  in a great stadium. I played with my national team against France in Leipzig at EURO 2024 and it's amazing that I'll now be playing in the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League at the Red Bull Arena."

"I can play a lot of positions and I want to take on responsibility," the statement concluded, "Ultimately, my goal is to help the team exactly where the coach wants me to play. The whole club is keen to achieve maximum success - just like me - so let's go for it!”