Chelsea, the fourth English Premier League soccer club, today announced that it has reached an agreement with the German club Leipzig to sign international striker Timo Werner. The London club said in a press statement that the 24-year-old "has agreed to the personal terms of the contract and will remain with his German team until the end of the current Bundesliga season. He will join his new colleagues in July after undergoing a medical examination," without indicating the value and duration of the deal.
"I am delighted to sign with Chelsea," Werner told the club's website. "It is really a proud moment for me to join this great club. Of course I would like to thank Leipzig, the club and the fans, for four great years. You will stay in my heart forever." "I look forward to the next season with my new colleagues, my new coach (Frank Lampard) and, of course, the Chelsea fans. Together we have a very successful future ahead."
"We are very excited that Werner chose to join Chelsea. He is a player who has coveted everyone across Europe and it is not surprising that he has this rare mix of being young, exciting and experienced. We are eager to have Timo with us, but even that," said London-based club director Marina Granovskaya. Now we wish him and Leipzig all the best for the remainder of this season. "
Werner, who this season helped his team reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in its history, became the second player to sign the London club for the next season, after Ajax Amsterdam Dutch international Moroccan midfielder Hakim Ziash. Werner scored 32 goals with 13 assists in 43 games in various competitions this season, including 26 goals in 30 games in the Bundesliga.