Timo Werner has returned to RB Leipzig on a long-term contract after leaving Chelsea. The Blues activated the striker’s £45 million ($54 million) release clause in 2020, but he fell short of expectations in west London.
Werner only managed to score 23 goals in 89 games for Chelsea in all competitions, but he will look to regain his best form at Red Bull Arena.
He makes the switch in an effort to secure a spot in Germany’s World Cup team under Hansi Flick.
Chelsea will reportedly pay RB Leipzig €30 million (£25m/$31m), including bonuses, as the Blues have agreed to take a loss on their initial investment.
He’s back! 💪 pic.twitter.com/aRIhgSK8OV
— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) August 9, 2022
Why Did Werner Flop At Chelsea?
Timo Werner arrived in the Premier League with high hopes.
Although the forward’s play was compared to that of Mohamed Salah, he struggled to take advantage of opportunities in front of goal.
The radar below (via Sky Sports) contrasts Werner’s per-90 statistics from his time at Chelsea with those from his final three league campaigns in Germany, and it reveals that his strike rate was the only figure that significantly changed
Werner scored 10 goals in two Premier League seasons at Chelsea, but anticipated goals suggest that he should have scored nearly double that amount (xG).
What Did Chelsea Say About The Move?
“The forward is heading back to the club where he enjoyed four successful years before moving to west London, departing Stamford Bridge for his homeland as a European and world champion.” Chelsea said via the club website.
“The Champions League triumph in Porto represents the highlight of his time with the Blues and he played his part in our success during his first season in England.
“Nobody matched his tallies of 12 goals or 15 assists in all competitions, while only Mason Mount made more appearances for Chelsea in 2020-21.
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“He could not continue that high-scoring form over the winter after a switch to the wing, although matters did pick up again later in the season following the arrival of fellow German Thomas Tuchel as head coach, making some crucial contributions in the closing stages of the campaign, even if he did not return to those prolific early heights.
“All at Chelsea thank Timo for his contribution to our success over the past two years and wish him well for his future career.”
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