Werner, who officially signed a contract through the 2026–27 season, becomes Leipzig's new managerial figure as the club looks to bounce back from a disappointing campaign. Leipzig finished seventh in the Bundesliga last season, missing out on European competition for the first time since their top-flight promotion in 2016—despite having significantly more financial muscle than many of their rivals.
The hiring process was not without complications. Although Bremen had dismissed Werner in May, the club still held him under contract for another year. The delay in confirming Werner’s move stemmed from complex negotiations between Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schäfer and Bremen’s Clemens Fritz. Reports suggest Leipzig agreed to pay a compensation fee of €2 million (approximately $2.3 million) to secure Werner’s release.
Werner brings with him assistants Patrick Kohlmann and Tom Cichon, forming the core of his new coaching team. Having guided Werder Bremen to Bundesliga promotion in 2022 and an eighth-place finish last season, Werner is seen as a promising young coach with a track record of overachieving relative to his resources.
“Both sides share the same ideas about how we want to play and work,” Werner said. “That made the decision to take this next step together an easy one for me.”
RB Leipzig will hope that Werner's tactical acumen and developmental approach can revitalize a squad that underperformed last season and steer the club back into Champions League contention. Sporting director Schäfer expressed confidence in the new hire, stating, “We’re convinced that he’s ready for the next step and are very much looking forward to working with him to push ahead with our squad planning.”
With preseason preparations underway, all eyes will be on Werner as he takes the helm of one of Germany’s most ambitious clubs.