Manchester United started the summer of 2025 looking for a new striker, and after completing the Benjamin Sesko deal from RB Leipzig, they got what they needed.
The 22-year-old Slovene striker joined the "Red Devils" under a contract worth a maximum of 85 million Euros, lasting 5 years until 2030.
In his debut at Old Trafford before the friendly match with Fiorentina, Sesko received the biggest round of fireworks when he, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Diego Leon, stepped into the center circle.
"He has the qualities we are looking for. Sesko is still very young, strong in aerial skills, moves well at the wing and handles the ball skillfully. I believe he has great potential and will improve a lot.
He will quickly feel at home at the club. Sesko is the right piece for this team and we are really happy to have him" - Man United coach Ruben Amorim shared with MUTV before the match.
Man United have made no secret that Sesko is not the number 1 choice this summer. As soon as Amorim and the coaching staff felt the urgent need for a new striker, the name at the top of the list was Liam Delap.
The £30 million release clause makes Delap an attractive target. Man United negotiated directly and constructively with his agent, agreeing on a framework.
Ipswich Town - Delap's home club - was also informed that the release clause would be activated if the 22-year-old chose Old Trafford. However, Delap decided to join Chelsea.
After failing to sign Hugo Ekitike (to Liverpool) and Viktor Gyokeres (to Arsenal), the "Red Devils" have switched to Sesko and Ollie Watkins. Watkins (29) has the same experience in the Premier League as Cunha and Mbeumo, but Sesko is younger and has great potential.
When determining Sesko as the optimal option, Man United have to compete with Newcastle. The Magpies chose to negotiate with RB Leipzig first, then hoped the German team would put pressure on Sesko to St James' Park.
Meanwhile, Man United approached in a different direction. They convinced Sesko with Amorim's project and agreed on personal terms. With RB Leipzig knowing Sesko only wanted to go to Old Trafford, negotiations between the two teams took place quickly. Newcastle are willing to pay a higher price, but when Sesko has decided, everything else is meaningless.
"He wants to go to Man United. Man United have been chasing him since his time at RB Salzburg. In each transfer period, both sides have a connection. Now is the right time," said a source close to Sesko.
The deal was completed in just one day - something that rarely happens. There is no need to increase the salary at the last minute, which is a "familiar link" in Man United's new contracts.
The M.U coaching staff was also impressed when Sesko arrived at Carrington with only one representative, without a cumbersome team, to finalize the final details.
The "Red Devils" have been cherishing this plan for a long time. Sesko was in their target group as a teenager and was highly appreciated by Academy scouts. In 2023, before he left Salzburg for Leipzig, Man United's board met with a representative but found that he wanted to continue in the Red Bull system.
At that time, Sesko's representative also met with many other big teams, aiming for a stepping stone before moving towards the top European tournaments.
Leipzig meets that need. They knew he had only been with them for a few years and were willing to offer him an attractive deal. The plan worked well: after 2 years in Germany, Sesko was ready for the Premier League.
The points that made Man United interested in Sesko before are still valuable: promising talent, superior physique, speed and ideal height for English football. Amorim believes he can maximize his potential, turning the €85 million fee into a bargain in the next few years.
