El Chadaille Bitshiabu extends RB Leipzig contract
RB Leipzig officially confirmed French centre-back El Chadaille Bitshiabu's reported upon contract extension on Friday. The 20-year-old's new deal with his Bundesliga club runs through 2029. When fit, Bitshiabu served as one of the brighter spots in this year's highly disappointing season for the German Red Bulls.
Leipzig continue to shed players and remain on the hunt for a head coach to lead the team in their first Europe-less season since achieving promotion to the German top flight. There remains no news on the matter, though RB did confirm the termination of failed academy director Manuel Baum on Friday.
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News that the famous former Augsburg and Schalke 04 head coach would depart after two years overseeing a failed developmental program was immediately followed up by the Bitshiabu announcement.
'We are delighted to have extended Chad's contract early,' RB sporting director Marcel Schäfer noted in a club statement. 'He is one of the most talented defenders in the Bundesliga. Chad has developed tremendously over the past season, making great progress in all areas and fully deserving this extension. He is still far from reaching his full potential and will take his game to the next level with us in the coming years.'
'I am very happy to have extended my contract with this fantastic club,' the player himself added. 'RB Leipzig provides me with the perfect environment to develop both as a player and as a person. When I joined in 2023, I immediately felt how much the club believes in me. Even in the most difficult phases, the club management placed their full trust in me. I feel very comfortable here and I am far from finished.'
GGFN | Peter Weis
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