Marc Guiu is heading to RB Leipzig from Chelsea on a permanent basis, with Fabrizio Romano confirming the deal on August 28, 2026. The 20-year-old Spanish striker is set to travel to Germany, with his medical expected to take place this weekend, after what Romano described as ‘secret talks’ with ‘zero links’ before the agreement was finalised on both the player and club side.
German transfer insider Philipp Hinze of Sky Sport DE reports a fee in the range of €16 million to €17 million including realistic bonuses, with a sell-on clause retained by Chelsea. That figure falls well short of the roughly €25 million Chelsea initially sought, after the club lowered its valuation earlier in the week. Guiu’s contract at Leipzig will run until 2031.
The deal itself
Chelsea sanctioned the permanent sale, BBC Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella reported on August 28, with The Athletic’s Simon Johnson and Sebastian Stafford-Bloor noting Leipzig had moved to an agreement in principle. Hinze confirmed Chelsea and Leipzig reached full agreement, and CaughtOffside noted the final fee is definitely below €20 million. The sell-on clause gives Chelsea a financial stake in any future transfer should Leipzig eventually move the player on.
Guiu becomes the third striker to leave Chelsea this transfer window, following Nicolas Jackson’s move to Aston Villa and Liam Delap’s departure to Nottingham Forest. Chelsea’s attack is now built around Joao Pedro, with Emmanuel Emegha and Danny Welbeck also arriving this summer. According to BBC Sport, Kendry Paez was recalled from his loan at River Plate specifically to free up an overseas loan slot, which Guiu’s permanent exit now resolves differently.
Why the move happened
The signs that Guiu had no future under Xabi Alonso were hard to miss. He trained away from Chelsea’s main first-team group this summer and was not included in Alonso’s squad for the pre-season tour or the first two competitive matches against Fulham and Luton Town. Chelsea did not assign him a squad number for the 2026-27 season.
His path to regular minutes at Stamford Bridge had already looked difficult last season. He made only eight Premier League appearances, with just one league start, and was loaned to Sunderland in August 2025 before being recalled less than a month later when a Liam Delap hamstring injury created a centre-forward crisis. Napoli had reportedly reached personal terms with Guiu earlier in the window, but Chelsea and the Italian club were apart on valuation. Manchester City monitored the situation and Sevilla explored a loan, before Leipzig moved quickly and quietly to close the deal.
Player profile
Guiu came through Barcelona’s La Masia academy and made seven senior appearances for the club, scoring on his debut against Athletic Club in October 2023 and also netting in the Champions League before Chelsea activated a €6 million release clause in his contract in July 2024. At Chelsea he signed a six-year deal and made 29 appearances in total, scoring eight goals.
Six of those eight goals came during Chelsea’s Conference League-winning campaign in 2024-25, including a hat-trick against Shamrock Rovers. He also scored against Ajax in the Champions League. A hamstring injury cut short his involvement in the Conference League knockout phase. At 20, Guiu is already a Spain Under-21 international, and Leipzig will hope that consistent minutes can unlock the potential he showed in European competition.
What it means for RB Leipzig
Leipzig’s move for Guiu comes as Conrad Harder has been linked with a departure to Leeds United, which would leave the Bundesliga side short of attacking options. Guiu’s arrival fills that void, and his profile as a young, technically trained Spanish striker fits the kind of player Leipzig have historically developed and sold on at a profit.
The sell-on clause Chelsea negotiated means the London club retains a financial interest if Leipzig eventually move Guiu at a higher fee. For now, the striker gets a five-year contract and a clear pathway to regular senior football that Chelsea could not offer him.
FAQ
How much did RB Leipzig pay Chelsea for Marc Guiu?
Philipp Hinze of Sky Sport DE reports the fee is €16 million to €17 million including realistic bonuses, with CaughtOffside confirming the total is definitely below €20 million. The deal also includes a sell-on clause for Chelsea.
How many goals did Marc Guiu score for Chelsea?
Guiu scored 8 goals in 29 appearances for Chelsea. Six of those came during Chelsea’s Conference League-winning campaign in 2024-25, including a hat-trick against Shamrock Rovers.
How long is Marc Guiu’s contract at RB Leipzig?
According to Philipp Hinze of Sky Sport DE, Guiu has signed a contract with RB Leipzig that runs until 2031, giving him a five-year deal in Germany.
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Marc Guiu