Updated: 27 Apr 2026 21:26 BST |
4 min read
Manchester United signed Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig last summer, but they are not yet done paying for the striker.
The Red Devils won the race for the Slovenia international’s signature after a lengthy tug-of-war with Newcastle. After missing out on numerous targets, the Magpies went all-in on the RB Leipzig forward.
Sesko had long been a major transfer target for Premier League sides. In 2024, he was fully expected to make the move to England, but he surprised everyone by signing a new contract to stay in the Bundesliga for another year on better terms.
In 2025, though, it was clear that Sesko wanted to head to England, and Newcastle looked poised to sign him – until they didn’t. When Man Utd entered the race for the 22-year-old, it increasingly became clear that the St. James’ Park club were fighting a losing battle.
Newcastle had Champions League football and offered a hefty financial package, but the common theme of the summer continued: they could not match the allure of the bigger clubs, in this case, Man Utd.
Man Utd to pay more for Sesko
The Old Trafford outfit agreed a sizeable €76.5 million deal with Leipzig. So far, Sesko has been somewhat hit-and-miss. While he has scored important goals, he has often been a super sub and was slow to come to grips with Premier League football.
His talent, though, is obvious, and it seems a safe bet to say that he will come good eventually. This is also reflected in the package Man Utd and Leipzig agreed for him.
The Bundesliga side made sure to include provisions in the deal that will see them benefit from his continued development. According to Sky Germany, the Red Bulls will earn an additional €4 million from the Sesko deal this summer.
These bonus payments are triggered through performance and team-related success. Goals and appearances will drive up Sesko’s cost, as will qualification for the Champions League. This €4m payment won’t be the end of it either.
It is stated that there are more add-ons that can “realistically” be triggered over the next few years, ultimately taking the total cost of the Sesko deal to around €85m. This would put him on par with Jadon Sancho as Man Utd’s fourth-most-expensive signing.
But wait, there’s more! Leipzig and Man Utd will also play a friendly at some point in the future, with all of the revenues from that match going into the pockets of the Bundesliga club. What a deal.
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