Official: RB Leipzig beat Man Utd and Real Madrid to Andre Silva

Robin Bairner

Updated: 2 Jul 2021 12:13 CDT
3 min read

Man Utd target Andre Silva enhances his reputation even in Frankfurt loss — © ProShots

Andre Silva has signed for RB Leipzig for a reported fee of €23 million, with the Bundesliga side beating Real Madrid and Manchester United to the Eintracht Frankfurt forward.

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Silva has signed a five-year contract with the club that will see him remain with the side until 2026.

He will join up with his new side in mid-July.

The Portugal international forward had previously spent two years at Frankfurt, where he scored 40 goals in only 57 Bundesliga games.

Indeed, only Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski outscored him during the 2020/21 campaign, in which he scored 28 times. This form led to serious interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Man Utd.

Previously, he turned out for the likes of Porto, Milan and was on loan at Sevilla.

'A special transfer

We've signed a player with outstanding qualities - and with a transfer fee well below his market value.

- Florian Scholz

In a statement on the club's official website, director Florian Scholz said: "Wth the long-term commitment of Andre Silva, we have succeeded in a special transfer for our club and our fans.

"We've signed a player with outstanding qualities - and with a transfer fee well below his market value.

"Andre has signalled to us in numerous conversations that he absolutely wants to join RB Leipzig and we are all the happier now the transfer is official."

Andre Silva on RB Leipzig move

Why Man Utd are interested in deadly Frankfurt hitman Andre Silva — © ProShots

Meanwhile, Andre Silva said: "I'm very much looking forward to this new challenge with RB Leipzig. The club has great ambitions and I want to help them achieve them, especially by scoring many goals.

"I really want to play at the highest level, and that means the Champions League."

Andre Silva is the latest addition to RB Leipzig's ranks this summer, with the club having already completed deals to sign Croatia international Josko Gvardiol from Dinamo Zagreb, Mohamed Simakan from Strasbourg, Brian Brobbey from Ajax and Caden Clark from New York Red Bulls.

Furthermore, Angelino and Benjamin Henrichs have had their loan deals from Manchester City and Monaco respectively made permanent.

Andre Silva is, however, their greatest investment of the summer to date.