Dani Olmo returns to Barcelona after glory-filled RB Leipzig spell
Dani Olmo is returning to Spain with boyhood side Barcelona after five stunning seasons with RB Leipzig.
The Terrassa-born 26-year-old enjoyed an incredible stint in the Bundesliga, and leaves as one of Europe’s best attacking midfield-forward hybrids. Despite injury during the 2023/24 campaign, it was still one of Olmo’s best, registering eight goals, his highest total in a single season for Leipzig.
Included in that figure was a season-opening hat-trick against Bayern Munich in the DFL Supercup, earning Leipzig the third major trophy in their history, all achieved with Olmo in their colours.
Olmo would go on to prove to be a big-game player again this summer, starring for Spain as they won UEFA Euro 2024. He finished joint-top scorer with three goals, but was the tournament’s most productive player with a further two assists, and was involved in both goals in the 2-1 quarter-final win over Germany.
Signed by Leipzig from Dinamo Zagreb in 2019, Olmo took an unusual path to the top of the game, starting his professional career with the Croatian side after departing Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy.
He will now return to Catalunya, and said of the deal: "It was indescribable to play for this club and in front of these fans. We were able to celebrate the first titles in the club's history with the cup wins and the Supercup. It was a dream for me to move from Croatia to Leipzig four-and-a-half years ago. The city has become my home over the past few years - years that have had a big impact on me as a footballer, but also as a person. I will be forever grateful for that!
"A special thanks also go to Marco Rose with whom I have built up a very good relationship. It is not easy to leave now - also because of him. I wish him and the team only the best. Once Leipzig, always Leipzig!"
Watch: Olmo lays down Leipzig marker against Bayern
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Leipzig's managing director, Marcel Schäfer, added: "Dani Olmo is an exceptional player, as he recently demonstrated impressively at the European Championships. He has proven his worth in various matches for RB Leipzig and experienced many sporting highlights with our club: above all the 2020 Champions League semi-final, the two DFB Cup victories and the 2023 Supercup win with his three goals.
"Dani came to Leipzig in 2020 as a great talent and was then able to develop year after year. As a result, he has reached the absolute top level, is now one of the best players in his position and was understandably in great demand this summer.
"His move to FC Barcelona is therefore once again an award for the good work in Leipzig. Dani was not only a very valuable player for RBL on the pitch, he also has a great character and a strong personality. We wish Dani all the best for his future and look forward to hopefully seeing him again soon on the international stage!"
Olmo becomes Leipzig’s first high-profile departure of the summer, with the Saxony club already bolstering their ranks with Assan Ouédraogo and Maarten Vandevoordt, while Benjamin Šeško signed a new deal and Xavi Simons opted for another season on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
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