Bundesliga
Leipzig legend joins Hamburg
Denmark striker Yussuf Poulsen has completed a move to Hamburg after a historic spell at Bundesliga rivals RB Leipzig.
Poulsen spent 12 years at Leipzig, joining the Saxony club from Danish outfit Lygby in 2013 when they were still in Germany's third tier. He went on to make a club record 425 appearances in all competitions, scoring 95 goals as Die Roten Bullen established themselves as one of the top sides in German and European football.
The 31-year-old, who made 22 mainly substitute appearances last season, has signed for promoted Hamburg on an undisclosed deal.
"HSV are a great club. The first international game I ever saw was the UEFA Cup match between Copenhagen and HSV," Poulsen said.
"I always give my all and put my heart into every training session and every game on the pitch. I'm also looking forward to the fans and the atmosphere in the Volksparkstadion. I experienced that during the DFB Cup with Leipzig. That was phenomenal.
"I've always said that I hope HSV get back into the Bundesliga soon. I was also promoted and know how much euphoria that can bring. I want to be as successful as possible and hope that we have a great season together"
Poulsen scored 49 goals across Leipzig's nine seasons of Bundesliga football to date, producing a career-best 15 strikes as well as six assists in 2018/19. The 87-time Denmark international also claimed DFB Cup winner's medals in 2022 and 2023, lifted the 2023 Supercup and was part of the team that reached the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
"[Yussuf] is a face of the Bundesliga," said Hamburg sporting director Stefan Kuntz. "With all his experience and maturity, he knows all about professional football. Yussuf went all the way from the third division to the Champions League with Leipzig, so he knows only too well what it takes to stay in the league after promotion and establish himself in the Bundesliga in the long term. It is precisely this experience that he should bring to the team and lead the way as a leading player with his personality."
Poulsen could make his competitive debut for Hamburg in their DFB Cup first-round meeting with fourth-tier Pirmasens on 16 August.
Promoted as 2024/25 runners-up after seven seasons in Bundesliga 2, the Red Shorts return to Bundesliga action with a trip to Borussia Mönchengladbach on 24 August. They are scheduled to face Leipzig on 18 October.