Timo Werner joins Chelsea in £49m move from RB Leipzig

The 24-year-old joins on a five-year deal understood to be worth in the region of £170,000 per week

Chelsea have completed the signing of German international Timo Werner from RB Leipzig, the club have confirmed.

The 24-year-old joins on a five-year deal understood to be worth in the region of £170,000 per week.

Werner will link up with his new teammates at the end of the current Bundesliga season but will not be eligible to play for the Blues in any competition until next term.

Liverpool tracked Werner for some time while Manchester United were also interested but the Blues stole a march on their rivals with Frank Lampard particularly keen to add some more firepower to his squad.

“I am delighted to be signing for Chelsea, it is a very proud moment for me to be joining this great club,” Werner said.

“I of course want to thank RB Leipzig, the club and the fans, for four fantastic years. You will forever be in my heart. I look forward to next season with my new team-mates, my new manager and of course the Chelsea fans. Together we have a very successful future ahead of us.”

Marina Granovskaia added: “We are very excited that Timo Werner has chosen to join Chelsea. He is a player who was coveted all over Europe and it is no surprise, he has that rare mix of being young and exciting and yet established and proven. We can’t wait to have Timo on board, but until then we wish him and RB Leipzig all the best for the rest of this season.”

The promise of regular first-team football and Lampard’s vision for both the player and the club are understood to have been key to the move getting over the line.

Werner becomes Chelsea’s second signing of the summer window following Hakim Ziyech’s arrival from Ajax that was agreed earlier this year.

Werner has scored 32 goals in all competitions along with 13 assists.