All information accurate as of August 20th, 2026.
Club Name: RB Leipzig
Founded: 2009
Stadium: Red Bull Arena – 47,800 capacity
Nickname: Die Roten Bullen (The Red Bulls)
Titles: DFB-Pokal x2, DFL-Supercup x1
Head Coach: Martín Demichelis
Captain: David Raum
Mascot: Bulli the Bull
Goal Song: James Brown – I Got You (I Feel Good)
2025/26 Season: 3rd
Opening Fixture: Borussia Mönchengladbach (H)
In one of the harshest managerial changes in recent memory, a Jürgen Klopp-led Red Bull decided that 3rd place was no longer good enough, removing Ole Werner after one season in charge. In comes Martín Demichelis, who had an excellent playing career but is now in his fifth managerial posting in as many years.
Having returned to former employers Bayern München as head coach of the reserve team, he then had spells with River Plate, Monterrey and briefly Mallorca at the end of last season (who ended up being relegated), before getting the call from Leipzig. His coaching philosophy emphasises playing out from the back, which will suit Leipzig better as a dominant team in the league, unlike Mallorca, and high intensity in transitional moments. While in charge of River Plate, themselves a dominant team domestically, they were in the 97th percentile for passes completed per 90 amongst teams in the Argentinian league, and the 97th percentile for fewest passes allowed per defensive action (PPDA). In short, these two metrics amount to: “I want my team to pass the ball a lot, and I want my team to stop the opponent passing the ball as much as possible”. Sounds simple, right? Many have tried and failed.
Although RB Leipzig have been building from the back in recent seasons, the personnel they have continues to worry me if this team is serious about winning any silverware beyond the odd DFB-Pokal. Willi Orbán playing a short passing game in 2026? I don’t think so, Señor Demichelis.
Lastly, it would be remiss of me not to mention the Bundeskartellamt (Federal Cartel Office) verdict on the legality of the famous 50+1 ruling. RB Leipzig circumvented the 50+1 rule (where club’s have to be majority fan-owned, and registered members are able to vote on club matters) by placing 22 individuals with links to Red Bull as the dedicated 51% of voting fans when the club was founded in 2009, and never being forced to change despite being a stratospherically larger club now. This facade could finally be brought to an end following this court ruling, with the DFB now having confirmation that they are allowed to force RB Leipzig to open voting rights to all members, which would massively change the way that the club has to conduct its business. None of this is Demichelis’ fault of course, but it’ll be something that changes the expectations of the coach, players and executives at the club.
It has been an exceptionally active transfer window for RB Leipzig this summer. Leipzig swooped to pinch Borussia Mönchengladbach captain Rocco Reitz, adding a feather to their proverbial cap in midfield for a reasonable €20m. Premier League relegated side Burnley have managed to swindle a sum of €25m out of Leipzig for their French centre-half Maxime Estève, who has plenty of competition from compatriots in his position anyway. Other than this, Brajan Gruda extends his loan from Brighton and Ørjan Nyland returns to the Leipzig goalkeeping collective after three years away at Sevilla, where he fell out of favour last season.
The striker situation is the one that has been looking precarious all summer, with Rômulo now the main option, although I was left unconvinced by his nine goals in just over 2,200 minutes during the previous league campaign. Leipzig were close to getting a deal for Fisnik Asllani from Hoffenheim over the line, but it eventually fell through, and I’m not seeing that any other options are being pursued.
Moving on to outgoings, and Péter Gulácsi departs the club after spending most of the last 11 years as first-choice goalkeeper, as the 36-year-old moves to Villarreal for €1.5m. Midfield battler Xaver Schlager chose not to renew his contract, and thus moves on a free transfer to Nottingham Forest.
Loïs Openda struggled on loan at Juventus last season, scoring just once in Serie A and twice overall for the record champions of Italy. They must be ruing their choice of an obligation to buy, having to send €42.75m Leipzig’s way, knowing that he was heading out to Lyon right afterwards.
But without a shadow of a doubt, the biggest transfer of the summer – not just for Leipzig, not just in the Bundesliga, but perhaps in all of Europe – is Yan Diomandé’s move to Real Madrid for €125m. The teenage Ivorian, who only made his senior debut in March 2025 with Leganés, has had one of the fastest rises to stardom in footballing history. Leipzig did well to get his signature a year ago, but even they wouldn’t have known what they’d gotten their hands on when they paid the €20m release clause.
Liverpool looked likely to grab the winger off Leipzig’s hands recently, then it was PSG’s turn, before Real Madrid coughed up the transfer fee that Die Roten Bullen demanded. Having read his harrowing article about his upbringing in The Players’ Tribune, and his idolisation of Cristiano Ronaldo, I’m stoked for him to be able to live his dream as a Real Madrid player.
With Diomandé out of the picture, a void has formed for other talents to step forward. Fellow wingers Johan Bakayoko and Antonio Nusa had to live somewhat in his shadow last campaign, but they can move back into the limelight now.
However, I think it makes sense to go with the club captain, David Raum. Willi Orbán, who joined the club in 2015, was unceremoniously dropped from the captaincy last season, and David Raum inherited the armband and justified the decision with his performances. Now aged 28, Raum is a senior figure in a dressing room that remains incredibly young by design. Leipzig’s transfer policy of signing players aged 19-22 and turning huge profits on them is not going away. With the youngest average squad age in the Bundesliga (24.0), they need a few older professionals in the dressing room, and Raum is certainly that.
Demichelis has mostly been using a 4-2-3-1 or any four-at-the-back where a diamond shape in midfield can be used. The options he has in midfield are extensive and can be used in a variety of ways, so it feels a bit dealer’s choice to predict how that part of the time will shape up come the opening game.
5th. I see this season as more transitional than usual for Leipzig, especially after firing a manager that was steadily achieving the club’s ambitions in favour of a manager that is new to the league. These decisions can backfire, and in this case I’m leaning towards that happening. A lack of depth in attacking options is the main issue that I can see preventing them from beating the other top teams and qualifying for the Champions League.
1 - Bayern München
2 - Borussia Dortmund
3 - Bayer Leverkusen
4 - Eintracht Frankfurt
5 - RB Leipzig
6 -
7 -
8 - Union Berlin
9 -
10 - Schalke
11 - Mainz
12 -
13 - Hamburg
14 - Augsburg
15 - Borussia Mönchengladbach
16 -
17 - Köln
18 -
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