Nigerian winger Suleman Sani has praised RB Leipzig’s youth development structure after completing a move to the Bundesliga club, describing the transfer as a major step in his career and expressing confidence in the club’s long-term vision for young players, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The 19-year-old joined Leipzig on a five-year contract from Slovak top-flight side AS Trenčín, with the deal running until June 30, 2031.

He will wear the number 18 shirt, with the club confirming the signing on its official website on Tuesday evening and describing him as a young attacking option for the future.

Suleman said the move was a proud moment for him and highlighted the club’s reputation for developing young talent.

“Moving to RB Leipzig is a big step for me and something I’m extremely proud of. I’m especially impressed by the way the club develops young players, puts trust in them and supports them in a targeted way,” he told PUNCH Sports Extra.

The winger added that he was eager to grow within what he described as a highly professional environment and was enthusiastic about adapting to the club’s playing philosophy.

“I’m looking forward to learning every day in this highly professional environment, continuing to develop and giving everything for the team.

“The style of football played here suits me very well, and I can’t wait to pull on the RB Leipzig shirt for the first time,” he said.

According to Sky Germany, the base transfer fee is slightly above €5m, rising to around €6m with performance-related bonuses.

The transfer brings an end to a competitive race for his signature, with Leipzig being his final destination after bids from Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham, Chelsea, PSG, Brentford and Rangers, as well as sides from Saudi Arabia and Belgium, had also monitored his situation.

Suleman’s rise has been driven by strong performances and underlying data. In November, he was ranked sixth globally among U-20 players for completed dribbles and progressive carries by the CIES Football Observatory, while in October, he topped CIES rankings as the most creative U-21 player in world football for last-third penetrative passes per 90 minutes.

His career began at Akwa United, where he won the 2024 NPFL Rookie of the Season Award after scoring 11 goals and providing five assists in 15 matches at the age of 17. He later impressed with Nigeria’s U-20 side at the 2025 FIFA World Cup in Chile before developing into a key attacking player at AS Trenčín.

Leipzig are expected to integrate Suleman into their long-term project, continuing a strategy centred on investing in elite young talent with the potential to perform at the highest level of European football.