Bundesliga

2020-06-28T06:05:00Z

Werner Chelsea-bound as Leipzig's record goalscorer

Timo Werner can look back on four remarkable years at RB Leipzig, culminating in becoming the club's all-time top goalscorer, prior to joining Chelsea.
Timo Werner can look back on four remarkable years at RB Leipzig, culminating in becoming the club's all-time top goalscorer, prior to joining Chelsea.

Before leaving Leipzig for London, Timo Werner had one more record to add to his collection as he signed off as RB's all-time top goalscorer.

The Germany international brought the curtain down on four memorable years in Leipzig in a manner fans of the 24-year-old have become accustomed to: with goals and another record. His first in the 2-1 win over Augsburg ensured that while Werner's gone, he will never be forgotten.

It was his 94th goal for the club, taking him ahead of previous club record holder Daniel Frahn. Not happy with that, Werner added his 28th of the season, taking him to 95 all-told in a record-breaking spell with Leipzig.

Watch: Werner just wanted to enjoy his final Leipzig outing

"I just wanted to have fun with the teammates who I've spent the last four years here playing with, and with success and another win," Werner told bundesliga.com in his final post-match interview as a Leipzig striker. "I think we did that very well. When I'm on my way home then there'll be a lot of nostalgia."

That nostalgia-filled return journey is bound to jerk some tears out of the No11, as he reflects on the many highs and memorable moments spent in the eastern Germany city.

Although fresh-faced, there was nothing green about the 20-year-old who arrived in Leipzig from VfB Stuttgart in 2016, having already proven his goalscoring ability to the tune of 13 goals across his first three Bundesliga seasons since becoming their youngest debutant, most precocious goalscorer and the youngest player to 50 Bundesliga appearances.

Matured beyond his years, Werner hit the ground running in the north east, finding the back of the net 21 times in his first season for Leipzig, helping them finish their first ever season in Germany's top flight as runners-up to Bayern Munich.

Five goals in the first six games of his second season at Leipzig confirmed he was no one-season wonder, while he showed versatility too by spending spells out on the wing, supplying a total of nine assists to go with his 13 goals. No longer was Werner just a destructive No9, he had become a menacing winger and supplier of opportunities too.

While becoming the first German since Mario Gomez to score 28 goals in a single season, he has contributed directly to more goals for their club in the Bundesliga than anybody other than Robert Lewandowski this season, with another eight assists in his account.

Watch: A closer look at how Timo Werner is scoring so many goals

That is not all Werner has contributed to Die Roten Bullen, however.

"He leaves behind 95 goals, and a huge, gaping hole – not just as a footballer, but as a person with his heart in the right place," said Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann. "He's always ensured spirits were high on the field and in the dressing room and I've really enjoyed working with him.

"He leaves a huge void and we're going to have to find a way of filling it as a team. I don't think we'll be able to find a Timo Werner 2.0."

Julian Nagelsmann (l.) and Timo Werner (r.) proved to be a deadly duo at RB Leipzig - for one season only.

Leipzig's director of sport Markus Krösche could only echo Nagelsmann's sentiments. "Timo's achieved so much for us in these years, and in particular this season," he said. "This [two goals] is therefore the farewell he deserves."

Werner is now turning the page to write the next chapter in a career which already makes for compelling reading. "I've learnt a lot and made some really good friends here," Werner said. "My time in Leipzig was the most beautiful in my career so far."

When he arrives in Chelsea, it will certainly be the capital's gain.

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