Faik Sakar to join Augsburg on free transfer from RB Leipzig
FC Augsburg have secured the signing of Germany youth international Faik Sakar from RB Leipzig. The 18-year-old midfielder will join the Bundesliga club on a free transfer when his contract with Leipzig expires at the end of the current season, having signed a long-term deal with Augsburg that runs until the summer of 2030.
The move was confirmed by Augsburg sporting director Benni Weber, who highlighted the club's strategy of developing young talent. "Faik Sakar is a very good fit for our sporting and strategic approach, as he is a young player with a great deal of potential," Weber said. "He has chosen us because we were able to present him with a clear plan for his development into a Bundesliga player." Sakar echoed this sentiment, stating, "Augsburg offer young players the perfect environment to develop step by step. There are plenty of examples of that. I'm convinced that this is exactly the right step for my development."
Sakar's departure from Leipzig comes after a season in which he has not featured for the first team in any competition. His path to regular senior football was blocked at the Red Bull Arena, despite being handed his Bundesliga debut by then-coach Marco Rose at the age of 16. The move to Augsburg represents a fresh start and a clear pathway to first-team action that was unavailable at his current club.
The teenager is a versatile player who has represented Germany at youth levels up to the Under-17s. His international future remains open, as he is also eligible to represent Turkey, France, or Cameroon through family ties. His potential and multi-national background have marked him as a prospect of significant interest within German football circles for several years.
For Augsburg, the acquisition aligns perfectly with their established model of identifying and nurturing promising talents before integrating them into the senior setup. The club has a recent history of providing a platform for young players, such as Kevin Mbabu and Iago, to establish themselves in the top flight. Securing Sakar on a free transfer represents a low-risk, high-reward piece of business, adding depth and future value to their midfield options without an immediate transfer fee.
For RB Leipzig, the loss of a homegrown talent on a free transfer underscores the competitive challenges of retaining every promising academy graduate, especially when first-team opportunities are limited. Sakar's move within the Bundesliga will be seen as a missed opportunity to monetize a player developed in their own system, but it reflects the intense competition for places at a club consistently competing in the Champions League. The transfer is set to be finalized ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, with Sakar aiming to make an impression during Augsburg's pre-season preparations.
