Emil Forsberg moves to New York Red Bulls

From Little Paris to the Big Apple!

Emil Forsberg will officially join New York Red Bulls on 1st January 2024. The 32-year-old Swede will receive a two-year contract with the MLS side, with an option for a further year included.

This brings Emil Forsberg’s legendary spell at RB Leipzig to an end. During his nine years with the club, he helped RBL win promotion from the second division to the Bundesliga, continuously qualify for the UEFA Champions League and win two DFB-Pokal trophies and one Supercup title too.

324 games. 71 goals. 69 assists. And so many incredible moments.

You are one of a kind.

You are an RBL legend.

You will always remain a Red Bull.

Thanks for everything, Emil!

Thank you, Emil!

Sporting director Rouven Schröder

“In Emil Forsberg, we are losing an incredible person and footballer, who has achieved so much with RB Leipzig since 2015. His story is an incredible one and not a common one these days in professional football. Emil joined a second-division club as a talented youngster and now leaves a Champions League side as one of the Bundesliga’s biggest stars.

Emil has helped to shape a whole era at RB Leipzig, both on and off the pitch. The fact that he is held in such high regard by everyone here, by his teammates and, above all, by the fans, shows what a fantastic guy Emil is. His name will always be synonymous with RB Leipzig and the success story here. We can only say thank you for everything he has done for us and the people of Leipzig.

We would like to wish Emil and his family all the best in New York, where he will remain a part of the Red Bull football family, so we will still be connected in some way with him.”

Emil Forsberg

“I’ve had nine amazing years at RB Leipzig and been on an incredible journey. Leipzig became our second home and that will not change. I’ve spent more than a quarter of my life in this amazing city and at this special club, and everything I’ve experienced here will not be forgotten.

I came to Leipzig as a youngster and obviously had big dreams. The fact that a number of them came true is amazing. We won promotion to the Bundesliga, played so many games in the Champions League and won two DFB-Pokal trophies and a Supercup in the last two years. There have been so many wonderful moments and experiences that I’ll never forget.

I’d like to take the chance to say thank you to everyone at the club. Thank you to the staff, the team and, above all, our fans. They fully supported me from my first day here. We’ve been fantastic together over the years, even if it’s been difficult at times. There is nothing more important for me than the support and appreciation I’ve been given from the fans.

I’ve now taken the opportunity to try something else and we’re excited to move to New York. Despite that, we’ll really miss Leipzig. I’ve always said that I love the fans, this club and this city, and that won’t change.”

Emil Forsberg in numbers

324 competitive games for RB Leipzig – only Yussuf Poulsen has played more (379).
71 competitive goals for RB Leipzig – the fourth most behind Timo Werner (113), Daniel Frahn (93) and Yussuf Poulsen (88).
69 assists for RB Leipzig – a club record.
140 goal contributions for RB Leipzig – only Timo Werner (160) and Yussuf Poulsen (153) have had a hand in more goals.
22 assists in one season (Bundesliga 2016/17) – a club record.
26 penalties scored (of 29) – club record.
41 UEFA Champions League games for RB Leipzig – club record
11 UEFA Champions League goals for RB Leipzig – club record (together with Christopher Nkunku)

Landmark Forsberg goals

Forsberg’s first goal: 
3rd August 2015 (RB Leipzig – Greuther Fürth 2-2, goal to make it 2-2)   
8th May 2016:
Makes it 1-0 in a 2-0 victory over Karlsruher SC to secure promotion to the Bundesliga
16th October 2016:
500th RBL goal in all competitions for RBL in a 1-0 Bundesliga win over VfL Wolfsburg
13th September 2017:
RB Leipzig’s first European goal and Champions League goal for RB Leipzig to make it 1-0 in a 1-1 draw against AS Monaco
30th August 2018:
Winning goal in UEFA Europa qualifier against Zorya Luhansk (3-2) to put RBL in the group stages
27th November 2019:
Brace in a 2-2 draw against Benfica after trailing 2-0 to send RBL into the UEFA Champions League knockouts for the first time
30th April 2021:
Winning goal in extra time in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals at SV Werder Bremen (2-1)  
24th February 2022:
Scores RBL’s 1,000th goal in all competitions in a 3-1 victory at Real Sociedad in the Europa League
20th April 2022:
Scores the winner against Union Berlin in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals (2-1)
Scorer of Leipzig’s 500th and 1000th competitive goals.