Christopher Nkunku has turned down Manchester United and Newcastle to return to RB Leipzig on a one-year loan with a €28m (£24m) purchase option. Marcel Schafer said the move was only possible because Nkunku wanted it that way. He was back in Leipzig colours quickly and played 84 minutes in a Bundesliga match at Werder Bremen.

Leipzig's case for the move

Schafer said: "The transfer wouldn’t have happened without Christo’s steadfastness."

He also said: "Two Premier League clubs were prepared to go to the limit – we wouldn’t have stood a chance."

That is the clearest sign of how Leipzig are presenting this return. They are not selling it as a simple homecoming, but as a recruitment win against English interest. Nkunku himself backed that up by saying: "When I heard of the opportunity, I immediately wanted to say yes. I’m very happy to be back here."

Leipzig did not ease him in slowly. He was trusted for 84 minutes in his first Bundesliga outing back, and his rating in that match was 6.6. The one figure does not tell the whole story, but it does show he was put straight into the side rather than kept on the edge of the squad.

Why Leipzig wanted him back

Schafer also framed the signing around character as much as ability. He said it was important to bring in someone with "impeccable character" and someone who shows "an incredible hunger to prove himself to everyone again." He added that Leipzig need "a role model that the young players can look up to."

Nkunku sounded equally settled. He said: "My connection to Leipzig is very special. Even after leaving the club, I continued to keep a close eye on what was happening here. I’m now ready to add a new chapter to my time here at RBL."

He also said the club's trust mattered in his decision: "During my discussions with the club, I could sense just how much the people in charge here still value me and how much trust they have in me. That’s why Leipzig is exactly the right place for me to perform to my best."

The move leaves Leipzig with a player they know well, and with a deal structure that keeps control in their hands if the loan goes well. Nkunku has one Bundesliga appearance since coming back, and the league minutes at Werder Bremen show the club intend to use him quickly.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →