The transfer saga that has captivated football fans across Europe is nearing its climax as Benjamin Sesko has reached total agreement with Manchester United on personal terms, with a contract running until June 2030. The Slovenian striker’s preference for Old Trafford over Newcastle United represents a significant coup for the Red Devils, who have been desperately seeking a long-term solution to their attacking concerns. This heart-over-head decision could reshape Manchester United’s future and establish Sesko as the cornerstone of their attack for years to come.
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The Transfer Breakthrough: Personal Terms Sealed
Manchester United have reached a ‘total agreement’ with Benjamin Sesko over personal terms, with the 22-year-old wanting to join United and expected to sign a long-term deal keeping him at Old Trafford until June 2030. This development represents a crucial milestone in what has been an increasingly competitive transfer battle between two Premier League giants.
The Slovenian has agreed on personal terms with the club and is ready to sign a contract ‘running until at least 2030’, demonstrating Manchester United’s commitment to securing one of Europe’s most promising young strikers. The agreement comes despite Newcastle United’s willingness to offer both a higher transfer fee and Champions League football for the upcoming season.
Manchester United’s Strategic Pursuit
The pursuit of Benjamin Sesko has been orchestrated by Manchester United’s director of recruitment, Christopher Vivell, who played a pivotal role in bringing the striker to RB Leipzig. Vivell helped Leipzig secure the services of Sesko from sister club RB Salzburg during his time at the German club, giving him intimate knowledge of the player’s capabilities and potential.
United’s interest in Sesko is long-standing, having kept an eye on his development for a number of years. This patient approach has now paid dividends as Sesko is fully committed to joining United, with a “clear feeling” communicated internally, and crucially, the RB Leipzig forward has not given similar signals to any other clubs.
The Financial Battle: United vs Newcastle
The transfer negotiations have intensified dramatically over recent days, with both Manchester United and Newcastle United submitting substantial offers. Newcastle initially submitted a bid worth €75 million plus €5m in add-ons, before raising it to €80m guaranteed plus €10m. In response, Manchester United made their own offer of €75m plus €10m in add-ons.
The financial competition has escalated further, with Manchester United raising their offer after RB Leipzig ‘accepted’ Newcastle’s superior bid. The Mancunian giants are now ‘proposing around €80m as a fixed fee plus add-ons’, bringing their total package in line with Newcastle’s bid but with a more favorable structure for Leipzig.
Transfer Fee Comparison
| Club | Base Fee | Add-ons | Total Package | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester United | €80m | €10m | €90m | Fixed fee + achievable add-ons |
| Newcastle United | €80m | €10m | €90m | Guaranteed fee + add-ons |
| RB Leipzig Valuation | €85m+ | – | €85m+ | Seeking improvement |
Why Sesko Chose Manchester United Over Newcastle
Despite Newcastle’s higher financial offer and guaranteed Champions League football, Benjamin Sesko prefers Manchester United, with sources indicating he is leaning towards Old Trafford. This preference represents what many describe as a “heart-over-head” decision, prioritizing the club’s history, global stature, and long-term project over immediate sporting advantages.
Personal terms are not expected to be an issue with either club – but there is a growing feeling that Sesko wants to go to Old Trafford. The striker’s decision reflects his belief in Manchester United’s ability to return to the pinnacle of European football under manager Ruben Amorim’s guidance.
Benjamin Sesko: The Player Profile
At 22 years of age and standing 195cm tall, Benjamin Sesko has established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting young strikers. He is capable of scoring with both feet and with his head, and has a reputation for powerful long-range shooting—one of his goals in the Bundesliga was clocked at over 126 km/h.
Sesko fired 21 goals across all competitions last season, showcasing his consistent goal-scoring ability in the highly competitive Bundesliga. His playing style has drawn frequent comparisons to Erling Haaland, not only due to their similar physique and pace, but also in their direct, high-impact approach.
Current Season Performance
Benjamin Sesko’s 2024/25 campaign has been impressive, with 13 goals in 33 matches so far in the Bundesliga season. His overall statistics demonstrate his well-rounded attacking contribution, recording 5 assists this season, with his total G/A (goals + assists) reaching 18.
The Slovenian international’s shooting accuracy stands at 62.00%, scoring a goal for every 3.85 shots he takes, indicating excellent composure in front of goal. His penalty conversion rate is perfect, having scored 9 pens while missing 0, achieving a 100% penalty conversion rate.
Benjamin Sesko Career Statistics
| Category | 2024/25 Season | Career Total |
|---|---|---|
| Bundesliga Goals | 13 | 32 |
| Bundesliga Matches | 33 | 87 |
| Goals per 90 Minutes | 0.49 | 0.45 |
| Assists (2024/25) | 5 | 12 |
| Penalty Conversion | 100% | 100% (9/9) |
| International Goals | – | 11 |
| International Caps | – | 35 |
Impact on Manchester United’s Attack
The potential arrival of Benjamin Sesko would address Manchester United’s long-standing need for a reliable goal scorer. The Manchester outfit have already reinforced the attack with the signing of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, and Sesko could now be their third attacking signing this summer.
Manager Ruben Amorim views Sesko as integral to his tactical system, with the striker’s pace perfectly complementing United’s high-pressing approach. By targeting Sesko, Manchester United are continuing a theme of trying to add pace to their attack this summer, having already signed Bryan Mbeumo.
International Career and Future Potential
Benjamin Sesko’s international pedigree adds another dimension to his appeal. He became the youngest player to appear for the senior Slovenia national team in 2021, aged 18, and scored his first goal for the national team in October 2021, making him Slovenia’s youngest ever goalscorer.
His performances at Euro 2024 further enhanced his reputation, where he was Slovenia’s top scorer in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers, netting five goals from nine appearances. This international experience at just 22 years of age suggests significant room for development and improvement.
The Final Steps: Club-to-Club Negotiations
While personal terms have been agreed, talks are ongoing between the Red Devils and Leipzig to finalise the exact structure of the transfer fee. RB Leipzig’s Marcel Schafer has not accepted the current offer and further improvements are demanded, indicating that final negotiations remain delicate.
However, the expectation across the football industry is overwhelmingly positive for Manchester United. Reporter Ben Jacobs declared Man Utd are “advancing on reaching an agreement with Leipzig to sign Benjamin Sesko”, while David Ornstein stated Man Utd are “closing in on [a] deal to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig”.
Looking Ahead: Sesko’s Old Trafford Future
The acquisition of Benjamin Sesko would represent more than just another transfer for Manchester United—it would signal genuine intent to compete at the highest level once again. United will be hoping he can fully maximise his potential if he joins the club as they aim to redeem their lost glory.
At 22 years old with a contract until 2030, Sesko would provide Manchester United with stability and long-term planning in their most crucial position. His combination of physicality, pace, and clinical finishing makes him ideally suited to the demands of Premier League football, while his age ensures he can grow with the club’s ambitious project under Ruben Amorim.
The coming days will prove crucial as both clubs work to finalize the transfer details, but with personal terms agreed and the player’s heart set on Old Trafford, Benjamin Sesko’s Manchester United move appears to be a matter of when, not if.
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FAQs
Has Benjamin Sesko officially signed for Manchester United?
No, while Sesko has agreed personal terms with Manchester United until 2030, the clubs are still negotiating the final transfer fee structure. An official announcement is expected once club-to-club negotiations are completed.
Why did Benjamin Sesko choose Manchester United over Newcastle?
Despite Newcastle offering Champions League football and initially a higher fee, Sesko prefers Manchester United due to the club’s history, global stature, and his belief in their long-term project under Ruben Amorim.
How much will Benjamin Sesko cost Manchester United?
Manchester United’s current offer is approximately €80 million as a fixed fee plus €10 million in add-ons, totaling around €90 million, though RB Leipzig are seeking further improvements to the package.
What are Benjamin Sesko’s key strengths as a player?
Sesko is known for his pace, powerful shooting (one goal clocked at 126 km/h), aerial ability, and clinical finishing. He’s compared to Erling Haaland for his direct, high-impact playing style and has a perfect penalty conversion rate.
When could Benjamin Sesko make his Manchester United debut?
If the transfer is completed in the coming days, Sesko could potentially make his debut in Manchester United’s upcoming fixtures, though integration time and fitness assessments will determine his exact availability.
